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Friday, July 17, 2009
Condrey activated, Walker designated

I’m working on another project this weekend, so am not in Miami and won’t be blogging as much during this series. But wanted to pass along that the Phils activated Clay Condrey from the DL this morning and designated Tyler Walker for assignment. Walker did a pretty nice job filling in, but he was obviously going to be the one to go when Condrey returned. 

When you think about it, last year’s Condrey-Durbin-Eyre-Romero-Madson-Lidge team has seldom been together this season, between drug suspensions and injuries. Now that they’re finally lined up for the second half, we’ll see how that helps the team.

 
***
As I’m sure you know, Michael Taylor is now livin here in Allentown, where they're closing all the blah blah. The way I see it, the Phillies have to trade this guy, regardless of his talent and potential. Why? Three little reasons named Werth, Victorino and Ibanez. Taylor turns 24 soon, so by the time Ibanez’s contract is up (heck, even by the time Werth’s contract is up after next season), the kid will be too old. 
 
Ibanez will likely remain injury-prone because of his advanced age—that gets back to the questionable wisdom of signing him to a three-year deal—and Taylor would likely get opportunities to fill in over the next few years.   But he deserves an organization that truly needs him, and if the Phils want Roy Halladay, they are best to sacrifice at a position that is full.

UPDATE: Just glanced at the comments, and one thing I don't understand is some people's continued reluctance to embrace Werth.  It's a serious question I'd like to throw out there: What is it about this guy that makes many of you wary of him?

PhillyTheKid made what I thought was a good point, perhaps with more precision than I did.  It's not so much that Taylor will be too old when Werth's current contract expires, it's that Werth could very well last more than another year.  He'll be 31 at the end of the 2010 season.  So if you're set there, Taylor is expendable.  I mean, Werth could very well hit 40 homers, lead the team in OBP and play stellar defense this year. Isn't Werth already giving you Taylor's best-case scenario?

And as for those who'd rather trade Mayberry--Duh, as the kids say. Good luck with that.

And furthermore, Ibanez is 37.  It is likely that his age will catch up with him and result in more injuries as he turns 38 and 39.  That's just the way baseball works.  But you can't keep Taylor around to fill in during Ibanez's DL stints.  That's a job for a Mark DeRosa-type, not an uber-prospect.

Here's PK:
PS: why do any of you think Werth's last year with the Phils is next season? We're going to get rid of him in his prime? Not only do I hope NOT, but I don't think so! He may not warm your hearts like Vic, Utley and Howard, but this guy is the ONLY 5-tool player on the team! PK PS: I realize some of you will dispute the "5-tool" tag because of his batting avg...Is there really that much difference between 27 hits and 30 hits/100 AB's?
Posted by Andy Martino @ 12:58 PM  Permalink | 145 comments
145
Comments   
Posted 01:08 PM, 07/17/2009
frankenslade
Isn't 25/26 about the norm for when the Phillies like to break in new talent from the minor leagues? It wasn't too old for Utley and Howard, and Happ is off to a good start. We're talking the Florida Marlins or some other team with a track record of calling up 21 year olds.
Posted 01:09 PM, 07/17/2009
jman
Andy, think outside the box: Trade Victorino or Werth to make room for Taylor. Werth or Victoring (both major-league-ready and by the way "all-stars") plus a prospect or 2 should get Halladay. Taylor's ceiling is much higher that Werth or Victorino's anyway. (Or do the don't-give-up-the-future-for-Halladay crowd only care about the pitchers' ceilings?)
Posted 01:13 PM, 07/17/2009
tgray83
Ruben Amaro made darn sure that Michael Taylor was not one of those UNTOUCHABLES!!!!!
Posted 01:15 PM, 07/17/2009
amblereagles
Wow...an opinion that has logic. Nice change of pace.
Posted 01:16 PM, 07/17/2009
phillies222
What is the harm of bringing taylor up next year to come off the bench in werth's final year?
Posted 01:16 PM, 07/17/2009
Leegles
Think of the same situation a few years back: Howard was hitting homers in the minors, but still couldn't hit the curve (they said). The Phils had future HOFer Jim Thome at first. Should they have traded Howard? 25 or 26 is not too old, especially if Howard came up when he was 27. At any moment, Shane might dislocate a shoulder running into the wall. Same with Werth. Raul's already been out a month. Taylor seems like the real deal, apparently, but he could also be one of those guys who tears up the minors but never really excels at the major league level. I think we're better off with what we have right now. Halladay doesn't guarantee anything. But if we keep our prospects, we're guaranteed the chance to develop future stars, as the Phils did with Utley, Howard, et al. Another bad trade to consider: Uggie Urbina for Placido Polanco. If we're gotten rid of David Bell (who was a AA player, essentially, juiced to MLB level) and moved Polanco to third, we'd be in much better shape. Sometimes it's better to sit tight, and I think now is one of those times, unless we can somehow steal Halladay?
Comment removed.
Posted 01:19 PM, 07/17/2009
vinni
makes sense until you think about the Jay's outfield, which is loaded with two $100 million plus guys in wells and rios. They would love taylor, but only if the other team took one of those two guys (and their contracts) off the jays' hands. Which, if we really wanted halladay without giving up drabek or taylor or any other stud, taking an albatross contract like wells or rios would be the best way.
Posted 01:23 PM, 07/17/2009
bsaw
If it gets Halladey trade him in a NY second
Posted 01:24 PM, 07/17/2009
kozykoz26
Leegles, this is a completely different situation. A) when Thome was here, the Phils did not have a legit shot to win the World Series. B)Urbina is NOT Roy Halladay. He is a proven dominant pitcher, he has been doing it for years in the AL East. Toughest division in baseball. He is a sure thing. Taylor has potential, so did Marlon Byrd...I'd rather not wait around to see if Taylor can play in the bigs some day. Let's win now while the window is still open.
Posted 01:28 PM, 07/17/2009
ESFjellin
When Taylor is ready to come up to the Bigs, you want to get him as much playing time as possible. You can see the effect that it has on someone who is not quite ready yet and who isnt playing everday (Mayberry). If we can give up Taylor and a few others for Halladay (whilst keeping Happ or Drabek), I say go for it. Brown has more upside then Taylor and should be ready for the Majors when Ibanez is done or Vic and Werth are gone as well
Posted 01:32 PM, 07/17/2009
EricChase
Those wanting to deal Victorino underestimate his value. His inclusion to the All Star game was a deserving one. He's a Gold Glover thanks his speed, glove AND arm, and you can't realistically think about dealing him until you're positive Rollins is straightened out atop the lineup. It's very easy to make an argument that behind Ibanez and Utley, Shane has been the most consistent and valuable everyday Phillie in 2009.
Posted 01:34 PM, 07/17/2009
dankil13
By the time Taylor has an opening, he will be competing for the spot with Brown. One of the two are expendable, and should be used to land Halladay. I also think it will take either Drabek or Happ, plus Donald.
Posted 01:34 PM, 07/17/2009
Bleue
Behind Taylor, you got Dominic Brown, another high-ceiling propect who is logjammed in the Phillies organization. Victorino means too much to the clubhouse, and Ibanez was the signing, so if there is an odd man out, it's Werth. But do you want to see him go now that he's truly blossoming, he could hit 40 hr's/100 rbi's this year. Taylor should be trade bait, along with with any 3 pitchers (Bastardo, Happ, Carrasco, Kendrick, or Valde). Pedro lets that happen. Go get Halladay.
Posted 01:37 PM, 07/17/2009
Yatzee!
Closing all the blah blah?
About Andy Martino
Andy Martino is in his first season on the Phillies beat. A former New York City public school teacher and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he previously wrote for the New York Daily News, where he covered baseball and worked with the award-winning investigative sports "I-team."
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