How should the Phillies fill fifth outfield spot?
Examining the current configuration of the Phillies' 40-man roster and the list of non-roster invitees, the team's most glaring need with 53 days remaining before the start of spring training is another right-handed outfield bat off the bench.
How should the Phillies fill fifth outfield spot?
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
Examining the current configuration of the Phillies' 40-man roster and the list of non-roster invitees, the team's most glaring need with 53 days remaining before the start of spring training is another right-handed outfield bat off the bench.
And even that need is not very glaring because, as my colleague Matt Gelb pointed out in this space earlier this month, the job could disappear as soon as Ryan Howard returns from the disabled list.
That role a year ago belonged to John Mayberry Jr. and Ben Francisco and they did fantastic work.
Mayberry, in fact, was so good that he took on a more prominent role after the All-Star break and earned the right to replace Raul Ibanez as the team's primary left fielder in 2012.
Francisco, after botching his chance to become the everyday right fielder last April, actually did a solid job off the bench in the second half and, of course, won Game 3 of the NLDS by blasting a three-run home run in St. Louis. He is now in Toronto after recently being traded for local minor-league lefty Frank Gailey.
If the Phillies' budget for the fifth outfielder is roughly the $1.5 million that Francisco probably would have earned as an arbitration-eligible player, it will be interesting to see who they can get in that price range.
Jonny Gomes, coming off a dreadful season with Cincinnati and Washington, could probably be had for less than that amount. Scott Hairston, a solid bench player with some power, also would probably be willing to come aboard for an amount slightly north of $1 million.
It would be interesting if the Phillies wanted to significantly upgrade the bench by paying more for an extra outfielder. In order to do that, they would likely have to commit to an 11-man pitching staff rather than the 12 that manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee have typically preferred. Given the ability of the top three men in the rotation to go deep into games, we know that the Phillies are one of the few teams in baseball that can even consider an 11-man staff.
Should they choose to go to 11 and invest more heavily in an extra outfielder who can hit from the right side, some of the options become very interesting. The most intriguing is Cody Ross, the man who destroyed their 2010 dream of reaching a third straight World Series.
Ross, who turned 31 six days ago, has recently been linked to Colorado, but as of right now he is still on the open market. He is not worth the $6.3 million the San Francisco Giants paid him last season, but if he'd be willing to come to Philadelphia for around $3 million, that would be a good investment.
Ryan Ludwick, 33, is also still a free agent. It would be fascinating to see how many home runs he could hit at Citizens Bank Park and since he's coming off consecutive disappointing seasons his price tag should not be too exorbitant.
It's also entirely possible the Phillies spend as little as possible for the fifth outfielder with the intent of saving payroll space for the trade deadline. Injuries, of course, are inevitable and having money to spend at the deadline when needs are more identifiable could be far more valuable than any player they can add before the start of spring training.
ok stantheman -- this article is simply silly so i didnt bother commenting - rube has no interest in adding any qualifed bench players --he insists on all garbage exept for those whom he can overpay on a multi-year contract in excess of $36 million— warbiscuit- I am not concerned about the outfield as much as I am about the pen. They need to talk with Madson and bring him back. There are a few players mentioned in above comments whom are out there. How-ever you drafted Madson brought him up and now you are just going to let him walk is mind boggling to me. But you signed Rollins the fraud let's keep it real, Madson will pay bigger dividends then J-Stinky any day. One great thing I will always respect about Rollins is he work in the community he is a great guy there always giving money and time that is one thing people should never forget what a great person he is, how-ever his baseball skills as well as Ryan the fraud keeping getting worse each year, plus he is breaking down— william20
- Agree that the Wigginton/Mayberry/Nix triumvirate gives you a good deal of flexibility already. Ryan McC. makes the case that Podsednik is a nice depth guy if healthy. I agree. If Podsednik can even come close to his 2009 numbers with the White Sox he will add additional OF depth.— Special Agent Fox Mulder
- They'll hold their money, just sayin'...
— DJ - when in 3 1/2 yrs has the clueless rube ever cared about signing any decent bench or bullpen help? Gload? Bruntlett? Baez? Willis? Schneider? not a single free agent signing by the dumb rube has been worth sh=@ --including such higher-priced garbage like Ibanez and Polanco and even worse extensions to Blanton and Howard... the only quality free agent, Cliff Lee, was at the begging of Lee's wife, and only after continually wasting numerous prospects on starting pitchers ... his failure rate in free agent and contract extensions is about 95%— warbiscuit
- Now that's more like the old 'biscuit we have all come to know and love...Happy New Year one and all... — stan the man too
- Without Ibanez we don't go to the World Series. We have to admit one thing about Rube is he is very active in pursuit to improve the club...don't like the move of bringing back fast eddie but we'll see. As long as Pat has input we will do okay — tsump
Comment removed.- Damon or Marlon Byrd. Byrd can be had cheap too - both (well) over 34. He's off a poor season as a FA, still has wheels and plays defense.
Problem with Byrd is Boras. And that is likely why the Phils won't look there.— 24sDad - Happy New Yr to all.— NewMick314
- Lance Nix is the 5th outfielder...no matter who the 4th is.— justacarpenter
- interesting that the Padres just gave a couple of mediocre prospects for Carlos Quentin. Quentin would have been nice in left-field, with mayberry as 4th o/f again and Nix in Ross Gload's role instead of thome..
anyway, had a great time at alumni game tonight..a sporting event where everyone is happy is extremely rare..helped erase the bad memory of my last visit to CBP for game 5 of the nlds..happy new year everyone— jim715 - The fact that we are talking about a bench player says a lot about this team! Go phillies! I can't begin to tell you how much fun it has been to be fan these last five years! Great talent and great people make up this team. No distractions off the field. Just solid guys across the board.— Fritz and Alice
- I believe they already have their outfielder. It is Scott Podsednik.— MooseBreathMints
- Gomes is a decent try of a reclamation project (what were you all saying about Jayson Werth in 2007 when Geoff Jenkins was the "every day" right fielder?). Nix/Wigginton are great role players. Orr is not in the picture and Martinez can't hit at all. Don't be surprised if RAJ makes another "move" of signficance. As for Madsen, he is NOT coming back for many reasons, one being Scott Boris. Unfortunately, Boris over-estimated the market for Madsen and this time didn't do his client any favor. Had he accepted arbitration, Ryan would have received about $11 million and had a chance next season for a multi-year contract. Now, w/o Boston, Philly, NYY, Atlanta, Miami, etc... looking for a 4-year committment for a closer, looks like he is out of luck. Let RAJ do his job. Phight On for 2012.— drhoffman
