Phillies Taking A Holliday?
If the Phillies don’t bring back leftfielder Pat Burrell, they will need somebody to fill his spot in the lineup.
Phillies Taking A Holliday?
Todd Zolecki
If the Phillies don’t bring back leftfielder Pat Burrell, they will need somebody to fill his spot in the lineup.
How about Matt Holliday?
The Phillies talked with the Colorado Rockies about Holliday (and lefthander Brian Fuentes) before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but the asking price was too high. The Phillies still have interest in Holliday, and for good reason. He is a righthanded power bat who would fit into the middle of the Phillies’ lineup nicely. He also plays left field.
SI.com reported yesterday that the Phillies are one of the most aggressive pursuers for Holliday. But a couple baseball sources doused such talk. One of them said last night the Rockies likely would require Shane Victorino or Jayson Werth, plus at least a couple top prospects – start with righthander Carlos Carrasco and work down (think J.A. Happ and/or Antonio Bastardo) – to get serious with the Rockies.
Would the Phillies want to ship a big-league talent like Victorino plus top prospects like Carrasco and others for a player that would be with the Phillies just one season? Holliday will be a free agent and his agent is Scott Boras. Boras always has his players test the free-agent market, so there would be little to no chance the Phillies could extend him past 2009.
The feeling I get is that the Phillies are interested, but the asking price needs to drop a lot to be a fit. Do the Phillies have the pieces to make it happen, as SI.com suggests? Yes, they do. They definitely have some minor-league talent that other teams covet. But they also don't feel the need to cripple their farm system to make it happen.
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The Phillies have seen Japanese righthander Junichi Tazawa, but haven't made an offer. Yet.
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Ruben Amaro Jr. just completed his first GM meetings. He liked the experience. John Gonzalez, Bob Ford and Phil Sheridan talk about Curt Schilling and his desire to pitch again for the Phillies.
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The Denver Post offers its take on Holliday to Phillies possibilities.
Who said Burell's first half numbers were hollow? I am talking about the whole season. Yeah, Rollins you were the only one who watched the whole season, in you own world. Jenkins just got a horrible start and never recuparated and then Jayson took over. Well, I guess Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro are nuts too, because they thinks Jenkins can rebound. Just look in this site for their comments.— EL Zorro- RWR, Please take a good look at Kapler's numbers versus Burrell's. Also, consider that Kapler would most likely be platooned with Dobbs. The platoon (on paper) would be a huge improvement at much less cost.— JayW
- Trade Donald for an outfield prospect of his caliber.— gbrettfan
- Perhaps I would trade Carassco even up for Holliday since we'd probably only have him for a year. Frankly, I think even that would be too much for a one year player. It would be almost impossible because of Scott Boras (is he a cancer on the game or what??) to sign Holliday to a long term contract.— James TL
- This is truly astounding. Gabe Kapler is an upgrade over Pat Burrell based on 82 ABs against LH pitching, and he is platooned with Dobbs, which only weakens the bench. I just don't get it. Fine. Take the World Champs, go into next year with Gabe Kapler and Greg Dobbs in LF, and Geoff Jenkins as your primary PH. Bat Kapler 5th, and wonder why Ryan Howard hits about .215 and his power numbers drop. And also figure out what you are going to do in RF when Jayson Werth gets injured in June and misses a month.— RollinsWasRight
- Oh yes, and let us also ignore that Dobbs's offensive production declines the more he plays.— RollinsWasRight
- Conversations like this are the genesis of the cliche "The game is not plated on paper".— RollinsWasRight
- RWR - take a deep breath. I'm with you on this, Kapler is a right handed Dobbs. And its not a good idea to platoon the two, all you would do is weaken the bench. We need a solid, everyday right handed, left fielder who can bat #5, period. Left field appears to be the only position where a change will be made, and it has to be a solid, everyday, right handed hitter that can produce behind Howard. I don't know who it is, but that's the type of player it needs to be.— Gary Varsho
- Astounded? Burrell hit .181 in August and .205 in September. Pee Wee Herman would be an upgrade— JayW
- I'm fine. Ok, getting a little frustrated, but that's part of the fun of these little debates. It's a lot more fun to be having this debate talking about the "defending World Champs" than it is talking about trying to improve a "near playoff team". :) I am not sure I am being clear. I am not looking for Burrell to come back, or for Holliday, or Manny, or Magglio. Just a decent everyday player who can knock in runs. That shouldn't be too hard to find. Left fielders who knock in runs are about the easiest thing to find in baseball. The one name I was thinking about is Mike Cameron, who is under contract for one more year, at $10M, and the Brewers are looking to move him. I know he is by nature a CF, but I would be happy with him in left.— RollinsWasRight
- Right. So we should sign Gabe Kapler and Pee Wee Herman, because, contrary to popular opinion, the season is only two months long. And between Pee Wee and Babe Ruth Kapler, we will have all the offense we need to carry the club for the 3-4 months that Ryan Howard is doing his hilarious windmill impersonation.— RollinsWasRight
- Rollins was right: Have you ever gone to www.beerleaguer.com ? I think you would fit right in. Great baseball blog.— James TL
- I will honestly lose my mind if they trade Victorino and Carrasco, especially for a rent a player like Holliday. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!— Coff
- James: Nope. Never been. Do they get all worked up over there, and super-sarcastic?— RollinsWasRight
- Yes. It's a Phillies blog. They got over 1000 comments on playoff game days. Lots of long rants like yours (That's not in any way an insult). You'll love the reverse beerleaguer jinx.— James TL
