Qualls asks for trade after being designated for assignment
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Qualls asks for trade after being designated for assignment
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
Phillies reliever Chad Qualls asked to be traded Thursday after the team informed him that he was being desginated for assignment.
Qualls, 33, signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal with the Phillies at the end of January and was being counted upon as a late-inning reliever. He leaves the team with a 1-1 record and 4.60 ERA after surrendering three runs on three hits in Wednesday night's 11-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"I felt like I had been throwing the ball well all June," Qualls said. "I had only given up runs in two outings this June. No excuses for (Wednesday). I felt like I was throwing the ball better, but the organization felt like they wanted to make a move and that's fine."
Qualls, in fact, had allowed runs in just two of his 15 appearances this month. He still, however, had a 4.26 ERA in June and seven of his 15 outings were less than one inning because he has atrocious numbers against left-handed hitters. Lefties are hitting .377 with a .441 on-base percentage against him. Qualls had a 6.10 ERA in May after going 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA in the first month of the season.
Pitching coach Rich Dubee walked with Qualls into manager Charlie Manuel's office, where general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was also in attendance.
"I asked Ruben to trade me and that's basically what he's trying to do," Qualls said. "I think they have eight to 10 days to try to do that, so right now he just kind of said that I'm in baseball limbo. They wanted a little bit more consistency. Hopefully, the move is better for the team."
Amaro said he will try to trade Qualls, but to this point there has been no interest. The team can also designate the pitcher for assignment or release him in the next 10 days. Qualls can decline an assignment to the minor leagues, but he would forfeited his remaining salary for this season. A release seems like the most likely scenario at this point.
"We just thought it was the right thing to do," Amaro said. "There have been some inconsistincies with him and it's something we discussed a little bit over the last several weeks. His stuff is good. I just don't know if he has been effective as his stuff has shown."
Qualls' spot on the roster was filled by lefthander Jeremy Horst, who was called up from triple-A Lehigh Valley. Horst, a 26-year-old lefthander, was acquired in the offseason trade that sent infielder Wilson Valdez to the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched in 12 games with the Reds last season and posted a 2.93 ERA. He was 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA in 26 appearances with Lehigh Valley this season. He had walked 18 batters and struck out 32 in 38 1/3 innings.
"He's been pretty consistent," Amaro said. "He's been OK as far as the guys who are down there. He's thrown the ball pretty well."
Horst will be the sixth pitcher who opened the season at Lehigh Valley to spend time on the Phillies' roster this season, but Amaro admitted that the bullpen remains a major concern.
"I think it's an area we have to address," he said. "Right now, we have to give these guys an opportunity to try to grow. How much they can grow throughout the course of the season, I don't know. We have some talent there, but it's tough to put some of the kids in this position, because we're in a position to win and we want to win on a consistent basis. It's not an easy thing to do. It's a good challenge for them and in some ways it will help them develop a little bit. At the same time, it's an area that we lack consistency. It's something we'd like to address."
Earlier in the day, the Phillies had called up righthander Brian Sanches from Lehigh Valley to fill the roster spot created when lefthander Joe Savery was optioned to the Iron Pigs Wednesday night.
really Claudio? did you watch slaten pitch on monday? he threw more balls in the dirt than Mcnabb... Justin Friend in AA is ready, they need to see what he can do in AAA and give him a shot later this year— j-ritch- I have an idea...package Qualls and Kendrick (and probably a few more) and trade them for ...nothing. Addition by subtraction. Just get them out now.— jfdatl
- Wish him well; he had to work through some injuries early in the season which didn't help his cause.— JBinPA
- BRAD LIDGE!! get him back Amaro!! These young kids sound good on paper but he is experienced and he needs to retire as a Phillie. We cannot forget what he gave us in 2008 and get Madson back too while you're at it for next year. Lidge in 7th Madson in 8th Paps in 9th. Perfection!! and please say bye bye to Kendrick! My God why is he there?!?— jparro
- BRAD LIDGE!! get him back Amaro!! These young kids sound good on paper but he is experienced and he needs to retire as a Phillie. We cannot forget what he gave us in 2008 and get Madson back too while you're at it for next year. Lidge in 7th Madson in 8th Paps in 9th. Perfection!! and please say bye bye to Kendrick! My God why is he there?!?— jparro
- Trade him for an extra rosin bag and some Gatorade. Or is that too much?— paulNC
- The wheels now have now officially come off the bus. It was an absolute disgrace that Raul Valdes had to start a game for this team last night. They couldn't have planned to use a Triple A starter(Elarton?) for one game. Amaro embarassed himself last night with that debacle. Today, Kyle Kendrick, who should also be designated for assignment, has already given up 5 to the Pirates and its only in the 2nd inning. What minor league call ups are going to work in relief today? The bullpen was maxed out yesterday. Enjoy the five year run, the death spiral is underway.— syddan26
- It is not only that ,amy of these "non big league" pitchers are bad, but who calls them up from the bull pen? I don't go along with Charlie's rotation rationale. He is definitely making very poor choices in who pitches and who plays. None of these guys just start to play, Charlie has all the control.— phillytransplant
- So Charlie decides to use the entire bullpen last night, and today he starts Kyle Kendrick and rests his 2 best hitters against the Pirates best pitcher. He's completely inept.— Matt
Now with the "Greaseman" Chad Qualls finally hitting the road, it's time to get Grant Balfour from Oakland for the gaping hole known as the eighth inning. Balfour has playoff experience and is in the walk year of his deal. The next order of business is to replace the awful Kyle Kendrick in the rotation.— FreeCable4Ever- He sucked.— scootch
- During tomorrow night's game we will see a shot of KK in the dugout grinning and chatting it up with Halladay, totally unaware he should be bowing his head in disgrace. I just don't get it.— Jeffy3
- The next call up from Lehig Valley should be - Ryne Sandberg— Spoon47
- Jamie Moyer anyone? He could help the young kids and certainly is better than Kendrick.
— Spoon47 - He should be designated for expulsion from baseball— mportik
