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.
What is Booben sniffing? "...it's tough to put some of the kids in this position, because we're in a position to win..." Win what? You depleted the farm system, signed a bunch of also-rans, completely ignored Utley's knees and Howard's injury in making off-season moves, and you think we're in a position to win?— DameB- finally, one anchor overboard... kk is my next candidate; how on god's green earth is he worth three and a quarter mill?— nyphilliephan
- amaro said "There have been some inconsistincies with [Qualls}..."
...nothing inconsistent... he's been consistently awful against lefties forever, had a 7.32 era for 2 teams in 2010 and last year Sand Diego found he could occasionally get out a righty only in a spacious ballpark if judiciously used -- so Amaro and Chollie think they can just plug him in as 8th inning set-up guy and occasional closer ?! or a long man? and then are surprised when he bombs... they get the wrong guy for the wrong role and show once again that they know nothing about players or baseball.. i wouldn't be surprised if Qualls re-surfaces on a team with a strong relief corps and a manager who knows how to judiciously use him (e.g, S.F., Wash., N.Y.Y) and he suddenly is an efffective asset for them to come in and get out a single batter..— warbiscuit - Don't like Qualls Idiotbiscuit? Why did you post the following when they signed him?
"good pickup -- see that Mrs. Amaro (i.e. "dogbiscuit") has been relaying my constructive criticisms to her son..."— warbiscuit
LOL, so you liked the move when it was made and now you scream like the dopey moronic tool that you are when it doesn't pan out. What a loser
— DogBiscuitthedope - When the rainout happened on Friday, and a double header scheduled for Sunday, the team had about 36 hours to consider their options to bring up a pitcher from LV for a start on Sunday. With the new 26 player rule that MLB institued this year for doubleheaders, allowing teams to call up a player without having to adjust the 40 man roster, we essentially had a Get Out Of Jail free pass to take a look at one of our youngsters without starting the clock on them. They chose to do nothing and we all saw the mess that left us yesterday. Totally inexcusable and a classic example of the ineptitude that exists in the front office. We gave one away yesterday and burned up our pen but what hurts the most was not taking advantage of getting a free look at Cloyd on Sunday and pushing Hammels or Lee back one day. The only good that came from this is riding Qualls out of town which I guess, in a way, is not a bad tradeoff for Amaro's ignorance.— rockinginthefreeworld
- Ahhh. the Baez treatment. Don't release the dude. Desginate him for assignment (meaning he becomes and Iron Pig). If he chooses not to go to LHV, he becomes a free agent and the Phillies free up 1/2 of that $1.15 salary. And, I'm sorry, "I've been throwing good in June". What the heck about April and May? Dude, you get paid for the season. One or two bad outings is understandable, but really, your bad outings are disasterous. Three runs yesterday? Trailing by one run, team trying to fight and claw back into it, and you throw gasoline on the fire. Oh, btw, don't think for a minute any other team will trade for you. Take the demotion like a man, work on some consistancy, and maybe, you get a call up after showing your improvement. Thats what happens in the real world where most of us live. I do wish you luck in your future endeavors, hopefully at AAA in LHV.— drhoffman
- Now that Qualls has insisted on a trade, the question becomes do you deal him to Texas for Hamilton straight up or do you insist they also throw in Beltre?— dasher
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- The only way he gets traded is if a team accepts him as part of a package (let's say with Brown and a mid level prospect) for a reliever, like the Rockies Betancourt. No reason for a team dealing for him when he can become available in 10 days.— EL Zorro
- Qualls has great stuff, he just can't get it over the plate.— mccarte1
- I got the solution, i heard that the bat boy was injured and we can put him on the DL and trade Qualls for another bat boy! And another thing, anyone on here that liked Qualls and feel he shouldnt go is a complete idiot!— huntnmike3666
- Qualls asked to be traded?
Good grief!
He's probably worth a half-sack of practice balls!— BEMiller - Bye Qualls. I'm tired of screaming at my tv over your poor performance. Can't wait to say goodbye to Kendrick - he's barely any good either. I'm want to salvage our season.— carmendmv
- Jim Doh Me? is only making $1.25 million. Why don't they release him to and get fully functional player to provide more bench flexibility. Thome is nothing but a strike out machine as a pinch hitter. The phillies are basically a 24 player team with Thome on the roster.— Grapost
