The Trade Deadline Approaches
Pat Gillick said the Phillies are "cautiously optimistic" they can make a trade before Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline.
The Trade Deadline Approaches
Todd Zolecki
Pat Gillick thinks the Phillies have a chance to make another trade before Thursday's 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline.
He used the words "cautiously optimistic."
Can you really be cautiously optimistic? Isn't that an oxymoron? I mean, if you're cautious about your optimism, how optimistic are you? Yes, we're deep thinkers here, so chew on that one for a while. But Phillies fans shouldn't get their hopes up for Manny Ramirez, Matt Holliday or Brian Fuentes. Gillick indicated yesterday that none of those players will be wearing red pinstriples anytime soon.
But he still hoped they could add another lefthanded pitcher to their bullpen. If they don't find a lefthander from outside the organization, the Phillies could convert lefthander J.A. Happ into a reliever. In fact, he could be announced today as Adam Eaton's replacement in the bullpen. Happ was pulled from Sunday's start after just 2 2/3 innings. Mike Arbuckle explained why, "We pulled him as a precaution. We really don't know what's going to happen at the trade deadline, and we didn't know if we were going to need him in the big leagues or weren't or whatever. We just wanted to keep all our options open, and we thought the best way to do that was limit his outing just so that he might be ready in case we needed him or there was a trade. A lot of different things could happen over the next couple days."
In other words, they might need him tonight in DC against the Nationals and they might need him as a trade chip and didn't want to risk injury.
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Eaton is scheduled to start Thursday for single-A Lakewood. He isn't expected back to the big leagues until Sept. 1, when rosters expand. There's no question at this point that he has been one of the worst free agent signings in franchise history. Why not just cut him? Well, for the simple reason that he's under contract and making $8.5 million next season. I also think the Phillies will keep him around -- I can't imagine anybody trading for him unless the Phillies eat almost his entire contract -- because they might want to have an extra arm in spring training. Who's knows what the future holds for Jamie Moyer and Brett Myers? Moyer could retire. Myers might not be successful as a starter and could become a full-time reliever next season. They might want to create some competition in the rotation next spring, even though Eaton hardly has provided much of that.
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Myers goes tonight. The Phillies desperately need him to pitch well. If not, the Phillies have said they can't sit around and do nothing.
"He's going to have to perform well," Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "We're trying to win our division, so we're going to try to put the best starters out there we can to win. We have to keep our minds open with what we're going to do. We're not locking ourselves in with anything. We believe he'll stay in the rotation, but we have to keep our options open, and we will."
Could we see Myers in the bullpen at some point? It's possible. But that wouldn't be good. The Phillies think an effective Myers is the second-best pitcher in the rotation and gives them a better chance in the postseason. If Myers moves to the bullpen and Happ takes his place, who's the No. 2 starter come the postseason?
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Chase Utley has "mild soreness" in his hip. It's not serious, and doesn't require surgery.
If Myers can't go atleast 7 innings and beat the Nats, we have serious problems....they are no better than a AA or AAA team.....oh wait , he lost to AA and A teams just recently dodn't he?....PG better get busier on those phones. I haven't been a big AJ Burnette fan in the past years but this guy has been pitching his best games lately, perhaps auditioning to get out of Toronto? I think he's a warrior, mentally tough and could add a good power arm to this staff of pitch to contact namby pambys.......anybody agree?— Mark1npt- Jimmymack-I'll tell ya, you are really progressing by the day! This organization has been playing for the division or wild card since the Bowa days. They don't aim high. Look at what Sabathia has done for the Brewers(125 pitches last night)....If you want a Series you have to go for broke!— Truth
- Mark1npt-Banton and Burnett combined are 1/4 of a Sabathia or a Harden. The only thing a 2nd teir pitcher does is allow the team replace Myers with another Myers and move the real Myers to the 'pen.— Truth
- Mark: If we're going to dream, let's dream big. How about Halladay instead of Burnett?— bski
- Not only is it funny but it is sad in many ways. He was picked up as teh number 4 starter and is now the number 2. I'd sign him as the pitching coach as well and dump the idiot we currently have— jeff gross
- Jeff G - Moyer would be excellent as a pitching coach. Heck, he practically does it already. He always seems to be the go to guy for many of the young pitchers (i.e. Kendrick)It's criminal in his last couple of starts that they haven't won. Who'd thought he'd be one of Gillick's better acquisitions?!— KarenA
- KarenA: tell me about it. Gillick got lucky on that one. It couldn't have been any skill as we've seen his other moves. Why not offer it to him next year as player/coach.— jeff gross
- Can we please sack up and get some pitchers this off season? If you spend the money to get a quality team then your revenue will typically follow suit. I've already written off this season. We don't have the pitching to get there, and even if we stage a major turn around, we will be ousted in the first round. Thanks again front office.— ematusko
- Ematusko: Although it's difficult to follow, I think I've got the Phils' logic down. Our young pitchers in the minors aren't good enough to help us just yet. That's why we've had to struggle this long with Myers and Eaton. However, our young pitchers are too good to use as trade bait to land either a pitcher (starter or reliever) or a bat that can help us now. Since our young pitchers will be helping us next year, there will be no need to add pitching in the off season either. You see?— bski
- This organization is stupid. Why would they convert Happ into a reliever when he's been so sucessful this year as a starter. Why not move Myers back into the bullpen, especially since we know Flash won't be back. Why do we continue to cling on to hope that Myers and Eaton will be good starters. They won't be, admit your mistake.— Matt
- I agree Matt: it worked last year when flash came back to be teh set up guy for Myers. This year, let Myers be teh set up guy for Lidge and put Happ in the rotaton. See what he's got. I hope he's another Bystom or Walk— jeff gross
- Bski, Truth...don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Halladay..I asked for him a few times over the past month...however, I don't think Toronto will deal him (or that PG is listening to me), not without giving up the farm....the complete farm. Burnett has been at his best as of late. He's pitching motivated, which I think has always been his problem and baseball people know it, his lack of drive/ motivation....for that reason we may not want to take him on.....I agree that Happ should not be converted to the pen and Myers should, he will need to be after giving up 2-3 HRs tonight to the Nats, that powerhouse bunch from down south....— Mark1npt
Comment removed.- Well Truth, glad I am meeting your expectations, certainly will make my day go better...LOL. IMHO, moving Happ to the bullpen and "The Phillies think an effective Myers is the second-best pitcher in the rotation" just reinforces my belief that they are clueless. And while Burnett looks tempting, his contract is not something I would take on.— jimmymack
- He was a hell of a better reliever than a starter, plus he wants to be in the bullpen. But no, we'll continue to run Rudy Seanez out of the bullpen.— Matt
