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Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Why Ibanez Could Fit

Could Raul Ibanez be in left field for the Phillies next season?

Maybe.

There are indications inside the organization that the Phillies are interested in Ibanez, a free agent leftfielder from the Seattle Mariners. Ibanez hit .293 with 23 home runs and 110 RBIs last season, and has had at least 21 homers and 105 RBIs in each of the previous three seasons. But what is interesting about Ibanez is that he hits lefthanded. That would seem to work against manager Charlie Manuel’s vision of a balanced lineup with Chase Utley and Ryan Howard also lefthanded hitters.

But that doesn't scare off the Phillies because Ibanez hit .305 last season against lefthanders compared to .288 against righthanders. There it a lot of talk about how the Phillies must have another righthanded bat in their lineup, but the Phillies would rather have Ibanez, who hits lefthanded, than a less productive hitter who is righthanded just because he is righthanded.

There is another obvious connection with Ibanez, too. Pat Gillick, who is an advisor to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., is a former GM with the Mariners, and new assistant general manager Benny Looper just came from Seattle. So both Gillick and Looper know Ibanez well.

The Phillies have spoken with Pat Burrell’s agents about a potential return, but they remain willing to explore other options before they get serious with him. The sense I get when talking about Ibanez is that the Phillies simply are exploring those options. I'm not sure how serious they are about him, but he is interesting for the reasons listed above.

*

The Phillies remain hopeful they will re-sign lefthander Jamie Moyer. The fact the sides haven’t yet come to an agreement shouldn’t cause concern. Moyers’ agent has been unavailable since last week, and Moyer is taking care of family matters this week.

*

The Phillies have some interest in free agent righthander Juan Cruz (4-0, 2.61 ERA in 57 appearances), although he is a Type A free agent. If the Phillies signed him before Dec. 1 or if the Arizona Diamondbacks offered him salary arbitration, the Phillies would have to forfeit their first-round draft pick.

Ibanez also is a Type A free agent, so the Phillies might be in a situation where they wait to see which players are offered arbitration and which ones aren’t and proceed from there.

*

The Phillies completed their coaching interviews: Rich Donnelly, Tim Bogar and Pete Mackanin. They could make a hire before the end of the week.

Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 11:57 PM  Permalink | 33 comments
33
Comments   
Comment removed.
Posted 06:01 AM, 11/20/2008
CaptainCrunch
Burrell's batting average in clutch situations is horrible.
Comment removed.
Posted 07:32 AM, 11/20/2008
jonnyhell
Ibanez is the left-handed version of Burrell.
Posted 08:00 AM, 11/20/2008
EL Zorro
Bad idea. Another lefthanded outfielder, and losing a first round pick for a 37 year old? They got to be crazy.
Posted 08:05 AM, 11/20/2008
Mark1npt
uh....why?
Posted 08:06 AM, 11/20/2008
Mark1npt
Why is this guy on the radar? Why are they trying to talk themselves into this?
Posted 08:08 AM, 11/20/2008
mick314
Keep hocuspocus in lala land. (repeat 26 times)
Posted 08:40 AM, 11/20/2008
NJLouis66
What happened to the scuttlebutt about Magglio Ordonez?
Posted 09:23 AM, 11/20/2008
JayW
Ibanez is a great choice. Because he hits lefties he can also spell Howard at first base on occasion. Another point is that he could take over from Howard at first base if the Phillies decided to trade Howard after the 2009 season. But I doubt they'd want to give Ibanez a three-year deal.
Posted 09:27 AM, 11/20/2008
jeff gross
Obviously the Phils want a guy for a year or two hoping that GOlson is ready by then. Personally, I think this is not the way to go. Get a guy who can hlep you for teh next 2-4 years. If Golson is ready, you can always trade the FA, or use him as 4th outfielder. I don't think GOlson is ever going to be a starting ipmact-player. At best he'll be the 4th OF who is put in due to speed.
Posted 09:57 AM, 11/20/2008
NJLouis66
Well the guy's numbers are pretty consistent over the past several seasons in Seattle. So you probably know what you're going to get. And of course the most important number here is the salary. Clearly the Phils do not want to invest a ton of $$$ and years in Burrell. Ibanez could probably be had significantly cheaper. It certainly would free up $$$ to invest in Hamels and Howard. And that has to be the priority. The fact that this fellow hits lefties is good. I wonder if Charlie would shuffle the batting order a bit to avoid three lefties in a row.
Posted 10:45 AM, 11/20/2008
James TL
This doesn't seem to make sense except for the lower salary. I haven't seen his stats so I'm wondering if his power diminishes against LH pitching. His age and the fact that he is LH and apparently not a better OF makes me think the Phils should either sign Burrell of get another RH OF. I seriously doubt Golson will ever be a regular major league OF. He strikes out far too much without too much power.
Posted 10:48 AM, 11/20/2008
Bignas
I like Burrell, but not for $11M per. He's worth @ $7M. As is Ibanez. The Phils need to invest in Hamels and Howard for sure and that should be considered when talking money about the outfielder. I don't see a lot of difference between Burrell and Ibanez, except that we know how Burrell performs in the NL and Citizens Bank.
Posted 11:15 AM, 11/20/2008
RollinsWasRight
Bignas - Burrell doesn't perform in Citizens Bank. His numbers are much better on the road. As far as Ibanez, I understand the thinking, but the notion scares me. Zo gave us his very consistent traditional numbers, but he is 36, some of his peripheral stats are in decline, and his defensive performance (from what I understand) was noticeably diminshed from last year to this. Not that a LF has to be a Gold Glover, as we know with Pat, but eroding defense is often a sign of eroding physical skills. I would consider it risky at best to offer this guy more than two years, and even if I got him for two, I would greatly worry about the second year.
Posted 11:20 AM, 11/20/2008
southpaw57
The window of opportunity for multiple WS Titles is open NOW!!! Improve the rotation NOW!!! Sign Moyer. Put together a package to get Peavy, who is only 27 and under a very reasonable contract for through 2012. Hamels, Peavy, Myers, Moyer & Blanton seems quite the formidable qunitet, and they are all different styles of pitcher, thus keeping the opposing lineups off-balance...Improve the lineup NOW by signing the switch-hitter Milton Bradley. He only made $5.5M last year and can most likely be had for less than what Pat will want to stay...I don't hear any rumors that the Phils are after either Peavy or Bradley. I'm hoping that the Phils' braintrust is just keeping things close to the vest
Posted 11:36 AM, 11/20/2008
Norma
southpaw57.....Like your idea of getting Peavy! And I *think* I read a while ago about Bradley being mentioned by the Phils. Maybe at the trade deadline or expanded rosters time frame.
Posted 11:56 AM, 11/20/2008
jeff gross
The question has to be-Will he help next year? Will he help in 2010, and if not, do I expect to have an alternative ready by then without getting another FA? One of the possitive things about the Phils is the consistancy of our lineup. If you look, we rarely change starters at more then one posistion a season. I still would prefer a Rightie who can give us 3-4 productive years
Posted 12:04 PM, 11/20/2008
Mark1npt
Ibanez is .262 lifetime against LH...he just had a really good year last year is all....remember So Taguchi led all NL PH's the year before he signed with us and did he do anything this year but hit 1 big PH double? No....Ibanez is no upgrade in the OF.....maybe a little on the basepaths.....sorry I fail to see a reason to sign this guy....
Posted 12:07 PM, 11/20/2008
jeff gross
Milton Bradly is a total head case and isn't needed. I'd rather have Stairs in the lineup everyday than allow Bradley on my team. As for Peavy, we have Happ, Carlos, Kendrick and a few other prospects just about ready, if not already ready, to break into the rotation. We don't need pitching, We need a LF who can hit the baseball and not the fans or his team mates and drive in 80+ runs while not being a total waste in the field.
Posted 12:08 PM, 11/20/2008
Mark1npt
Peavy is guaranteed multiple years, has a wicked delivery that turns off medical people and pitching coaches and now with early signs of elbow problems emerging last season......would he do great in Philly? Absolutely, but you have to be prepared that every pitch may be his last. Too much of a gamble for all the talent you would trade away and the high salary.......Bradley I would pay and would love to see...Cholly should be able to handle him but you never know. He can be a very destructive force in the clubhouse. Are you willing to risk team chemistry?
Posted 12:18 PM, 11/20/2008
jimmymack
I'm with Mark1 on this one for reasons stated and giving up a first round draft pick for a 36 yo player is nuts. Stairs isn't an everyday player any more, so IMHO he's not an viable option. Golson looked very overmatched in his few at bats, so can't count on him. Still like Ordonez as an option.
Posted 12:27 PM, 11/20/2008
jeff gross
I Agree stairs isn't a viable option. Mentioning his was my way of showing how much I DONT want Bradley. You're right about Golson. I would be surprized if he's ever a starting OF for a contender. Looks like we are right back where we started....we need a RH LF
Posted 12:40 PM, 11/20/2008
Mark1npt
You gotta think that Rube is working on it.....either he and Burrell are close or he's got other options out there he's just waiting to pull the trigger on.....he and Cholly both recognize what this teams' needs are and they will address them, I'm sure....still intrigued at what Bradley might do though...he could put up Manny numbers in our park for one third the Manny price....anyone remember the broken bat HR he hit out when he thru his bat down in apparent disdain for our pitcher, when in reality he was PO'd at himself for popping out or so he thought! Boom! 2nd row of the bleachers.....I'll take 30-40 of those any year....and just maybe Cholly (as he did in Cleveland with him) can keep the clubhouse harmonious.
Posted 12:47 PM, 11/20/2008
jeff gross
mark: Maybe he (bradly) can and maybe he (cholly) can't. We all thought the Jenkins sighning was a good move last year and look where that got us. Let's hope that Rube truly does know what he's doing
Posted 12:54 PM, 11/20/2008
Mark1npt
Agreed, Jenkins was a bust but what did he get us but a leadoff double in the restart of the final game?...One could argue he gave us the momentum to win the WS right there. Painfull as it was to watch himthis year and wonder what the braintrust was thinking, he paid off in the end....whereas Taguchi never did.....
Posted 12:57 PM, 11/20/2008
jeff gross
true, but So-what wasn't prjected as a starter at 8 million either
Posted 01:12 PM, 11/20/2008
jH
"Moyers’ agent has been unavailable since last week, and Moyer is taking care of family matters this week." Doesn't Moyer act as his own agent?
Posted 01:14 PM, 11/20/2008
jeff gross
of course he doesn't. none of today's players act as their own agent
Posted 01:17 PM, 11/20/2008
chicagoB
If Rube falls for the one year aberration on lefty/righty splits it would be a horrible debut move. Ibanez 3 year OPS: verses LHP = .735, verses RHP = .892
Posted 02:38 PM, 11/20/2008
Mark1npt
Only a handful of players don't use an agent...Schilling is the most notable.
Posted 02:39 PM, 11/20/2008
Mark1npt
Or maybe forgettable????
Posted 03:30 PM, 11/20/2008
jH
Schilling, Sheffield, Moyer, according to Forbes. It has been mentioned on this site recently, as well.
About Andy Martino
Andy Martino is in his first season on the Phillies beat. A former New York City public school teacher and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he previously wrote for the New York Daily News, where he covered baseball and worked with the award-winning investigative sports "I-team."
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