Amaro talks free agents, Utley, Howard and more
With less than two months until spring training, Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. updates status of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
Amaro talks free agents, Utley, Howard and more
Ryan Lawrence
The Phillies introduced two new players on Tuesday - third baseman Michael Young and starting pitcher John Lannan.
Afterward, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. answered several questions that would make the gathering kind of qualify as his "State of the Offseason" as Christmas nears.
Here is some of what Amaro had to say:
His thoughts on Michael Young, third baseman: "As far as Mike playing third base, we had enough historical information. It wasn’t that long ago when we had these kinds of questions about Placido Polanco. He had been playing second base at a very high level. I know Michael at various parts of his career has been a Gold Glove caliber defender. For him to go back to third base, its not a great concern of ours. We feel like that he’s going to be able to do that and handle it fine.
On the state of finding another outfielder this winter: "We’re still trolling through the possibility of adding another piece there. And we’re also considering the possibility with a double platoon. That’s a possibility as well. We’ve done some things that have helped our club at a couple of different levels. I don’t think the process of trying to help improve our club stops until the end of the season."
On using the phrase "cautiously optimistic" regarding Chase Utley, and what that means: "When a guy is down for two years and doesn’t play full seasons in the two years prior you have to be a little concerned. But we think Chase has learned and we have learned to manage whatever he’s got going on in his knees pretty well. I think he has a pretty good understanding of it, we have a pretty good understanding of it and I think he’s going to be fine. But you just never know. Obviously he’s got knee issues. Hopefully he’ll be able to put himself in the position – we think he’s put himself in the position to be ready to go out of the chute this spring. But that remains to be seen. We’ll see what happens."
On Ryan Howard's progression from the Achilles injury: "I think Ryan right now, he’s been in the process of still getting 100 percent strength, he was never really at 100 percent, I don’t know how close he’ll be when spring starts. But typically it takes a full year to gain your full strength capacity with an injury like that, and I think he’s getting closer to that. From what Ryan was doing prior to his wedding and his honeymoon, he was doing well. I think he continued that program when he went on his honeymoon. We’ve been monitoring him and he’s seemed to be doing well. We’ll find out more once he gets back."
On whether draft pick compensation is a concern when scouring free agent market, as Phils hold 16th overall pick: "If we think it s the right guy to sign we ll sign him. I mean, a lot of it depends. First-round picks are important, but at the same time if we feel like short term, long term we should go that route we re still trying to figure it out."
Hey remember when GILLICK thought Rod Barajas could be the Phil's starting catchers and Wes Helms the starting 3B?????? Hahahahaha. Terrific moves!!!! Two of Warbiscuit's Top 10 favorite GILLICK moves ever!— michael2_19030- Two more of Warbiscuit's FAVORITE Gillick moves: giving Adam Eaton a 2 year 14 million dollar deal AND a washed up Geoff Jenkins a 2 year 13 million dollar deal!!!!
Fantastic moves!!!!— michael2_19030 - Another Warbiscuit favorite: Gillick hanging the albatross of a deal on the Phillies by extending Utley for SEVEN more years at 85 million!!!!!' Thanks PAT!!!!— michael2_19030
- as I explained above -- repeat for the morons: an intelligent g.m. like Sabean --who can evaluate talent and team needs -- puts together a roster with 25 contributing players --and even with some bad contracts and SOME BAD DEALS (Zito) and some injuries and some bombs from his big stars (Lincecum) he has enough balance and depth and bullpen and bench capable of winning in the post-season ..by contrast an imbecile like Clueless Rube puts his whole budget into about 6 highly paid big "names" (half of them washed up) and the rest of his roster is worthless bargain basement garbage --players who wouldn't make the rosters of the Indians or Astros or Royals... then when some of the big "names" are injured or underperform --as they are most certain to do given their age and declining abilities-- he just points to "injuries" and "underperformance" as excuses for the worst roster money can buy— warbiscuit
- @michael@_ I too can point to many more errors by well-run teams like Giants,Cards,Yankees,Gillick,NYGiants,Steelers, Celtics,Lakers --to err is human, to figure out how to move on after mistakes and still win championships is what separates winners from losers— warbiscuit
- Warbiscuit favorite Gillick moves continued: giving Lights out Lidge a 3 year 36 million dollar contract extension that crippled the Phillies flexibility in 2009 and prevented them from making more moves than just acquiring Cliff Lee.— michael2_19030
- @warbiscuit- dude how do you have time to comment as much as you do? Your posts are waaaaaay too long also.— Beefcake2358
- Warbiscuit, great stuff as always.
Everything you have posted is spot on!
Write on!— shattereddreams - fyi Utley deal was a terrific one --even if you take away the last couple of years, the amount paid over its course was a bargain ... D. Schoefield of SI (last Jan 15) listed the best players in baseball based on cumulative Baseball-Reference wins against replacement over five years periods: 2005-2009: Albert Pujols (43.6), Chase Utley (32.8), Alex Rodriguez (31.8), Joe Mauer (31.6), Mark Teixeira (28.0) ("Utley did everything well in this period but was criminally underrated by the mainstream media, as teammates Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins won MVP awards.");
2006-2010: Albert Pujols (42.5), Joe Mauer (34.1), Chase Utley (31.2), Hanley Ramirez (29.3), Alex Rodriguez (26.6);
2007-2011: Albert Pujols (39.6), Chase Utley (29.1), Joe Mauer (28.8), Adrian Gonzalez (26.6), Matt Holliday (26.4) ("Amazingly, Utley still ranks second on the list despite two straight injury-plagued seasons.") ... no, Howard is not on the list— warbiscuit - I love the difference between Rube's "bargain basement" players and sabean's "contributing players". Clap.clap.clap. Pretty much the same players, wouldn't you say?
Warbiscuit's favorite Gillick moves continued....
Giving away a future Multiple Gold Glove winner, stolen base champ and lead off hitter for one year of a horrible and forgettable Brad Lidge....nice. Real nice.— michael2_19030 - Yeah. Utely deal has been terrific for the Phil's in 2011 and 2012. Just great. Seven years? A great deal?— michael2_19030
- @michael2: you're missing the worst Gillick deal of all, you moron: Garcia for top prospects incl. Gonzalez --waste of $10 million..isn't it amazing that Gillick was able to rebound from that one and still win a Championship— warbiscuit
- see michael2 --that's why you're a nitwit— warbiscuit
- There is no way the 2008 championship would have happened without Lidge.
— Paul SoTX - Dumb Rube sucks plain and simple.All he had to do was fill holes as they appeared.Replace Werth .At the time that was all he needed to do the rest of the championship team was in place.Everyone was gung-ho over Halladay (bad move)what did they win?(just a few games NO CHAMPIONSHIP).Now DUMB RUBE needs to get J.Upton for right field and put (dopey Gavin)on secondbase and let them play.— tobyjoe
