Amaro says Phils want Werth and can re-sign him
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. knew as soon as he sat down for his season-ending news conference where the initial questions were headed. “Shoot, ask whatever Werth questions.”
Amaro says Phils want Werth and can re-sign him
Daily News staff
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. knew as soon as he sat down for his season-ending news conference where the initial questions were headed. “Shoot, ask whatever Werth questions.”
Amaro said the Phillies want Jayson Werth to return and have enough money to re-sign him, but said that will “depend on what the ask is” and “how it will affect other things.”
Werth figures to be the main attraction among position players on the free-agent market. Amaro said he will talk with agent Scott Boras within the next 48 hours.
The Phillies have exclusive negotiating rights until 5 days after the completion of the World Series, but Amaro said he expects “this will go deep into the offseason.”
“What is going to drive the bus is Jayson and Scott,” Amaro said of the time frame. “Typically these things don’t move particularly quickly.”
“Jayson had a good year. It wasn’t an extraordinary year,” Amaro said. “He had a tough time with men in scoring position. It wasn’t as productive a year as he had in the past. If he is not with us, there are players that we can acquire and or we have in our own organization that can help us be as consistent.”
On the question of payroll, Amaro said, “We haven’t talked budget and we haven’t gotten that far down the line. We are only two days into the offseason. We are going to have some money to do some things … I’m going to have to figure out with the rest of our baseball operations people the best way to utilize the money.”
Amaro said the Phillies, “have to be open-minded as to how to improve the club, whether it’s starting pitching or bullpen, offensively, we’ll try to address it.”
Amaro said the three biggest issues for the Phillies this offseason are addressing the team’s six free agents, the age of the team, with players “starting to move into and past their prime age of production” and the bullpen, which he said “could have been our Achille’s heel. It turned out they pitched very well.”
As for the possibility of breaking up the team’s core group as the players generally move into their 30s, Amaro said, “It’s my job to be creative but I’m pretty happy with our core players.”
Amaro said the Phillies are still evaluating their players and assessing their offseason targets. However, “we’re not going to feel comfortable on anything until we know where we stand on Werth and go from there.”
* Amaro called it a “successful season with a disappointing finish,” because they expected to be in the World Series. “I think this one stung pretty good. The players really believed they are World Series champions and they will be chomping at the bit come this spring.”
* On manager Charlie Manuel, who is entering the last year of his contract. “At some point, we will probably address Charlie,” Amaro said. “We have not [yet].” The Phillies also have asked the entire coaching staff to return and they are working on contracts.
* On the team’s free agents, other than Werth, including relievers Chad Durbin and J.C. Romero, lefthander Jamie Moyer, Mike Sweeney, “I’ve gotten indications that many of them want to come back. It depends on how much they want to come back.”
* On whether it is safe to say that starting pitching does not need to be addressed: “You can never not address things. We’re pretty pleased with our rotation as good and as it performed at the end of the year. When we acquired Roy [Oswalt], we did some pretty extraordinary things as far as wins … No question having those three guys in our rotation had a great impact … Joe Blanton pitched extremely well at the end of the year. Kyle as a fifth starter, threw 180 innings and had a pretty good performance. As far as addressing it, I don’t know where it is on the totem pole, but we’re pretty please where we are with that.”
* On productivity from the leadoff spot: “Both Shane and Jimmy were better players than they performed the last few years. We would like more out of the spot. Jimmy has done in it in the past. Shane is not as proven … There is not a reason [Jimmy] can’t get back to being as productive a player as he has been in the past.”
* On the offensive issues: “I don’t think they have to change their style of hitting. I think, though, we have to have a little more consistent approach as far as what we can expect from them. We asked [Greg Gross] back and I think he made some strides over the last couple of months of the season gaining their trust and their understanding of what he preaches and what Charlie preaches. I think we are on the right path.”
* On the offensive issues specifically in the playoffs: “This happens sometimes. There are blips in the screen where guys don’t have good years. We didn’t have in the course of the playoffs where one player was really hot. Cody Ross, obviously, was really hot for the Giants. We didn’t have that guy step up and really do it. That really hurt.”
* On the Giants: Amaro said he thought the “Giants were getting slighted here” and that “the Giants played better baseball.”
@jjthree - Thank You!! Somebody needed to say it. Get the "Agony of defeat" out of your system before you go lopping off their heads people. This team without Utley / Rollins / Victorino is NOT this team. (You know, the one with the best record in the majors this year.) You Monday morning GMs are too much.
"I think everyone and I mean everyone should be considered trade bait. That includes my favorites Vic and Utley. I'd give Howard up in a heart beat."
I believe when Howard's new contract kicks in he will be the highest paid first baseman in the MLB (currently Teixeira is) and first base is a position traditionally loaded with sluggers. Utley is either already or will be soon the highest paid second baseman.
Howard's contract runs through 2016 with a club option and a 10 million buyout in 2017. How easy do you think it would be to trade him? Utley's only runs through 2013 but he has no trade options written into his contract. He would be difficult to trade, too.
The team has a 2011 option and 2 million buyout for Rollins so they could choose to pay him off for 2 million now, but maybe it would just be better to let his contract expire. He probably won't return to his former self but he is still good in the field and makes less next year (8.5 million) than Edgar Renteria made this year.
Victorino's contract runs two more years. He makes the same amount next year as Werth made this year and more the year following. I don't think that level of required compensation coupled with his resume to date is going to have a lot of GM's mouths watering.
My guess is that the most tradeable players they have a Ruiz, because he is still relatively cheap, and Lidge, who isn't, but has only one more year on his contract. Their three top starters, although expensive, would still command a fair number of offers, but I don't know why the team would want to trade away its most reliable foundation to next year's success.— cjbfbp- Keep Werth if they can. Trade Victorino unless he agrees to attend the instructional league. Even little leaguers know to watch the ball so as to not be picked off!! Swinging at a ball in his eyes with the bases loaded and all the pressure on the pitcher is unacceptable in a major league player who supposedly knows the game.
Sign Crawford and make sure Poly doesn't go anywhere. He knows how to handle the bat and give him all the credit for agreeing to play third when his natural position is second. Too bad Utley was in a fog--is he having personal problems??? D-Brown has potential but for those of us who saw him in I-Ron Pig country, he has a long way to go.
Get rid of Raul, and Rollins and go after Cliff Lee.— mad2002mad - Hey Losers! Howz it feel to get beat by Rodeo Clowns?? hahahhhahahaa!!!— Dupree007
- 1 of the core guys, (Howard, Rollins, Victorino or Utley) gotta go. I would also try to move Ibanez. Maybe trade Howard to Boston for Ellsbury...— ChangeISNeeded
- Where's everyone that wanted Werth GONE when he fell asleep on the bases, yelled at a father/son in the stands and went down on one knee swinging at strike three more times than not? Oh, you're all here explaining the reasons he should stay...— MrLincoln
Interesting Amaro would say that. He is setting himself up if the Phils should fail to resign Werth for a lot of "cheap" accusations.
Werth won't be here next year. Amaro's press conference showed they have no desire to pay what other teams will offer, which is probably the smart move in the long run. This team won't change except for some turnover in the bullpen and a role player or two. They'll take their chances with D.Brown in right field and go from there. It's okay, life goes on. They'll be good but not great, and maybe even make the playoffs again barring injuries.— Sam Crow- It's a fool who keeps trying the same thing when things are going badly and expecting different results. Here are the moves I would make and why. Starting with the infield, can it be said that Rollins will suddenly become the leadoff hitter he was in '07? Not a chance. He's a .250 leadoff hitter at best and it's time for the Phillies to make a move while they can still get at least some value. Utley is also on the decline but with Chase you never know. He's just talented and stubborn enough to be comeback player of the year next season. Besides the Phillies will never trade him. Can you say Ryne Sandberg? You might be able to get Howard to the Yankees or the Red Sox and they both could use a DH but in that case I would want Texeira (they have Berkman who can play first) or Beckett and create a four headed monster. Polly is safe at third.
In the outfield we're stuck with Ibanez. If we can't sign Werth I would try to sign Carl Crawford to play left field, have Vic in center and platoon Ibanez and Francisco in right. Not a real great scenario and I realize the Phillies are trying to get younger but look at what's available in the outfield this year. Not much. On the pitching side I would stand pat and make a few moves in the bullpen to sure up middle relief. I think Worley and Kendrick will be knocking on the door for that 5th starter spot. All in all it's not looking good for major changes to the roster next season. But if the Phillies do one thing and one thing only, can they please find a leadoff hitter that can hit .300! Yead, good luck with that.— rjernee - jjthree- You are correct with the IQ test, some one these people are idiots. Jimmy Rollins is actually a bargain at 8.5m, i mean look what Blanton makes..the same a Rollins. Sure trading victorino would be an idea but if you think we are the only ones that know victorino isn't worth 7.5million then you're nuts. Whats gonna happen is small moves, they don't have the money to make big ones, don't get greedy here guys, their payroll will be over 150m next year that is A LOT OF MONEY. Someone also said get younger w/ Valez as their everyday SS, you do realize that he is the same age as Rollins right? They will have to ride out next year w/ Rollins and Ibanez after that they hit FA as well as Lidge and Oswalt (barring they pick up options) They will have a decent amount of money to spend in the 2011 off season....— boskeyface
- On the offensive issues: “I don’t think they have to change their style of hitting. I think, though, we have to have a little more consistent approach as far as what we can expect from them. We asked [Greg Gross] back and I think he made some strides over the last couple of months of the season gaining their trust and their understanding of what he preaches and what Charlie preaches. I think we are on the right path.”
Was Amaro asleep during the playoffs. Unbelievable!— EL Zorro - boskeyface: Thanks. it's good to remember that 30 is not old age. ARod is 35, Jeter is 36. Lots of others - stars - are in their mid 30's and still actually continue to hit, pitch & throw better than most. JRoll is a star who had a tough physical year as did this whole team. They still won 97 games! They came within a hit or 2 of going to the series. The point of the article is Werth worth it? he gets my vote.— jjthree
- Rube blew it---should've signed JW after the World Series for three versus two years----easily done but why take the extra year risk!!!!!!!— Romus
- Get Francouer to replace Jay Werth.— Romus
- ibanez should be traded back to AL as I mentioned after last seasons WS lost. if they can't sign werth play brown in RF victorino CF and francisco LF(carl crawford will make more money than werth don't see him coming here) bring up another middle infielder from the minors to back up SS and 2nd base along with valdez, get another lefty for the bullpen release, sweeney ,romero, durbin, moyers, let kendricks, blanton, and worley battle for the 4th and 5th spots, mathieson,bastardo should make the team, give mayberry a season long chance as back-up/some time starter in OF and acquire another right-handed bat NO set line-up if a guy is in a slump sit him until he figures it out.— only 9
