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Time for Phillies to show the free-agent money

It has been a nine-game stretch of baseball that the Phillies seemed incapable of stringing together when the season stopped for the all-star break.

Andy MacPhail.
Andy MacPhail.Read more(David Swanson/Staff Photographer)

It has been a nine-game stretch of baseball that the Phillies seemed incapable of stringing together when the season stopped for the all-star break.

Eight wins, 35 extra-base hits, an average of 5.3 runs per game and a team ERA of 2.82 have pumped at least a modicum of interest back into the baseball season as the countdown to Eagles training camp reaches its final days.

Does it mean anything?

In the narrowest of pictures, it does not. Given the state of the pitching staff, this run of great baseball is going to end sooner rather than later. Obviously the only thing awaiting the Phillies after game No. 162 is another offseason at the drawing board.

In the big picture, however, this could mean something. Winning obviously creates confidence, especially for young players still unsure whether they have what it takes to become a big-league regular on a contending team.

The Phillies are as far away from being a contending team as any club in baseball right now. Take an honest look at the eight positions other than pitcher and the only player you definitely want to move forward with is third baseman Maikel Franco.

That does not mean other players cannot emerge. One scout with a lot of knowledge about the Phillies said he sees Cesar Hernandez as a potential building block, too.

"Just put him somewhere and let him play every day," the scout said.

The scout, however, is not sold on Freddy Galvis at shortstop, which is OK because he also believes that J.P. Crawford is on the verge of becoming a solid big-league player in the near future.

After Franco, Crawford and Hernandez, the scout does not see any big-league regulars on the current roster. He views Odubel Herrera more as an extra man than a regular. A team source provided a similar viewpoint last week.

Move to the pitching department and things are grim, especially if you take away Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon. Aaron Nola is the only safe bet to be here when things turn around among the starters. Even though reliever Jeanmar Gomez has been a terrific free-agent signing, Ken Giles is the only safe bet to have a long-term future among the relievers.

If you're looking to the minors for immediate help, it's not coming.

There was a lot of hype about double-A Reading's rotation at the start of the season, but Nola is the only pitcher that emerged as being big-league ready. Jesse Biddle has the stuff to pitch in the big leagues, but he won't get there being as wildly inconsistent as he is right now. Zach Eflin has a chance, but he also has a lot of work to do. The jury is still out on Ben Lively and Tom Windle, both of whom may have futures as relievers.

"The good news is that there are players in the pipeline in a better way than I've seen in the last five years," the scout said. "There are more prospects from Lakewood on up than I've seen in a while. The not-so-good news is that there are a number of teams with more and better prospects."

The scout included the New York Mets among the teams with better prospects and the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals would also probably check in ahead of the Phillies' farm system among National League East teams.

The gap in that area could be closed some by the end of the week if the Phillies can land some prime prospects in whatever deals they are able to make.

Regardless of what happens with Hamels, the Phillies should think about accelerating their rebuilding process when the season is over.

We've heard a lot of complaints from front-office types, including general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., that the free-agent markets in recent years have been short on the type of talent that can turn a team around.

As it stands right now, this offseason is going to be different. That can change, of course, if players decide to sign with their current teams, but there is a pretty good chance some good players are going to be on the open market.

We've heard over and over again that money is not an issue for the Phillies. Team president Pat Gillick said it as recently as last month just before he named Andy MacPhail the president in waiting.

This will be a chance to prove it. Sign David Price or Jordan Zimmermann and put one of them in a rotation with Nola, Hamels or presumably one of the young pitchers they will get for Hamels and suddenly 2016 and 2017 look a lot more promising.

Jeff Samardzija, Yovani Gallardo, Scott Kazmir, Johnny Cueto, Doug Fister, Mark Buehrle and Mike Leake are also among the interesting free-agent possibilities with Zack Greinke likely to decline an option with the Dodgers that would also put him on the market.

As a bad team trying to get better, you'll probably have to overpay, but so what. Adding Jayson Werth was an expensive building block for the Nationals, but it is a move they do not regret making.

There are interesting potential free agents among the position players, too. Start with St. Louis right fielder Jason Heyward. He'll play most of next season at the age of 26 and even though he has not lived up to the hype bestowed upon him as a rookie he will be entering his prime. Detroit outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will only be 30 and could provide the outfield power the Phillies are sorely lacking.

The point is the opportunity to get better fast is going to be available this offseason and as one of the worst teams in baseball they will not have to forfeit their first-round pick for signing one or more of them. It's time for the Phillies to show us why they keep saying money is not an issue.

Dipping Into Free-Agent Pool

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The list of potential free agents who could be available after the season is deep and talented. If the Phillies want to accelerate their rebuilding project, they should go after some of them.

Here's a look at the bumper crop.

David Price, LHP, Detroit

He'll pitch most of next season at age 30 and it would be interesting to see how he'd fare pitching for a National League team.

Jordan Zimmermann, RHP, Washington

The Nats' 29-year-old righthander is 61-38 with a 3.04 ERA since 2011.

Mark Buehrle, LHP, Toronto

The 36-year-old lefty might be the most underrated pitcher in baseball. He has made 30 starts a year every season since 2001 and has 210 career wins.

Yovani Gallardo, RHP, Texas

Gallardo, 29, is also among the game's more underrated and durable pitchers. He is on pace to start at least 30 games for the seventh straight season and has posted an ERA below 4.00 in all but one of those seasons.

Johnny Cueto, RHP, Kansas City

Johnny Beisbol is also 29 and a legitimate ace. He is 60-31 with a 2.51 ERA since 2011.

Scott Kazmir, LHP, Houston

One of baseball's great resurrection stories, the 31-year-old lefty has a league-low 2.24 ERA this season.

Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Chicago White Sox

The 30-year-old former Notre Dame wide receiver is probably more of a No. 2 or No. 3 starter.

Doug Fister, RHP, Washington

The 31-year-old righthander would be considered a second-tier signing, but a very good one.

Jason Heyward, RF, St. Louis

Still only 25, he is a Gold Glove outfielder with the potential to get better.

Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Detroit

The Phillies need power from their corner outfielders and this guy would give it to them.

- Bob BrookoverEndText

@brookob