Checking in with Wilson Valdez
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Checking in with Wilson Valdez
David Murphy
Currently aboard the Keystone regional on my way back from New York City, where I was catching up with former Archbishop Carroll star Mike Costanzo, who saw his long and winding road through the minors finally pay off over the weekend when the Reds called him up to the majors at the age of 28 years old. In the meantime, I had a chance to chat with former Phillies utility man Wilson Valdez, who was traded to the Reds this offseason in a move that caught many people by surprise. Valdez was one of those people. He was at home in the Dominican Republic when general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. called to inform him of the deal. Up to that point, Valdez figured he was headed for a third straight season with the Phillies. The two sides had already agreed to a contract through arbitration, which jibed with what Amaro had told reporters earlier in the offseason, that the club had no thoughts of non-tendering the veteran infielder.
"He told me they were giving an opportunity to Martinez and Galvis," Valdez said.
Valdez saw significant playing time for the Phillies in 2010 and 2011 as the team suffered a rash of injuries to infielders, including Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Placido Polanco. In his first four seasons in the majors, Valdez had maxed out at 148 plate appearances. In 2010 alone, he logged 363, hitting .258 with a .306 on base percentage and .360 slugging percentage while starting 50 games at shortstop, 35 at second base, and three at third base. Valdez is probably best known for the inning he pitched in the 19th inning of a marathon win over the Reds last year. He retired three of the four batters he faced to pick up the win.
Thus far this season, Valdez has started seven games for the Reds, hitting .189/.184/.243 in 40 plate appearances.
"I play sometimes," he said. "I don't play the way that I played in Philly. Any time that I get a chance I try to play good."
Like anybody with an ounce of pride, Valdez was stung a bit by the trade. Thus far, though, Freddy Galvis has posted Valdezian numbers while playing spectacular defense at second base. And the addition of Mike Fontenot on a minor league deal will cost the team half as much as they had agreed to pay Valdez.
Asked if he misses Philly, Valdez shrugged.
"It's all the same," he said. "Just different names and different people. But it's all the same. It's something that I'm used to. An opportunity, a chance to play, that's all I want. I don't see that a lot here, but I'm waiting for that chance."
If the team needs a defensive replacement, obviously Galvis blows anyone away. The big thing with Martinez over Wilson (whom I really did like) is speed and the ability to fill in the outfield as well. WV was probably the slowest player on the team!— sicarius
Agree with 2smart...and if they hadn't signed Jimmy, but kept Valdez and put Galvis at short, they would have had a good chunk of the money to pay Cole Hamels and keep him here.- We miss you Wilson! Hope you get some more playing time in Cincy!— bingbangbong
- Pattymac is dead on. They didn't pick Martinez over Valdez. This was about $$ and Galvis, period. I don't see anything but plusses in this decision. Galvis IS the man of the future. Just think "Bowa."— dwp66
- Miss WillieV but absolutely luv the Galv.— NewMick314
- Still wish Valdez was here. Don't understand keeping Martinez over him. Wish Valdez all the best, classy player.— sfrankln25
- I don't have a problem with the Phillies trading Valdez, but in the big picture it is another example of their organizational incoherence. The one thing Valdez could do was give you a good at bat in clutch situations (for a utility infielder). I think that would be something you would want over M. Mart or most other utility guys out there.— jtj10
- Valdez was a great story in Philly (similar to Chris Coste). His legacy is secure with that amazing inning last year (best pitcher on the team with those "aces". 1-0 with an era of 0.00. But most of the above comments are correct....Galvis is the future. Galvis is a better fielder and Galvis needs to pt. The other comments are also correct...why Martinez over Valdez? One of RAJ's rule 5 "keepers" along with Herndon. Oh well.....— drhoffman
Comment removed.- I also agree with Pattymac. Galvis is at worst -- at worst -- an upgrade over Valdez and Mikey Mart (and Orr and Fontenot) as our go-to infield substitute. He's the best fielder on our team and his hitting will improve. Do I expect him to play late innings at 2B when (if) Utley returns? Absolutely. Spell Rollins a day a week or so? Yes. And if Valdez was on our roster at age 32, Galvis most likely is at AAA. Maybe Amaro has a clue.
— eman - Loved Wilson, definitely preferred him over Martinez. But Freddy is slowly growing on me. 4th in the league in doubles, and he always seems to get one at the right time. Not to mention 3rd on the Phils in RBIs.— raboo
- Where do you get a "Wilson Valdez" Phillies jersey?— baworks
Martinez is garbage— jamarder- It's all about money. Utility guys are a dime a dozen and there's no reason any team should overpay them. Pay the stars their due and go low on the subs.— sonnybuoy01
- I have no problem with playing Galvis. He's been very solid in the field and has had a surprising number of extra base hits. The problem with trading Valdez is it left them w/o a good defensive utility player when Martinez went down. With mini-Mart now going on the 60-Day, it looks even worse to have given up such a valuable utility guy for nothing...— akh
- Miss the little guy, but Freddy's looking more the part each game. He's figuring out the hitting game.— dogman5
- Agree with the others; Valdaez did an admirable job, but Galvis has played very well and is improving at the plate. Don't know if he can pitch, though. Martinez could be the odd man out, as I'm not sure he adds anything.— ijj
- Comment removed.
- Galvis has shown terrific fielding skills, and he's really improving his hitting. A comparison with the overpaid, underachieving Rollins goes to Galvis. Imagine that.— 2smart4philly
- Even without the Valdez, the Phils continue to leak oil...— outta work
- I was a WV fan but Freddy is the future and he's definitely improved at the plate this year. It's been fun to watch...for the most part.— jburd641
- For one night Exxon Valdez produced one of the most interesting games in Phils history.
For that, he'll always be on my list of favorite phil.— fmMD - Agree with Pattymac3, the experience that Galvis is getting right now will be huge in 2-3 years. Not only do we hope by then that he will be able to handle ML pitching consistenly, but when he slides over to SS, there will no dropoff in defense from Jimmy. Solid future for this guy.— SilliBilli
- Those videos on the right are so useless. They can't even show the highlights of the game, just still pictures. Wtf?— SilliBilli
- If we kept Valdez we don't get a chance to see Freddie grow this year unless Jimmy went on the dl. He is getting great experience up here. Why would we want Valdez when Freddie is the future. Thought we all wanted younger. We will suffer some with growing pains but it will help us in the future and meanwhile he ain't doing bad..:)— pattymac3
- Valdez is really a non issue. Nobody could say the Phillies would be any better with him than without him. But I don't agree with keeping Martinez over Valdez. I see no upside in that at all.— SteveS11
- godspeed wv— Zero
- the pen sure could use valdez this year. best of luck, without a doubt he'd have played more here and I'm sure he misses that.— dreinterests
- The Tonner wishes the best for Exxon. Hopefully he will start to pick things up for the Cincinnati Bowties.— hunglikeaton
- Keep your chin up Wilson!— Lynnwood
- I didn't understand keeping Martinez over Valdez. Still don't.— Alpheratz
- Stay classy, Billy Goat Gruff— blaqjaq
