Would Kevin Youkilis make sense in Philly?
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Would Kevin Youkilis make sense in Philly?
We are approaching the point of the season where the trade speculation will begin its gradual increase to full-blown insanity as general managers begin to make phone calls and dispatch talent evaluators and media members begin to report things that an NL scout told them. For Phillies fans, the trade deadline might as well come with an advent calendar, as the last four seasons have each brought a shiny new gift from jolly old St. Ruben Amaro Jr. In 2008 it was Joe Blanton, followed by Cliff Lee in 2009, Roy Oswalt in 2010, and Hunter Pence in 2011. At this point, the biggest need is power, both in the lineup at in the bullpen. But it is way too early to formulate an educated guess on how these needs might be addressed, since there are still two big unknowns that must reveal themselves:
1) How much power will Chase Utley and Ryan Howard provide when, or if, they return to the lineup?
2) How much power can Antonio Bastardo, Jake Diekman and Jose Contreras provide in the seventh and eighth innings?
Second question first: Contreras had another rocky outing yesterday. He's struggled mightly since returning from the disabled list. The Phillies keep saying that he just needs to work out some kinks and find some consistency after a one-year layoff. But he is 40 years old and coming of significant elbow surgery, so it is fair to wonder whether he will ever look like the pitcher who bordered on dominant during his first season in Philadelphia. The good news is that Bastardo has looked a lot better in recent days. I haven't noticed a significant change in his gun readings, but his fastball just looks like it is bearing down on hitters quicker and confusing them the way it did last season. Bastardo is at his best when he gets hitters to chase high fastballs above their chest, resulting in pop-ups or strikeouts. That's been the case in his last few appearances. He also has shown good slider command recently.
Diekman has yet to appear in a game since his callup, but that will obviously change at some point. Whatever happens, you can bet the Phillies will be in the market for a right-handed reliever with strikeout stuff. Such players are usually plentiful around the trade deadline, and the cost is usually not overwhelming.
Now, back to the lineup. Howard and Utley are question marks, but even if they return at a level of production close to what they've shown over the last couple of years, the Phillies can still use an upgrade (Utley and Howard were both healthy for last year's 1-0 Game 5 loss to the Cardinals).
The two obvious openings for a power bat: left field and third base. John Mayberry has begun to put together better at-bats, and he is making noticably better contact now than he was a week or two ago. Still, late in yesterday's game he got a great pitch to drive and instead lofted a routine fly ball to right-center. At this point, there is little harm in running him out there every day to see if he might suddenly transform into the player who was so productive in a rotational role last season. But if Mayberry does not making significant strides over the next month or so, left field is a position the Phillies should circle.
The second option is third base. It is the second option because the available supply is more limited, and because Polanco is an excellent defensive third baseman, and because he is hitting .355/.375/.452 over his last 16 games. But Polanco could get injured at any time, and even if he stays healthy, he does not bring any semblance of power to a lineup that is in dire need of it. So we have to at least consider the notion that the Phillies could look for an upgrade at third.
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo recently floated Kevin Youkilis' name as a potential fit for the Phillies. The Red Sox have gotten excellent production out of rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks, and there is some feeling that both Youkilis and the Red Sox would be well served by a change of scenery for the veteran.
If the Phillies could get him on the cheap, Youkilis would certainly be a worthy addition. He is currently on the disabled list with a back injury and is hitting just .219/.292/.344 with two home runs and 20 strikeouts in 64 at-bats. But he got off to a slow start last year and still ended up hitting .258/.373/.459 with 17 home runs. Such a batting line would be worhty of the cleanup spot in the Phillies lineup at this point.
Of course, trading for Youkilis now would not be the same as trading for him two years ago. He is a banged up 33-year-old veteran who has had trouble staying in the lineup over the past few seasons. But adding him to the mix would give Charlie Manuel a number of different personnel options, from playing Youkilis at third base and moving Polanco to second, to playing Youkilis at first. Given the time off that Utley, Howard and Polanco all figure to need, Youkilis could easily play every day if Manuel was comfortable rotating positions.
But the Phillies are not going to want to give up anything of future value for an aging, banged-up third baseman who will be a free agent after the season. Which is why you have to wonder how teams are feeling about the fast start that Joe Blanton has gotten off to. Trading away pitching depth is very rarely a good idea. I wrote in spring training that the Phillies should hang on to Blanton when there were rumors flying about possible trades. But we are at a different juncture than we were in spring training. Vance Worley has given no indication that he was a one-year wonder. The three aces are once again living up to their billing. The Phillies have shown that they can live without a consistent fifth starter. The year they won the World Series, Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton spent the entire year in the rotation. Adding power is the biggest priority at this point. Manuel keeps shaking his head at the number of baserunners the Phillies are stranding -- eight, yesterday -- but that is going to happen if you don't have players who can drive in chunks of runners with one swing. The odds of hitting a single are, at best, 1 in 3. Asking a unit to string enough singles together to score a clump of runs is asking them to defy the odds.
Youkilis, for all his question marks, would certainly bring power to the lineup. What if the Red Sox proposed a straight Blanton-for-Youkilis swap? Two guys with similar salaries who will be free agents at the end of the season, both of whom fill holes for the other side (similar is relative, of course - Youkilis actually makes $4.5 million more than Blanton, along with a $1 million buyout next year). Just something to think about.
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I thought about Youk when someone mentioned Middlebrook. Red Sox less likely to trade young player. Reportedly Youk and Valentine have had their problems. Dont think Phills have much trading material for Sox.— Don w- Throwing Kendrick out there every day is giving away the game. Phillies don't score enough runs to make up for what he will allow. Rather bring up Cloyd or May and see what you got. Leave Kendrick where he is. Trade Blanton for Youklis and don't sign Youklis after season, no matter how well he does. Gotta get younger.— dfc5632
- If the price is right give him a shot. I wouldn't hesitate to give up Blanton, but the whole infield is a mess other than catcher. Rollins shouldn't be hitting leadoff..he can't get on base.— lazyboy
- umm...no. Gut it and start over. We should look to pick up younger players with the trade chips we have...if we even have any.— Hammer859
- Youk represents what the Phillies already have in spades - an early-to-mid-30s player, with slightly-above-average production, who is on the decline, and who can't stay healthy. We've already got enough payroll on the DL, we don't need to see how high we can get that number. Any effort and/or money should be spent right now on getting healthier and younger players, not doubling down on what we've already got.— thefonz37
- Come on, you are crazy, another old, beat up, injured, expensive, over-the-hill player?????? Let's go younger not older. This year is shot anyway, start preparing for a comeback for next year.— chucksf
- Youkilis has a team option at $13M for next year. If he comes around physically and contributes in the second half, he'll be better than any of the free-agent options available at 3B. If not, you cut bait and pay him a $1M buyout. I doubt Blanton's going to yield a top prospect in return, so this might be the best chance they have to cash him in for something useful to the 2013 Phils. — ColonelTom
- If Boston throws another player, I'll do the trade. Youkilis looks shot to me. A veteran corner infielder with back problems is a very bad combination. He hit .259 and struck out a 100 times last year in a very good line up in only 120 games. He has failed to hit 20 HR and drive in more than 80 runs the previous two years. This year his numbers look worst. He's eligible to come off the DL today but he has yet to do any baseball activity. Blanton, in the other hand, has looked pretty good lately. No way you do that trade even up right now.— EL Zorro
- How the Phillies could give Kendrick a 2 year extension at 3.5 million per, or whatever it was, is beyond my comprehension. What was Amaro thinking?— SteveS11
- this is ludicrous. i know people hate joe blanton for some reason but he's a solid pitcher. those are hard to find. think about who would be replacing him in the lineup (Kendrick most likely)...not worth it to get a failed Red Sock.— kilo_005
- I've never understood it either. Joe's outings range from slightly less than average to well above average. Philly fans should really appreciate what he's given this team. Sure, he's got his rough outings, but even Halladay has been known to cough up 8 runs in a start every now and again. And while Joe's best might not touch on Halladay/Lee/Hamel's best, he's still got a much bigger upside, than say, KK, who continues to baffle me in how he still even has a job, let alone a $7.5 million, 2-year contract. — thefonz37
- Its interesting that with all the offensive holes, Dom Brown's name hasn't been brough up. Is he that far gone at this point and, if so, it would be interesting to see what he could bring back in trade to bring some pop. Just an idea...— nyphillyguy
- Blanton for Youkilis.....do it in a second!!!!!— Bill S
- Because he was going to make more in arbitration, Steve. KK was on line to get a raise to more than $4 mil this year by arbitration standards and more next year. That's how arbitration works. Remember, he had a pretty good season last year.— EL Zorro
- Polanco and Kendrick for Youkilis and a prospect.— zeke128
