Ruben Amaro Jr. heads to the winter meetings in Dallas. (Clem Murray/Staff file photo)
In each of the last three offseasons, the Phillies have used the winter meetings to hammer out key sections of their offseason agenda. In 2008, it was a deal with Raul Ibanez. In 2009, it was the Roy Halladay/Cliff Lee switcheroo. Last year, it was the signing of Lee.
This week, when the Phillies join the rest of baseball in Dallas, for the 2011 version of the winter meetings, they likely will be focusing on some in-house issues. First and foremost is shortstop, where the Phillies could soon feel some pressure to get something done at the position. Ruben Amaro Jr. is expected to meet with the agent for organization fixture Jimmy Rollins at some point this week, which could be an indication that the two sides are ready to engage in serious negotiations.
Fox Sports has reported that Jose Reyes, by far the top available shortstop, has been offered $90 million over 6 years by the Marlins. The Phillies have given no indication that they are interested in Reyes, but the Marlins' offer provides at least some idea of the top-of-the-market ceiling. The Phillies could start to feel some pressure to address the position if their alternate options dwindle any further. One national report had the Giants engaging in negotiations with veteran Alex Gonzalez, who is one of the better defensive options the Phils likely would consider as a replacement for Rollins. Ex-Brewer Yuniesky Betancourt is another option, although he would be a steep dropoff both at the plate and in the field.
The only free agent who has the potential to replace Rollins' offense is Rafael Furcal, who has a lengthy injury history. We're getting to a point in the offseason where both Rollins and the Phillies could be realizing that they are each other's best options. Few teams besides the Phillies have the need or desire to hand Rollins the type of multiyear contract he is looking for. And unless Amaro is stealthily looking to swing a big trade, he can't afford to part with even the modest offensive production Rollins has brought to the lineup over the last 3 years.
Outside of shortstop, the only glaring hole on the roster is in leftfield, where John Mayberry Jr. is currently projected to log significant playing time. Don't be surprised if the Phillies use the winter meetings to check in on a lefthanded-hitting veteran who can provide some depth and/or insurance behind Mayberry. Jason Kubel, Johnny Damon and Laynce Nix are three such players who fit that profile, although Amaro said last month he does not necessarily see the need for another lefty bat.
Given Amaro's penchant for keeping his interest in marquee players on the down low, it would be a mistake to completely ignore Carlos Beltran as a possibility. It is hard to predict what type of contract the star switch-hitter will be able to land - on one hand, he is coming off an All-Star-caliber season; on the other, his age and recent injury history bring significant risk to any multiyear deal. But if Beltran is intent on playing for a contender in the NL, and is willing to sacrifice some money to do so, the Phillies would make sense in a lot of ways.
As we saw last year, it would not be the most unforseen development to come out of the winter meetings.
For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's
blog, High Cheese, at www.philly.com/HighCheese.
