Another one of those scouting guessing games: Peter Gammons mentioned on Friday that Phillies GM Pat Gillick and assistant GM Mike Arbuckle were at the Indians-Rangers game on Thursday. Here’s the box score.
A reasonable guess would be that the Phillies’ execs were scouting the Rangers. I imagine they were disappointed, as Joaquin Benoit did not pitch. He would be a reasonable target and useful addition for Philly.
Other possibilities? Starting pitcher Kameron Loe probably isn’t available, and the Phils don’t have much use for Kenny Lofton or Mark Teixeira. Other trade candidates who appeared in the game include Sammy Sosa, Brad Wilkerson, Ron Mahay, and Frank Francisco. Sosa is being shopped as a lefty-masher, but the Phillies are third in the league in OPS vs. southpaws. Wilkerson doesn’t seem like a great fit either. If anyone, it seems the Phillies had their eye on Francisco and Mahay as bullpen additions. Trade deadline fever: catch it!
