According to Todd Zolecki of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Phillies GM Pat Gillick is open to breaking from his own policy and negotiating in-season with the team’s impending free agents. Gillick’s lame-duck status may necessitate it. I never liked the "no in-season negotiation" idea. Even with the possible distraction, you can’t deny the huge cost savings compared to negotiating after the season.
The two Phillies everyone’s wondering about are left fielder Pat Burrell and closer Brad Lidge. Burrell, 31, has cooled off a bit after a monstrous April. He still has a 1.042 OPS. He’d probably require four years and close to $60MM, and I don’t see the Phillies doing it. Lidge is a more likely possibility; the 31 year-old is unscored upon in 17 innings. Fine acquisition by Gillick, even with Geoff Geary pitching well for Houston.
