ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick looks at the future of the Phillies’ front office, noting that industry insiders mention Royals assistant GM J.J. Picollo and former Red Sox GM Ben Cherington as possible successors to Ruben Amaro Jr. in the event that president-to-be Andy MacPhail makes a change. Interim president Pat Gillick, who’s stepping down after the season, tells Crasnick that he’s not sure if he’ll remain with the club in some capacity. Though the Phillies are one of the worst clubs in baseball this season and have long been on the downswing, there’s hope in the future due to Maikel Franco, Aaron Nola, Odubel Herrera, shortstop prospect J.P. Crawford and others, to say nothing of a favorable payroll and television deal. “That organization is a gold mine,” one rival exec opined to Crasnick. “Look at the ballpark. Look at the spring training facility. Look at the television deal. This is a goose that’s going to lay a golden egg. No wonder Andy MacPhail came out of retirement.”
Elsewhere in the NL East…
- Jonathan Papelbon has thrown just eight innings since being acquired by the Nationals a month ago, and James Wagner of the Washington Post spoke to the D.C. closer about how he handles long bouts of inactivity. “For me, it’s about mentally staying prepared,” said Papelbon. “Staying mentally focused on the task at hand and not losing sight of that even though you’re not pitching. It’s easy to get out of that mode.” Papelbon says he feels he’s adjusted well to his new team and that his lack of usage is part of the “ebb and flow” of a season, Wagner writes. However, plenty have been critical about manager Matt Williams’ bullpen usage and his reluctance to use his top relievers in anything other than traditional save/hold situations.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo tells the Post’s Thomas Boswell that August has been his “worst month ever.” Rizzo notes to Boswell that the Nats have a group of star players that combined for 28.5 wins above replacement in 2014 but are collectively negative in 2015. “That’s a swing of 29 wins,” said Rizzo, likely in reference to struggles from Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister, Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth (among others). Rizzo referenced that swing as a means of defending Williams, stating: “It’s injuries. It’s coming back without your timing and not hitting for a while. It is bad years [for good players]. It’s everything. Twenty-nine lost wins [in player production] — and that’s on the manager?”
- Within his piece, Boswell also notes that the Nationals are unlikely to pursue any top starting pitchers this winter and that Drew Storen wants a trade “that he’ll almost certainly get this winter.” Storen, of course, was reportedly unhappy to be displaced from his ninth-inning role by Papelbon in the midst of a strong season.
- Jose Fernandez’s most recent bullpen session for the Marlins was described as a “wow” by manager Dan Jennings, writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Jennings called mid-September a realistic return date for Fernandez, whom the Marlins previously feared might not pitch again in 2015.
- Mike Morse spoke to the Herald’s Barry Jackson about his disappointing tenure with the Marlins, expressing that he wishes he’d have gotten a longer leash to sort things out at the plate. “I came out really bad [but] I wish they would have given me more at-bats just to prove myself,” said Morse. “…When you sign as a free agent, you expect to play on that team those years and you expect to get at least some time to play. But I got this opportunity to come to an amazing ball club [Pittsburgh]. It’s a gift and a curse.” Morse said he was very appreciative that owner Jeffrey Loria and president David Samson took the time to personally call and inform him of his trade out of Miami, however. Morse is hitting a much-improved .310/.394/.379 with the Pirates, albeit in a minuscule sample of 33 plate appearances.
Would like to see Storen close for the Giants next year. Casilla will be back, but hopefully only in a set-up capacity. It’s possible they won’t make any BP additions and have Strickland or Romo close, though.
The Giants should have one open spot in their bullpen but my money is on them bringing in a bat instead..
What bat for what position, do you think? There’s not really going to be a position opening up this offseason, unless they traded Pagan and made Aoki the fourth outfielder, in which case there would be an outfield spot free. The surest bet is for them to add a #2 starter (I read they were likely to pursue Zimmermann), but I’d be a bit surprised if they only added one guy for the 25-man roster.
Completely agree. The clear priority is a top starter. Secondarily, another reliever and some depth for the bench.
As flawed as that article on team chemistry was, it was instructive to read the comments about the Giants from David Price and Zack Greinke. Is it a coincidence those two guys are going to be free agents? Not that the Giants can realisticly afford Greinke.
I was hoping the Giants would be able to add a true closer this year. A great 9th inning guy would make the whole bullpen that much stronger, though I’m glad that Bochy is more flexible about how he deploys his relievers than, say, Matt Williams.
Storen could be a good fit. He went to Stanford, just down the Peninsula. Would just hope he could put his past postseason struggles behind him.
Maybe if Osuna is in either the AAA or big league rotation next year, we can get Storen on the cheap to take over for a year
The articles are interrelated……
The Mets are coming, the Braves stated their restructuring last off-season, and now the Phillies are moving in the right direction. Which means the clock on the Nationals is ticking.
Michael Morse should be ecstatic at the fact that someone was dumb enough to pay him what he got…Of course it was the Marlins. As a Marlins fan, I cant believe they actually got rid of the money they owed him
Not to blatantly call for Williams job or anything, but Mike Rizzo did watch the postseason last year, right?
I found it interesting to hear Rizzo talking about WAR. I had no doubt front offices use WAR or a similar custom, in house stat, but it’s still nice to hear Rizzo say it. This should help put to bed the anti-WAR group who thinks it is some made up nonsense that lacks merit.