The Phillies only hired new GM Matt Klentak in late October, but he’s already been through a Winter Meetings and executed a big trade (that of Ken Giles to the Astros). In a Q+A, he tells MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki that he’s happy with the Giles deal (in which the Phillies received Vincent Velasquez and Mark Appel), and says that as the Phillies continue their rebuild, they’re confident that they’ll be able to supplement their growing collection of young pitching with hitters acquired from outside the organization. “Hitters generally regard our park as a good place to play,” he says. “I know that our ownership is very committed — and will be in the future — to bringing in the right players and the top-caliber players to help us.” Here’s more from the National League.
- The Dodgers still haven’t added any top-flight starting pitching to offset the loss of Zack Greinke, but president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman says he is now happy with the organization’s depth, Bill Plunkett writes for Baseball America. “This offseason is different than last in that going into next year, we feel much better about our pitching depth that will be in (Triple-A) Oklahoma City,” says Friedman. “We have a number of guys that we like that will be there and that is a big difference for us next year compared to this year just in terms of the depth that we’ll have on hand.” Oklahoma City’s rotation will likely feature top prospects Julio Urias and Jose De Leon, along with 40-man members Jharel Cotton and Ross Stripling.
- As FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi tweeted earlier this week, the Cardinals have spoken with the Rockies about a possible trade involving at least one Rockies outfielder. Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (and formerly of the Denver Post) writes that it’s probably more realistic that the Cardinals could pursue Corey Dickerson or Charlie Blackmon rather than Carlos Gonzalez, even though both Dickerson and Blackmon have negatives (for Dickerson, a weak arm; for Blackmon, poor numbers away from Coors Field). Hochman guesses that the Rockies’ end of a potential deal would likely begin with first baseman Matt Adams.
Brixton
Curious on how the Phillies stack up with some other farm systems in baseball.
My (biased) opinion is that they are currently better than the Astros, and stack up well with teams like Boston and Minnosota.
Dodgers definitely currently have the top farm system.
Philliesfan4life
If the dodgers miss out on Maeda , I look for them to sell 2 or 3 top prospects to get an ace like Fernandez
lordsofflatbush
Like Miami have always been saying if dodgers want fernandez they will have to trade Pederson, seager, urais, de Leon, plus one more prospect.
raef715
plus they will have the #1 pick in June – a ton of talent has been added to the system- now its a matter of developing that talent.
plus almost no money on the books from 2017 onward and local TV contract kicking in, so no excuses for the Phils to not be competing in the next few years.
chri
Don’t forget the Braves surely have a top 5-7 system too.
No superstar player like Harper,Trout, Correa etc. in that system, but a load of guys with high floors/likely to be big leaguers.
User 4245925809
Boston’s power kids went from mostly at AAA and rookie ball last year, to right now, all the top kids at A ball. Twins think the power is higher mostly.
Will have to wait for the BA system rankings for the league to get finished, which doesn’t come out until late January as remember? Then may get their analysis on where Philly sits, though I don’t expect Boston to sit at No. 1 again after graduation Swihart, Rodriquez, Owens and Shaw from AAA last year, then moving the 2 top 100 BA kids (Margot, Guerra) in the Kimbrel deal Still see them finishing top 5 with new kids Espinoza, Benintendi, Basabe.
The AA and AAA levels are short for them now, that is a fact with cecchini now gone and Coyle’s inability to ever stay healthy.
justinept
Boston was number 1 last year…?
dylanp5030
Don’t forget about the Rockies. That system is so deep and loaded with talent. I think its a top 3 farm in baseball.
After the draft and the development (hopefully) of Appel, Phillies have a top 5 system. Braves, Dodgers, and Boston also in top 5.
lt michaels
The Hamels + Giles trade bounties may have catapulted the Phils into the top 5.
cardfan2011
Man, if St. Louis could acquire one of Colorado’s outfielders, thats the kind of offensive pop they need, and they dont need to sign a free agent to a ridiculous contract, AND keep their draft picks. Hopefully, Mo can pull off a deal
corman14
It doesn’t make since for the cards to go with anyone other than CarGo in this situation…….if they are trying to keep our players that’s one thing but Grichuk numbers are virtually the same as blackmons and friction played 50 less games…..it would not be and upgrade at all
corman14
Grichuks numbers are virtually the same as blackmons last year and he played 50 less games…..I can’t see this being an upgrade at all unless they get CarGo
mattdsmith
I see em giving up either Tyler Lyons or Tim Cooney, along with Matt Adams for Dickerson because I feel like he’s the only one that would appeal to them since he could serve as a long-term proven replacement for Holiday. I’d love it.
smelliott00
Yes, definitely, and both are going to be less expensive than Gonzalez, in terms of prospects and money, as well as having more team control. Also, as a cardinals fan, I have absolutely no problem with headlining a potential deal for an outfielder with a Matt Adams.
cardfan2011
Me either, Piscotty can handle first base, and a couple of pitchers or so, it could be a done deal
Long Suffering Mets Fan
Please point out the Cy Young candidate and a RoY candidate on Phillies roster. You can’t and that’s why they are not even a realistic assessment if you are biased. They are not even close. They still may be the 4th best team in their own division ahead of only the Braves because of their fire sale this winter.
Philliesfan4life
If the braves traded freeman, then the phillies would be back below the braves
Brixton
A RoY candidate? Odubel Herrera was 4th in rookies WAR in the NL last year, only trailing Kang by 0.2 WAR, Franco would have hit 20 HRs if not for a broken wrist.
You can’t use “they’re only bad because of a fire sale” when the Phillies traded 5 former allstars and an elite young closer over the last 10 months.
As for the Cy Young thing, no Braves, Marlins or Mets pitcher finished with a realistic chance of winning the award in 2 years.
Phillies have way more talent in their organization than the Marlins do, and have a way better farm than the Mets, Marlins or Nationals.
Toksoon
Phillies not even close to floridas talent
raef715
at the major league level, the Marlins have 4 or 5 better than anything on the Phils ML roster, but its closer after that. and with all the acquisitions the Phils farm system is definitely ahead of Marlins.
vernondozier 2
Who even said anything about the Phillies contending?? The organization itself is on record as saying they are years away.
Philliesfan4life
2017 might be the earliest for the phillies of getting back into contention, If they can buy an ace or an outfielder then they are back in win now mode
raef715
i still can’t figure out your second sentence at all, or what led you to the comment about the Phils contending this year.
I have seen in a couple other blurbs on here the mention that the NL East is mediocre enough they could contend if everything broke right, but I don’t see that at all.
If things break wrong, they could still be in the hunt for the #1 pick next year- at best they can get into the mid 70’s in wins, but its the building of a foundation that fans are focused on.
chri
Phils are better than the Braves IMO, but I see no way that they even get past 4th place unless the Marlins absolutely flounder (Mets and Nats too good IMO).
Nola is the only legitimate starter in that rotation (Olberholtzer may be alright tho), the bullpen just got worse with Giles moving on (although the return looks nice) and that lineup has a ton of questions
dylanp5030
Eickhoff pitched extremely well last year and is a legitimate starter. Come July, Velasquez and Thompson will be up. That’s a decent 1-4 (not like the Mets or anything, but definitely has upside)
RunDMC
Phillies are better than the Braves, yet the were the worst team in MLB in 2015 – and that was after ATL threw the 2nd half of the season. I would argue that ATL’s rotation is still better than PHI’s and without Giles, their bullpen could easily be once Grilli, Simmons comes back – and if we see anything from Chris Withrow and some of the others. Sure, 2016 won’t be a banner year, but ATL could be 10 games better than 2015 – and I don’t think you can say that about PHI without a decent FA acquisition.
dylanp5030
If you look at rotations of 2015 & 2016 for Phillies, you can absolutely say they will be better in 2016, especially after Thompson and Velasquez come up.
Also, Crawford & Williams are improvements in July in the line up and a full year of Franco. I’d be shocked if they don’t win 5-10 more games this year.
Cam
Having a AAA rotation of Urias/De Leon/Cotton/Stripling/Lee is a nice position to be in.
Philliesfan4life
Unless 2 of them are traded
fred-3
Montas instead of Lee or Stripling
seamaholic 2
What on Earth would the Rockies want with Matt Adams? They already have a left half of a 1B platoon of similar value, Ben Paulsen, who’s cheaper and comes with more control. Hochman, who comes from Denver, should know better: No one’s getting one of the Rockies starting OF unless some kind of pitching’s coming back.
cardfan2011
Thats what I was wondering, I would think Rockies want some combination of Reyes, Gonzales, Cooney, Flaherty, and/or Weaver in a package
cards1029
A first baseman w 25-30 hr potential at that band box you call a stadium. Of course you get pitching in return, probably Marco Gonzalez who’s from Colorado. Throw in another lower level prospect and you’ve got the framework for a deal. It’s probably Blackmon, goes to center, Grichuk to right and Piscotty/Moss man first base. Paulsen goes to the outfield for the Rox. You need to get rid of Cargo now, his value is dwindling.
seamaholic 2
Paulsen is better than Adams (who seems to be valued highly exclusively by Cardinal fans), or at least equally, and has two more years of control. And Paulsen is not a left fielder, although he can fake it for a bit.
Also, Cargo just had one of the best three month stretches of his career at the end of 2015. In fact he was the best offensive player in the NL other than Cespedes and Harper for that period. His value is not dwindling.
kmessenger059
The Rockies would not put Paulson in the outfied unless they do get Adams because then they would have Reynolds and Adams. If they did get Adams they would bench Paulson and the Rockies NEED pitchers. I would say trade Tyler Lyons from the Cards and Wong for Dickerson or Blackmon and Marco Gonzalez.
tommyLA
I think people are under estimating the Dodgers starting pitching with out greinke, Kuma, and maeda. Having Kershaw, Ryu, Anderson, Wood.. And possibly a de Leon or a platoon or guys like bolsinger and Frias until McCarthy gets healthy isn’t bad. This guys could win 90 games or more with a great bull pin.
tbiggs13084
Hochman is an idiot. Please take him back Denver, St. Louis does not want him. Non-story.
sascoach2003
I can see the Cardinals making a play for Blackmon to play RF. He’s hit well in StL over his career, and would give them some speed that they lacking. No doubt he’ll cost some pitching, though.
smelliott00
Yes, definitely, and both are going to be less expensive than Gonzalez, in terms of prospects and money, as well as having more team control. Also, as a cardinals fan, I have absolutely no problem with headlining a potential deal for an outfielder with a Matt Adams. And STL will save a draft pick.
BlueSkyLA
Dear Dodgers fans,
2016 is a write-off. Get used to it.
Love,
Andrew
PS: Keep sending us your money.
lordsofflatbush
Really. What they have done so far matters so much since the season starts tomorrow.
BlueSkyLA
Are you agreeing or disagreeing with me? It’s difficult to know. In either case you might want to take another look at Friedman’s comment. He is talking about players who won’t be available this season as his major accomplishment of this offseason. This isn’t even the first or only time he’s made this remark. Nothing in it suggests any significant further moves.
lt michaels
If the Phillies owners are financially committed why on earth has GM Klentak been dumpster diving all fall/winter?
Looking at a lineup of garbage. There were/are players out there who could help the Phillies not finish 30 games out again.
3Tavgreg
I think Adams would be great in Colorado. With his size and swing, a platoon of him and Reynolds could combine for 35-40 homers, as well as provide some power off the bench.
kmessenger059
Rockies. Won’t make the deal with Dickerson or Blackmon because #1 they already got mark Reynolds a first basemen from the Cardinals and they proboly don’t want a new one because they have Paulson. A second reason is that the Rockies NEED pitchers badly. They won’t make the trade without a pitcher