The Phillies are “definitely” looking for some help in right field after learning that projected starter Aaron Altherr will be out for four to six months due to a left wrist injury that required surgery, ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported on Buster Olney’s daily podcast (audio link, with Phillies talk starting up around the 9:00 mark). Stark follows up with a series of tweets, explaining that the Phillies are most open to adding a one-year rental — possibly one that can be acquired primarily by taking on salary — that can perhaps be flipped this coming July (links to Stark on Twitter). Marlon Byrd, he adds, is “not a fit for where they are right now.”
There’s no shortage of names that could fit that bill, but some highly speculative options that are slated to hit the open market following the 2016 season include Michael Saunders (who was already nearly traded once), Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn, Angel Pagan, Carlos Beltran, Jon Jay, Coco Crisp and Sam Fuld. The Mets’ Alejandro De Aza, too, could be a fit, if New York does indeed explore fits for him late in Spring Training, as has been rumored. (De Aza, of course, would need to approve the trade after having only signed with the Mets this winter.) Jay Bruce, in some ways, fits that bill, though he has a club option for 2017, and the Reds, presumably, would want more than pure salary relief in exchange for their former star. Among the notable free agent names left on the market are David DeJesus and Alex Rios.
Of course, plenty of other veteran names could become available late in camp as players are outrighted or opt out of their minor league deals, but Stark added on the podcast that the Phillies, seemingly, are eyeing someone who can bring a bit more to the table than a late-spring release or outright candidate.
As it stands, the Phillies have Odubel Herrera lined up in center field with Peter Bourjos, Cody Asche and Rule 5 pick Tyler Goeddel as candidates for the corner spots. Asche, though, has been slowed by an oblique injury this spring and could be delayed in making his season debut. Veteran outfielder David Lough is also in camp on a minor league contract, and injuries to Altherr and Asche could enhance his chances of making the club as well, if no outfield acquisition comes to fruition.
Why not just go with Bourjous/Herrera/Goedell with Lough and Asche/Sweeney on the bench?
If they can get a non-defensive liability who actually has upside without giving up much, then sure, go for the trade chip.
I’d rather see Goedel/Sweeneyl out there than Beltran, Bourn, Swisher or someone like that.
Honestly, if the Phillies were to sign anyone on this list I would hope for Alex Rios, idk why I just like him more then most of the available players. personally I say just stick with the young players since we’re rebuilding, see who’s got potential and who doesn’t, but on the other hand another veteran presence wouldn’t hurt this team either since Frenchy is gone so, trading for Bruce isn’t something I want philly to do, don’t send young guys for essentially another Ryan Howard, Bruce is a good outfielder but his decline is scary and I’d rather Goeddell get the chance
Angel Pagan???
Please take him. No givesies backsies.
David Murphy is in Boston’s camp on a MiLB deal with end of march opt out, see no way he breaks camp with a job and Travis Shaw/Chris Young and the backup OF’ers. Murphy outhits Pagan by a country mile and think his current MiLB deal with the Sox is only 2m if he made the 25 man, far cry from that massive overpay SF gave Pagan..
Boston might be inclined to just let him walk if it looks like he can find a job, especially with Shaw hitting well over .500 this spring and Young guaranteed a job as it is.
Pagan and 8MM for player to be named later. He’s all yours.
Well, it would seem logical that if the Phillies were penciling in this rookie Atherr who had previously only played in 4 games on the big league level and batted .125 that they would not be willing to sign any big league veteran that would cost significantly more in payroll.
Rios would cost them big dollars and he is on the down side of his career so why would they even consider him?
Most likely, they will troll the cut lists from major league rosters and sign someone on an incentive heavy contract to man right field.
He played 4 games and hit .125 this year in ST.
He hit .241/.338/.489 with a 123 OPS+ in 39 games last year (1.7 WAR)
Bad contract swap. Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher plus cash for Matt Harrison. Kinda the same deal the braves did with Chris Johnson. Chris Johnson had an extra year of control along with his contract. So the Phillies would be getting out from under their bad contracts a year early and would benefit from outfield depth, braves would owe less for this year but will owe again next year but saves money this year. Plus they would have another veteran to help the young pitching. Make it happen Coppie!
The point of the CJ trade was so the Braves get out of the bad deals early.
Harrison’s contract is insured, so the Phillies get back some/most/all of his deal if he doesn’t play. So trading him will provide some/little/no salary relief. That deal would be great for the Braves as a result.
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as a bucco fan, any way Morse is now an option with the freese signing?
They’re still coming in last even if they had Bryce Harper or Giancarlo Stanton out in RF.
The Jays have a bunch of serviceable 4th guy outfielders out of options they could get cheap. Junior lake or cecilliani would be stopgaps for a bottom team.
Wow referring to Jay Bruce as “former star” tripped me up but i looked and sho nuff the guy was an all-star twice!
Go with young guys. Really coming in last. Don’t think so. Braves will b last. They r in bad shape.
Depending on how the Phils feel about going forward without Carlos Ruiz to mentor the young arms, I think DeAza for Ruiz and some cash looks good on paper. The Mets solve their backup problem. The Phils clear the way for Arencibia/Knapp/Alfaro to back up Rupp. The single year swap probably doesn’t hurt either side long term within the division.
The only way I’d say yes to something like that is if we got an OF with the same type of leadership/clubhouse presence that Ruiz has. But Ruiz’s stock is so low right now I don’t see it happening.. However, Houston may need a serviceable backup with Stassi starting on the DL… And a logjam in the OF… And they have a history of dealing with the Phillies.
Enough already. Does anyone really care?
Phillies’ fans?
Promote from within. Give Roman Quinn a look.
How about Jon Jay?