PHILLIES BRING IN ANOTHER BACKUP PLAN FOR LIDGE
UPDATE 1/2/10 - 8:17 PM PST
With a shaky closer in Brad Lidge, who posted a 7.21 ERA with 11 blown saves last season, the Phillies need as many backup plans as possible. One of those will be Danys Baez, who has agreed to a two-year deal with the club. The 32 year-old missed all of 2008 recovering from elbow surgery but came back strong with Baltimore in '09 (4.02 ERA, 71.2 IP, 59 H, 22 BB, 40 K). While he hasn't had a full-time closing gig since 2005 when he saved 41 games for the Rays and made his only All-Star team, he will likely be an option, along with Ryan Madson, to close out games for the Phillies if Lidge struggles again.
Brad Lidge & Carlos Ruiz celebrating Game Five of the 2008 NLCS Photo
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UPDATE 12/21/09 - 12:38 PM PST
Roy Halladay is in for at least the next four seasons. Cliff Lee, who has one year left on his current deal, is now a Mariner. Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, and Travis d'Arnaud, the team's # 2, 3, and 4 prospects for 2010, according to Baseball America, were also part of the package to acquire Halladay. Phillipe Aumonte, Juan Ramirez, and Tyson Gillies, all top prospects in Seattle's farm system, were acquired in the deal. Here is the breakdown:
New to the Phillies organization:
RHP Roy Halladay (MLB): 17-10, 2.79 ERA, 239 IP, 234 H, 35 BB, 208 K, 9 CG, 4 shutouts in 32 starts
RHP Phillipe Aumonte (AA/HiA): 2-6, 3.88 ERA, 51 IP, 45 H, 23 BB, 59 K, 16 Sv
RHP Juan Ramirez (HiA): 8-10, 5.12 ERA, 142.1 IP, 153 H, 53 BB, 111 K
CF Tyson Gillies (HiA): .341 BA, 9 HR, 17 2B, 14 3B, 42 RBI, 44 SB, 60 BB, 81 K in 124 games
Leaving the Phillies organization:
LHP Cliff Lee (MLB): 14-13, 3.22 ERA, 231.2 IP, 245 H, 43 BB, 181 K, 6 CG, 2 shutouts in 34 starts; 4-0, 1.56 ERA, 2 CG in 5 post-season starts
RHP Kyle Drabek (AA/HiA): 12-3, 3.19 ERA, 158 IP, 141 H, 50 BB, 150 K
OF Michael Taylor (AAA/AA): .320 BA, 20 HR, 28 2B, 5 3B, 84 RBI, 21 SB, 48 BB, 70 K in 116 games C Travis d'Arnaud (LoA): .255 BA, 13 HR, 38 2B, 71 RBI. 8 SB, 41 BB, 75 K in 126 games
UPDATE 12/3/09 - 12:15PM PST
Placido Polanco is the new Phillies third baseman after signing a three-year deal worth $18M with a mutual option for 2013. The 34 year-old, who has played 303 games at 3B during his 12 year-career, has won a Gold Glove for his play at 2B in two of the past three seasons. I have him projected to bat 2nd between Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley with Shane Victorino, who batted 6th in eleven games last season, moving down in the order. While Victorino had a higher OBP in '09 and far superior speed, Polanco is one of the hardest players in the game to strike out, which makes him valuable at the top of the lineup. The right-handed batter hit 10 HR's in '09, his highest total since 2004, and had a career-best 72 RBI's to go along with a .285 BA.
In other news, the Phils filled out their bench by signing veteran infielder Juan Castro to a one-year deal. The 37 year-old hit .277 (31-for-112) for the Dodgers in '09, playing mostly 2B, SS, 3B, and also playing in the outfield for the first time since 1996. Castro replaces free agent Eric Bruntlett.
UPDATE 12/1/09 - 11:33AM PST
The team filled its need for a backup catcher, signing veteran Brian Schneider to a two-year, $2.75M deal. The 33 year-old has been primarily a starter since 2003 but he's considered more of a backup at this point of his career. The left-handed batter will be a nice complement offensively to Carlos Ruiz, although his greatest value to the team will be his defense and leadership behind the plate.
UPDATE 11/27/09 - 9:25PM PST
LINEUP - Not much work to do here. Aside from 3B Pedro Feliz (.266 BA, 12 HR, 82 RBI), who could leave as a free agent, the entire lineup returns. Feliz is a solid defender but with multiple 3B options available on the free agent market, most notably Adrian Beltre and Chone Figgins, the Phillies could add more firepower to their already potent lineup and replace what was maybe the only weak link. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who had the lowest OBP of his career (.296 OBP), still had a productive season with 21 HR, 31 SB, 43 2B, and 77 RBI. Shane Victorino also continued to produce, hitting .292 with 10 HR, 13 3B, 39 2B, and 25 SB. Raul Ibañez (34 HR, 93 RBI) and Jayson Werth (36 HR, 99 RBI, 20 SB) each had career seasons and Ryan Howard (45 HR, 141 RBI) and Chase Utley (31 HR, 93 RBI, 23 SB) continue to be among the most feared hitters in the game.
ROTATION - If not for the acquisition of lefty Cliff Lee, the Phillies likely wouldn't have repeated as NL Champs. The 31 year-old went 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 12 regular season starts after being acquired from the Indians but he saved his best for the post-season, winning all four decisions and posting a 1.56 ERA in 5 starts. Meanwhile, Cole Hamels, who was the MVP of the NLCS and World Series in '08, went just 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA during the regular season before completely falling apart in the playoffs (7.58 ERA in 4 starts). Joe Blanton had a solid season (12-8, 4.05 ERA in 31 starts) and J.A. Happ went 10-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 23 starts. Those two will be in the rotation behind Lee and Hamels. The only question is the #5 spot. The team relied heavily on Pedro Martinez (5-1, 3.63 ERA in 9 starts) down the stretch but he's a free agent and will likely be rewarded for his performance with a bigger contract in 2010. Forty-seven year-old Jamie Moyer, who lost his rotation spot late in the season, is under contract and will be competing for the job. Left-hander Antonio Bastardo, who pitched well in 3 of 5 starts in June before landing on the DL with a shoulder strain, and Kyle Kendrick (9-7, 3.34 ERA in 24 AAA starts) will also be in the mix.
BULLPEN - After putting together one of the best seasons ever by a relief pitcher in 2008, Brad Lidge reverted back to the shaky closer he was with Houston a few seasons ago. The 32 year-old was 0-8 with a 7.21 ERA and 11 blown saves in 42 chances. Setup man Ryan Madson (3.26 ERA, 10 Sv, 26 holds in 79 relief appearances) might be a better option but plays just as an important role in the 8th inning. Also keep in mind that Scott Eyre (1.50 ERA, 13 holds) and Chan Ho Park (2.52 ERA, 13 holds in 38 relief appearances) are free agents. The middle-relief is solid with lefty J.C. Romero (2.70 ERA in 21 relief appearances) and right-handers Chad Durbin (4.39 ERA, 8 holds in 59 relief appearances) and Clay Condrey (6-2, 3.00 ERA, 7 holds in 45 relief appearances) but the Phillies might want to invest in another late-inning reliever just in case Lidge implodes once again.
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