Usually, the annual general managers meetings is a group of executives getting together in a warm-weather locale to discuss rules changes and procedural issues. Rarely is it a hotbed for offseason activity. At most, it's the appetizer to the main course that is the winter meetings, which are held in December.But, this year, there's some intrigue at the GM meetings.
Because the free-agent market is thinner than Paris Hilton, more teams will resort to trades to fill their myriad needs. And the seeds for many of those deals will be planted this week when the 30 GMs (including seven new GMs) get together at a resort in Orlando. I'm not saying that Johan Santana, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera will be wearing new uniforms by week's end. I'm simply saying changes of address for those players and others will be discussed.
With the Yankees and Red Sox bracing for a potential bidding war over Mike Lowell, the answer to the Phillies' third-base problem may lie in Pat Gillick's ability to swing a trade. And if the Phillies don't land Curt Schilling and are unwilling to pay in years and dollars for someone like Carlos Silva or Kyle Lohse, they may have to acquire a starting pitcher through a trade, too.
But you must give something to get something, and Gillick has little to give. If the Phillies re-sign Aaron Rowand, they may be able to deal Shane Victorino. They have a small stable of pitching prospects (Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery, Josh Outman, Kyle Drabek, Andrew Carpenter, Antonio Bastardo, J.A. Happ), but it's hardly prudent to trade away young pitching. And Pat Burrell has a full no-trade clause.
That said, Gillick will probably have a few conversations this week with White Sox GM Kenny Williams about Jon Garland and Joe Crede. And he may have other discussions that involve Colorado's Garrett Atkins, Texas' Hank Blalock and maybe even Toronto's Troy Glaus.
So, once again, I'll ask you to step into Gillick's shoes. What trade would you like to see the Phillies make?
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Instant replay will be a topic of conversation this week. Gillick is in favor of using replay for boundary calls and fair or foul rulings on home runs. Do you want to see replay in baseball? Also within my Sunday notes, there's news that the Pirates have hired Phillies' triple-A manager John Russell as their new skipper. Here's more from Pittsburgh on that impending announcement.
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Check out Tuesday's 50-center to hear from Schilling, who will be in the area tomorrow for the 14th annual Curt Schilling ALS Golf Outing at Green Valley Country Club in Montgomery County, Pa. We'll have more on the GM meetings, as well.
4 comments:
I agree that if we are going to upgrade at 3B, more likely than not, it will come through a trade. I really can't see Mike Lowell landing here because I highly doubt Boston will let him go. So with that said, I would look into acquiring Joe Crede first and foremost. Even though he's coming off an injury, he'd be a much better fit in our lineup than Hank Blalock, another left-handed hitter. Plus, while Garret Atkins or Troy Glaus would be nice additions, Atkins would cost too much and Glaus is getting paid too much (unless we work out a deal where Toronto eats some salary). But still, I don't want to even imagine the basepaths next season with Howard, Burrell, and Glaus clogging them up. Go get Joe Crede!
Not to mention Glaus' name coming up in the papers about steroids not too long ago.
Glaus is too injury prone for me. He'd be a suitable DH.
Maybe Gillick can cross the Pacific and find us a Japanese star like Iwamura, who he passed on last year.
Even a Japanese bullpenner.
Think outside the box.
Paul W.: From what I've heard, the Phillies will be thinking outside the box, particularly when it comes to pitching. Hiroki Kuroda is the top available Japanese starter, and from what Ruben Amaro Jr. told me tonight (Tuesday), the Phils will be inquiring about him.
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