NASHVILLE -- Good morning, and welcome to Day 2 of the winter meetings. You know you're in Nashville when the TV in your room is pre-programmed to Country Music Television and a bad Elvis lookalike opens the door to the hotel lobby. Yeah, it's definitely a different atmosphere around here.I should mention that we're in the Central time zone, one hour behind y'all back home. So, if things seem like they're developing slowly here, that's probably why. Of course, the sluggish pace also has something to do with the lack of talent in the pitching pool, where the Phillies are doing most of their fishing. But Pat Gillick said yesterday that he remains optimistic that they'll get something done this week before heading home.
In today's 50-center, we theorized why the Phillies may have trouble luring pitching help. Although Gillick insists he hasn't heard much griping from agents, indications are that Citizens Bank Park is a deterrent to free-agent pitchers. It certainly was for Randy Wolf, who spurned the Phillies to pitch in spacious Petco Park. Wolf, who needs a good 2008 season to revive a career stalled by injuries, believes pitching in the Bank would hinder that cause. It's hard to disagree.
Talked to Rockies scout (and Milford, Del., resident) Will George yesterday. The Rockies face a similar problem, fighting the reputation of Coors Field. Several years ago, they concluded they'd be better off drafting and developing their own pitchers than overspending for free agents like Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle. The Phillies have developed their own with Cole Hamels, Brett Myers and Kyle Kendrick. Maybe the rotation gets significantly better only when Carlos Carrasco and Joe Savery are ready.
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Aaron Rowand was a big topic of conversation yesterday, and he surely will continue to be for the rest of the week. From everything we heard, it certainly seems like the market is receding as long as he continues to desire a five-year contract. Apparently, other reporters are hearing the same thing. Here's what they're writing about Rowand in Chicago and in Los Angeles.
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OK, time to start trolling the lobby. We'll be back with updates throughout the day.
5 comments:
how real are the bedard rumors? i'd give up the farm to grab him. with this lineup and a 1-2-3 of bedard/hamels/myers you could basically print playoff tickets.
Joel Sherman of the NY Post says the Phillies and Tigers are being creative, trying to find some way to get Bedard.
Is this true?
Scott,
Despite all the talk about payroll, budget limits, etc., this is what the Phillies NEED to do. These are all rumors I've heard floating around the Internet; I can't speak to their 100% legitimacy, but they all seem fairly reasonable, at least from a personnel standpoint:
1) Trade the farm for Bedard. Some combination of Victorino, Madson, Cardenas, Carrasco, Savery, Drabek. Whatever the O's want, and take back on Melvin Mora's contract as well. You'll see why.
2) Trade Helms for Farnsworth. This one just won't die, and it would plug a bullpen hole somewhat.
3) Break the bank for Rowand. Screw it. Give him four years, 12 million a year, and if he still won't take that, give him an option for the fifth. It's a huge risk that probably won't pay off, but we don't have time to screw around.
Yes, those moves would increase the payroll by huge leaps and bounds, but it would also a) almost insure, despite unforeseen injuries, a World Series berth, and b) show this town that the team is committed to winning with this amazing core of superstars. They can't expect to plug holes with Livan Hernandez or Pedro Felix and expect to seriously compete next year. At best, they'd have to hope that 2008 plays out exactly like 2007 did, and that's a crap shoot at best. If ownership really cared, they'd take their best shot this year, because the NL is wide-open and there are some serious moves to be made.
Jamie, King Myno and others: The Orioles are talking about trading Bedard, but it'll probably take more than the Phillies have to get it done. Word around the lobby is the O's turned down the Mets' offer of Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber and Aaron Heilman. The Phillies don't have a package that strong.
I'll ask around to see if there's anything more to it.
vic kendric carrasco cardenas. thats way better than the mets offer. and i'd do it for bedard. you get two years out of him and maybe an extension.
hamels myers bedard would get you into the playoffs certainly. all 3 guys would probably strikeout over 200 a piece.
i'd do whatever it takes to get bedard.
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