BY SCOTT LAUBERGot back a little while ago from the Bank, where it was announced that Ruben Amaro Jr. has signed a three-year contract to be the Phillies' new general manager. Lots to get to, so without further ado ...
1. Amaro dismissed the notion that the Phillies will pursue free-agent slugger Manny Ramirez to play left field. "Manny Ramirez is obviously the finest offensive player out there," Amaro said. "He is going to be extremely costly. I don't want to laugh off the situation, but I think there's other ways to fill the role. We don't know what's going to happen with Pat Burrell yet. We haven't made a decision about whether he'll be our left fielder for next year and beyond. So, I can't really comment on Manny Ramirez at this time because we have to figure out what's going to happen with Pat."
2. Speaking of Burrell, Amaro said he has changed agents from Greg Genske to Philly-based Ed Hayes, and he intends to speak with Hayes within the next few days. Amaro already has contacted the agents for Jamie Moyer and Scott Eyre, and it seems the Phillies are hopeful they'll be able to re-sign both. Amaro said Moyer, who turns 46 in three weeks, seems to be seeking a multiyear contract. "He wants to pitch until he's 50, I think," Amaro said. "We'll have discussions about it, and we'll try to move pretty expeditiously on it."
3. Amaro said Pat Gillick has agreed to stay on as a paid consultant.
4. Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle has, in fact, resigned. Amaro said he expects that most of the other front-office personnel will remain intact. He said pro scouting director Chuck LaMar likely will be promoted (possibly to assistant GM?). LaMar, special assistant Charley Kerfeld, major-league scouting director Gordon Lakey and scouting/player development assistant Mike Ondo will be joining Amaro tonight at the GM meetings in Dana Point, Calif.
5. Gillick said he was extremely confident that the Phillies would beat the Rays in the World Series, mostly because of the job his scouts did during the ALCS. "LaMar, Kerfeld, [Jim] Fregosi [Jr.], Lakey and Hank [King], they did a hell of a job," Gillick said. "I mean, a hell of a job. We shut those two guys [Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena] down in the middle of the lineup. Everyone was like, 'How are you shutting them down?' We shut them down because we had the reports and our guys executed. That's why I felt so good with Moyer and [Cole] Hamels. We knew what we had to do. I figured we'd get three wins out of Hamels and Moyer, and then we've got to find another win from [Brett] Myers or [Joe] Blanton. They pitched great. They didn't get a home run, Longoria and Upton, did they?"
More later.
7 comments:
I could've sworn Moyer was one of the handful of guys who represent themselves?
Marcus: For a while, Moyer did represent himself. Now, he's back with Jim Bronner, who will handle the negotiations with the Phillies. Moyer, I'm sure, will be heavily involved, though.
Is there any chance the Phillies make some sort of splash this offseason?
Manny seems to be laughed off already.
What about CC?, Lowe? a trade for Holliday or Ordonez?
Why not Bradley if burrell leaves.
How about Gil Valezquez?
Thanks for the clarification on Moyer.. glad to know I'm not losing my entire brain. Would love to know the backstory on Steve Smith.. from my perspective, a lot of guys seemed to get thrown out at home, though I'm sure there was more to it than that.
Marcus: There is more to the Smith situation than simply his judgment on plays at the plate, although as a third-base coach, that is the primary basis on which he is judged. From what I've heard, Charlie Manuel wasn't very happy with Smith getting suspended for a few games back in September for disputing a call at first base.
Something to remember: Smith was never the Phillies' first choice to coach third base. They hired Art Howe before the '07 season, but he backed out of the contract to be Ron Washington's bench coach in Texas. Then, and only then, did they hire Smith.
Post a Comment