As the sting of the 73-89 season both fades and is aggravated by the World Series being on, the off-season is well under way. Here are a few thoughts by me on the events so far.
- While I think Pat Gillick is the smartest man in baseball, the Phillies interim President is posturing by saying the team won't contend for at least two years. As you all may re-call, he made the same comment on the day he traded Bobby Abreu in 2006. A little over a year later, they won the NL East. Gillick knows as well as anyone that once you put your team on a right-track, the pace back to being good is out of your control, or your best predictions. He may very well be right with this one, but that depends on how radical the makeover this Winter will be.
- I hated the idea of re-signing Jerome Williams back in the Summer, as I felt it would take away an opportunity from a younger arm. Given how the prospects ended up their Summer, and given Williams' flexibility to be a starter or long-man, I'm fine with this move. This probably means Kyle Kendrick is gone, and that is at least some financial savings.
- In line with that- Hamels, Lee, Buchanan, Williams, Morgan, Pettibone, Gonzalez, and maybe Burnett are the list of potential rotation contenders for next year. I personally want to see a front-end of the rotation veteran brought in through free agency or a trade. I don't think the rotation as constructed can contend.
- The re-signing of Grady Sizemore and the re-signing of Cesar Jimenez are both solid depth moves that could help the Phillies improve in 2015. Both played decently well in limited roles for the team this past season, but neither is much more than a role player.
- Saying goodbye to Tony Gwynn Jr., Andres Blanco, and Sean O'Sullivan were all welcome things. Signing John Hester is basically a depth move. All of this matters more to the IronPigs than the Phillies.
- Of course the Phillies are "ready to deal veterans" as they are saying to people, but that is little more than code for "dump Howard" in my eyes. Larry Bowa was on WIP talking about needing to be "more athletic" and "strike out less" as a team. Ryan Howard is extremely unlikely to be back, unless the Phillies decide they can't possibly pay $50 million plus for a player to play elsewhere. It's the right thing to do though, as Ruf, Franco, or Utley all make more sense in that position. Beyond that though, I have mixed feelings about trading a veteran. Byrd? Sure. Utley? I've been for that. Rollins? And do what? Hamels? I still haven't seen a return worth it. Papelbon? Of course.
