Preseason Favorites: Philadelphia Phillies or Boston Red Sox?

Well, pitchers and catchers report in exactly 26 days, but as the season begins, one may wonder who will win this World Series.

After last season, anything can happen.

There were six no hitters thrown last season, including two perfect games, but as “The Year of the Pitcher” turns into the 2011 season, anything could happen.

But in each league, there is clearly a preseason favorite.

After several offseason transactions, the Boston Red Sox are clear favorites to win the American League. Their two main transactions were the acquisitions of free-agent outfielder Carl Crawford and their trade for ex-San Diego Padre first-baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

After an injury-filled season in 2010, the Red Sox have a revamped offense for 2011. From start to finish, the Sox might have the strongest lineup in the MLB.

Their lineup could possibly end up like this:

1) Dustin Pedroia-2B

2) Carl Crawford-LF

3) Kevin Youkilis-3B

4) Adrian Gonzalez-1B

5) David Ortiz-DH

6) J.D. Drew-RF

7) Jarrod Saltalamacchia-C

8) Marco Scutaro-SS

9) Jacoby Ellsbury-CF

After catcher Victor Martinez left to the Detroit Tigers, the only player on the Red Sox starting lineup with less than a year of major league experience is catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. “Salty,” for those who have no idea how to say his last name, has always been highly touted as a prospect, but his inability to simply throw the ball back to the pitcher has caused his career to be halted.

As 2011 rolls around, Salty looks to prove to the rest of the world that he is fully capable of major-league backstop duties. Barring injury this upcoming season, the Red Sox have a very capable lineup, but unfortunately for the rest of the majors, the Sox lineup isn’t even their strong suit. 

With a rotation that bolsters five starters that have all had a season in which each has one at least 17 games, the Sox rotation is probably the deepest in the American league.

Their rotation might shape up like this:

LHP Jon Lester

RHP Clay Buchholz

RHP Josh Beckett

RHP John Lackey

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka

Lester might be the best left-handed pitcher in the game right now, Buchholz is fresh off of a season in which he recorded a 2.33 ERA and the rest of the staff has been dominant.

The only question marks in this rotation lay within the category of “Health.” Josh Beckett only pitched in 21 games last season and Matuszaka only pitched 25. If John Lackey, as well as the rest of the staff, can return to their former glory, the Sox may well have the deepest rotation in all of baseball.

However, only the Philadelphia Phillies may have a better rotation. As the old adage goes, “pitching wins games.” So, in an offseason where free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee looked destined to travel to either Arlington or the Bronx, the Phillies swept him up and brought him into their program.

Before the offseason started, the Phillies already had Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt and Joe Blanton under control, as well as 2010 Cy Young Award Winner Roy Halladay. So the first thing the Phillies decide to spend on? Cliff Lee.

With an unstoppable rotation, the Phillies have become clear cut the team to beat in the National League. But it’s fairly tough to win games based solely on pitching. One would think that with that kind of rotation, how is it possible to field a good offense?

Well, with the Phillies 2011 payroll currently residing at $164.825 million, they still have an amazing offense.

Here’s how it might play out:

1) Jimmy Rollins-SS

2) Shane Victorino-CF

3) Chase Utley-2B

4) Ryan Howard-1B

5) Raul Ibanez-LF

6) Domonic Brown-RF

7) Placido Polanco-3B

8) Carlos Ruiz-C

9) Pitcher’s Spot-P

As the 2011 season rolls around, the Phillies have two clear deficiencies. 

1: The lack of depth in their lineup.

The Phillies have the above players and…Ben Fransisco? In the playoffs, the Phillies might be able to get away with their 1-5 scoring runs, but the bottom half of their lineup is inconsistent and lacking pop.

Polanco has never hit over 17 home runs and Carlos Ruiz has never had a slugging percentage over .435. Rookie right fielder Domonic Brown has to step up and become a big-time player, because if he doesn’t, the Phillies might not be able to score very many runs this season. 

2: Their Bullpen

With Lidge coming off of a subpar (by his standards) season, this bullpen will have to work hard to maintain leads.

They lack a sufficient left handed innings eater and their “dependable” lefty is recently removed from his use of steroids. Although J.C. Romero has good numbers, he walks too many hitters, walking 29 in 32 innings in 2010. 

The World Series is destined to be Boston-Philadelphia, but what does 2011 have in store for us?

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Why the Young Domonic Brown Should Start the Year in AAA

When the Philadelphia Phillies selected outfielder Domonic Brown in the 20th round of the 2006 First Year Player Draft, they had no idea just what kind of steal they made.

Originally from Florida, the Phillies were one of the only teams to keep track of the young high school star when he moved to Georgia. After watching him play, they were so convinced in his baseball potential that they paid him a $200k signing bonus to play baseball in their organization, rather than going to college to play football.

Six years later, it’s safe to say the Phillies made a sound investment.

After a few solid years in the Phillies’ lower minor league system, Brown really broke onto the scene in 2010, splitting time with the Reading Phillies and Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and putting up an incredible slash line of .332 / .391 / .582, with 20 home runs, 68 RBI, and 17 stolen bases, demonstrating all of baseball’s “five tools.” With production like that under his minor league belt, the Phillies couldn’t hold him back much longer. When Shane Victorino hit the Disabled List in late July, the Phillies’ promoted Brown to the big club.

He made his debut on July 28, 2010, against the Arizona Diamondbacks, before an ecstatic Phillies’ crowd. Starting in right field, he put together an impressive debut, doubling to deep right in his first at-bat as the ball just missed going over the wall. When the day was done, Brown was two-for-three, with a double, a single, two RBIs and two runs scored to his name. Sadly, his season took a turn for the worst after that.

When Victorino returned from the Disabled List, Brown moved on to the Phillies’ bench. Though the team considered sending him back to AAA, he was regarded a better option off of the bench than a struggling Greg Dobbs, who was ultimately sent packing.

In hindsight, it probably was not the best decision by the team. The left hander struggled to find a groove, posting a collective slash line of .210 / .257 / .355, with two home runs and 13 RBI in 70 plate appearances.

That’s hardly a reason to sour on a prospect, however.

After all, when Ryan Howard made his debut with the Phillies in 2004, his “light tower power” was nowhere to be found, as he hit just two home runs in 19 games. It was much the same story for second baseman Chase Utley, who posted a slash line of .239 / .322 / .373, with two home runs for the Phillies in 43 games in 2003. However, that didn’t stop the Phillies from trading their incumbent second baseman Placido Polanco to the Detriot Tigers to make room for him.

More often than not, that’s the way things shake out for top prospects. Teams understand that transitioning to the Major League level and facing more advanced pitching is not simple.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that their talent won’t translate to the big leagues, as Howard and Utley have proved, along with a countless number of other top prospects. If teams can understand, we must do the same. Why then, should Brown begin the season in AAA?

When Jayson Werth hit free agency, the Phillies knew that there was little hope to re-sign him. He was, by far, the second best outfielder on the market, after Carl Crawford. After grooming Brown for so many years in the minor leagues, the Phillies hoped that Werth’s replacement would come from within the organization and would replicate his production without a hitch.

After watching Brown be completely overwhelmed by major league pitching in 2010, the Phillies clearly weren’t comfortable giving him the everyday job. They made an offer to Werth, and though it was a competitive offer, reportedly in line with what the Boston Red Sox offered the slugger, it was nowhere near what the Washington Nationals paid for the outfielder.

With a lack of other suitable options on the free agent market, it’s now apparent that Werth’s heir apparent will come from within the organization after all—whether or not that heir is Brown is another question entirely.

Brown’s struggles at the major league level were certainly not from a lack of talent. As reviewed on MLB Network’s Hot Stove, it was a lack of consistent playing time that really hurt Brown and for obvious reasons. Young players like him need to play everyday. Baseball is a sport of repetition, after all.

By the end of the season, sitting on the bench had influenced Brown’s swing in a negative way. The way he held his hands, his lack of timing, his stride—several integral parts of his swing had been thrown out of whack. He may have been able to get away with several tiny flaws in AAA, but not in the majors, where every hitter is reviewed and studied and when game time comes around, attacked in a specific way.

While using Brown solely against right-handed pitching was a necessary cog in the machine that was the Phillies’ bench, not exposing him to left-handed pitching is going to hurt him and Philadelphia in the future. Instead, they intend to use him again in a role that would see him face a majority of right-handed pitching—a platoon role, with right-handed hitter Ben Francisco.

Once again, the Phillies’ thinking, for the present, is spot on. According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Francisco and Brown are the pre-Spring Training favorites to break camp with the big-league club in right field. It makes sense. Brown, who completely destroyed right-handed pitching in the minor leagues, would team up with Francisco, who posted a strong .901 OPS against left-handed pitchers in 2010. It seems like a fantasy outfielder dreamed up in a video game, if both players slug to their potential. However, it is an extremely near-sighted move by the Phillies.

In order for that platoon to succeed, Brown will have had to have corrected his swing by Opening Day, and at this point, that seems highly unlikely. Like many young players, Brown made a trip to the Dominican Republic earlier in the offseason to play winter ball. He hit just .069, after collecting just two hits in 20 at-bats. Clearly, there are problems with his swing that the team is overlooking because of his potential. However, that isn’t the same as saying Brown has flamed out as a top prospect. Things like this take time to correct. It’s like breaking an ankle—walking again is a slow process, but we all know you can do it.

The Phillies, however, are cooking with a recipe for disaster.

There are two things you never want to force a young hitter into. One is changing his swing. A lot of times, slumps like these are a matter of comfort for a young hitter. It may take a month to fix, but eventually, he’ll find his groove again. It’s not going to take a drastic change to fix his swing. He just needs time.

The second is forcing a young hitter to correct his swing at the major league level. Despite what some people are led to believe, pitchers in the MLB are the elite of elites. These are men that are paid millions of dollars to expose a hitter’s weakness and like lions lying in wait, will jump all over that weakness in due time. Veteran hitters are able to go through slumps and rebound because of the experience they’ve acquired. However, baseball can be an intimidating sport for a young man.

If the Phillies want to avoid a prospect catastrophe, they’ll send Brown to AAA to begin the season, unless he can somehow correct his swing before Opening Day. Allowing him to play every day, against both right-handed and left-handed pitching, will be the key. If they allow him to play comfortably in AAA and call him up when he’s at his hottest, avoiding slumps like those experienced in 2010 won’t be a problem.

What about the “situation” in right field, you wonder?

There really never was a situation at all. An experienced left-handed hitter like Ross Gload would have no problem in a platoon. Used specifically against right-handed pitchers in 2010 as the team’s top left-handed threat off the bench, Gload had an OPS of .818 against lefties.

Combined with Francisco’s right-handed prowess, they combine for a one-year stopgap that isn’t all too shabby. Who knows? As I mentioned in this piece, the Phillies may have a budding superstar on their hands in Francisco. That makes starting Brown in AAA a smart, easy decision for the Phillies. Even if they sign a lefty outfielder on the cheap, like Scott Podsednik, finding successful left-handed hitters isn’t much of a challenge. On the other hand, finding a superstar is. With Brown in AAA, they’ll have options. If the platoon fails, they’ll have Brown to call on, and if it succeeds, Francisco will likely have played a large part in that success.

After all, with Raul Ibanez’s contract expiring after the 2011 season, the Phillies will have multiple holes in their outfield to fill, and in a perfect world, Francisco and Brown will make for a potent pair of corner outfielders. It all starts with a simple decision this year—let Brown start in AAA.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies Bullpen: Madson Reigns as Phillies’ Best Relief

With less than four weeks until pitchers and catchers are to report, the Philadelphia Phillies have already established the best rotation in baseball, and that is without knowing with a certainty that the fifth starter will be Joe Blanton or Kyle Kendrick. 

As of yesterday, Kendrick signed a one-year contract for $2.45 million, and Blanton is signed through the 2012 season being owed $17 million.  A lot of people had suspected that the Phillies would trade Blanton in order to free up some salary room after having signed Cliff Lee, as the Phillies are locked in at about $15 million more than what they had expected for 2011.  GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. stated that he does not feel comfortable dealing Blanton right now, and, honestly, there is no hurry to do so.

Dealing Blanton is still a definite possibility, if the proper situation arises, but Amaro is not actively seeking a deal.  If a team, such as the Minnesota Twins if they were unable to resign Carl Pavano, desires Blanton, there very well could be a trade, but there are no dealings currently on the table. 

That being said, Kendrick and Blanton were both starters in 2010 (see article on Blanton and Kendrick here: http://tinyurl.com/6e9p244), but Blanton will take the fifth spot in the starting rotation if he remains a Phillie, which will leave Kendrick coming out of the bullpen.

With Blanton being the fifth starter, the Phillies currently have Ryan Madson, Danys Baez, J.C. Romero, Jose Contreras and Kyle Kendrick, with Brad Lidge as the closing pitcher.  Kendrick is easily the youngest of the six pitchers in the bullpen, being the only one under 30 at the age of 26.  The rest of the pitchers are 30, 33, 34, 39 and 34, respectively.

The bullpen is certainly on the older side, and the performance of the bullpen has always been a question mark for the Phillies.  Looking at their statistics, Madson reigns easily above the rest, even though the numbers for Kendrick for 2010 are his numbers from starting, not relieving.

Their statistics show:

	ERA	WHIP	K/9	K/BB	W-L	IP	S	K	H-BB
Madson	2.55	1.04	10.87	4.92	6-2	53	5	64	42-13
Baez	5.48	1.64	5.29	1.22	3-4	47.2	0	28	55-23
Romero	3.68	1.61	6.87	.97	1-0	36.2	3	28	30-29
Contreras	3.34	1.22	9.05	3.56	6-4	56.2	4	57	53-16
Kendrick	4.73	1.37	4.19	1.71	11-10	180.2	0	84	199-49
Lidge	2.96	1.23	10.25	2.17	1-1	45.2	27	52	32-24

 

Of all of the relievers, Madson had the second most innings pitched in 2010, with the best ratio of walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP), most strikeouts per nine innings, most strikeouts per walk, most strikeouts and fewest walks (excluding Kendrick since he was a starter) and, most importantly, he allowed the fewest earned runs for the best ERA.

Madson is the future of the Phillies bullpen, and, since his contract expires after this season, it would be of the team’s best interest to extend his contract soon.  He is young and the best producing reliever on the team, and his numbers made great improvements in 2010, which shows he is growing as a pitcher. Overall, Madson has proven that he is a reliable and dependable pitcher, more so than any of the other relief options that the Phillies have to offer.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Jimmy Rollins Needs To Be the Cataylst Again in 2011

Philadelphia fans waited all year for it in 2010, but it never came.  Despite an offense that collectively slumped, they managed to maintain the league’s overall best record with 97 wins.  The “it” that I’m referring to is production from shortstop Jimmy Rollins. 

It’s clear that where Rollins goes, so too does the offense.  In 2010, Rollins struggled with injuries and hit just .243.  This was critical and had a lasting effect on the offense as they had a “down” year.  This just further proves the point that Rollins is the catalyst of this offense. 

The story will again be the same in 2011. This offense will live and die by Rollins’ production.  In hitting out of the lead-off spot, Rollins must be the sparkplug if the Phillies are to succeed.  

Certainly their pitching could be historic, but they can’t rely on pitching alone.  The offense now needs to have a bounce-back year collectively.  That’s right!  As a group, the Phillies’ offense didn’t deliver from one through eight.  This 2011 season will be very telling for the futures of many on this team as the expectations are the highest in team history. 

Manager Charlie Manuel knows his players better than any manager in baseball.  That being said, he also knows that his lineup can hit much better than they did in 2010.  Manuel and GM Ruben Amaro Jr. are calling on Rollins to produce big numbers this year or his tenure as a Phillie may end. 

When called on to perform, Rollins always seems to live up to the task.  His 2007 MVP season, which mind you is far in the rear-view mirror, is proof of that.  The undersized Rollins was “the man” in Philadelphia and had himself a huge season.  Rollins did all the things his coaches had always guided him to do and he finally “got it.” 

You see, in the beginning Rollins was portrayed as having an “attitude.”  While many within the organization disliked this, there was no denying his talent level.  To Rollins though, this wasn’t attitude but rather “swag.”

His transformation into a consistent lead-off hitter took quite a while but eventually paid off in full.  By 2007, at just 28 years old, Rollins had taken his game to the next level.

The Phillies would go on to win the 2008 World Series but Rollins was lost among talented sluggers like Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.  Rollins has often been forgotten over the past few seasons since. 

Obviously 2007 was a banner year for J-Roll; one that he won’t be able to duplicate.  He set many career highs and upped the standards of the model two-way shortstop.  Additionally, Rollins led the league with 20 triples, 716 at-bats, 139 runs scored and played in all 162 games, plus the playoffs.  For that season at least, he was the toast of shortstops and the MLB in general. 

This is a contract year for Rollins, thus another call for the multi-faceted shortstop to shine.  He’s still appreciated as an elite defensive shortstop but needs to regain his swing and “swag.”  Now seen as a part of the veteran core, Rollins must prove to everyone that he’s worthy of a new contract. 

Whether it’s his traditional lead-off spot or not, Rollins must find ways to produce.  To be quite frank, no matter where he hits in the lineup, he always seems to be the catalyst.  Rollins needs to be there to give this offense that extra oomph.  With his leading the way, the group can return to form and make 2011 a year to remember.

Jimmy Rollins has the ability to wow each of us on any given day.  Whether it’d be with his bat, arm or legs, he can definitely do just that.  So go ahead Jimmy.  Wow us again!

With the Phillies’ recent pitching rotation, people tend to forget just how good this offense can be.  Rollins needs to be a large part of that in 2011.  If he is, the Phillies might be riding on the back of those flatbed trucks into a sea of joy down South Broad St. come October. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Reasons Cole Hamels Could Be Moved Before 2012

The Phillies made a big offseason move this year by signing of Cliff Lee.  With Lee, Halladay, and Oswalt in the rotation, the four and five spots have become somewhat of a lesser importance to the team.  There have been rumors for a few seasons now that the Phillies want to trade Cole Hamels.  Here are 10 reasons why they just may do that by 2012.

Begin Slideshow

Cliff Lee: The Real Reason He Signed with the Philadelphia Phillies

Unless you live under a rock, you have heard Cliff Lee is coming back to Philadelphia. As familiar as this may sound now, think back to what your reaction was a little more than a month ago when this shocking announcement was made.

Phillies fans were in utter disbelief. They had many questions, all of which were difficult to answer.

How did the Phillies have enough money to sign the most sought after player on the market to a multiyear, multimillion dollar deal, especially after that being the main reason not to re-sign Jayson Werth?

Why would Cliff Lee want to sign with the Phillies, when the Yankees offered him more years and more money and the Rangers were the closest team to his home?

Didn’t the Phillies just trade Lee one offseason ago? Why would Lee want to come back to Philly after how management treated him following the previous year’s World Series run?

All of these are very understandable, putting into question the reason which drove Cliff Lee to return to the city of brotherly love.

There are many reasons that people say why Cliff Lee chose Philadelphia as opposed to New York, Arlington or other cities that may have been in the hunt.

Two reasons clearly stand out.

The first is fairly obvious: Cliff Lee is committed to winning.

After he won the Cy Young Award in 2008 for the Indians, Lee became recognized in the national spotlight. He was traded to the Phillies in the midseason of 2009 and has not looked back since.

Lee has enjoyed two deep playoff runs, and in both of these, he was the featured pitcher on his staff. He has been treated with postseason success and loves pitching in big games.

However, Cliff Lee has been on the losing side of both of the last two World Series.

He has a bitter taste left in his mouth, with something not yet accomplished: a World Series ring to add to his resume.

The Phillies and their four aces give Cliff Lee the best chance at winning his first World Series. Lee is committed to winning, and no other team out there gave him the same opportunity. And who wouldn’t want to be in the same rotation as Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels?

Winning is definitely what keeps the fans excited, but this still does not completely explain why Cliff Lee came back to Philly. It is only one of the two reasons why he came back, and arguably the least important of two.

Cliff Lee was once just a mediocre college baseball player. He went to Meridian Community College and later transferred to Arkansas. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos but was never a standout player in their organization.

Back before Cliff Lee had any baseball career or fame, all he had was his family. He had his wife, Kristen, and his infant, Jaxon.

Jaxon was diagnosed with leukemia at four months old while Cliff was still in the minor leagues. He had a 30 percent chance of living. Lee could not believe the news and was in complete shock.

Jaxon suffered various setbacks during the process, but he fought through the cancer the whole time. Lee never liked to talk about the illness, even though he spent much of his time in the hospital.

Lee’s son received a bone marrow transplant that saved his life, and Lee’s performance on the field paralleled his son’s improvement in the hospital.

Lee’s son was diagnosed as cancer free in 2006 when he was five years old.  But during the Lee family’s quick stop in Philadelphia more than a year ago, they found something that offered them insurance in case anything every happened.

The Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia is ranked as one of the top children’s hospitals in the August 2010 issue of U.S. News and World Report. The Lee family felt really comfortable with this hospital treating their son if anything ever came back up.

Cliff Lee is all about the family, his first priority even before baseball.

So why did Cliff Lee return to Philadelphia after all? 

Maybe his return was about more than just the game: the security of his family.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies Avoid Arbitration in 2011 by Signing Kyle Kendrick

The Phillies locked up their final arbitration eligible player today by signing pitcher Kyle Kendrick to a one-year, $2.45 million dollar deal.  Ben Francisco signed this past Saturday as well.  His contract is also for one-year and totals $1.175 million.

To start the year, Kendrick will wind up in one of two places.  If Joe Blanton is traded, Kendrick will be the favorite to win the fifth starters spot.  If Blanton stays, Kendrick can take over the long-man job in the bullpen that was vacated by the still unsigned Chad Durbin.

The nice part about avoiding arbitration for the Phillies is having less drama going into Spring Training.  This is especially true for Kendrick, who seemed constantly conflicted about his role with the team in traveling back and forth to the minors

The only thing Kendrick has to worry about now is pitching.  This kind of focus, without the unnecessary distraction of a hearing, is exactly what Kendrick needs to be successful.

It has been a busy off-season for Kendrick.  He got married to Stephanie LaGrossa, bringing the second Survivor contestant into the Phillies family.  Heidi Hamels is the other former Survivor.   And now, Kendrick can add “millionaire” to his resume.

But the best part of his new-found stability is that Kendrick will probably not fall for any more “you have been traded to Japan” pranks. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

MLB Hot Stove: Who Are the Philadelphia Phillies After?

Since signing Cliff Lee to a surprising five-year contract, the Philadelphia Phillies have been eerily quiet in the market this offseason.

The team certainly isn’t going to make any splashes quite as large as it did with the Lee signing, but by no means does that mean that the franchise isn’t going to build depth for another possible World Series run.

With GM Ruben Amaro Jr. expressing an extreme desire to keep promising outfield prospect Domonic Brown in Triple-A to begin the 2011 regular season, incumbent Ben Francisco is expected to see a major increase in playing time given the departure of Jayson Werth to the Washington Nationals.

Although the team doesn’t have much too much left to spend, they have the best starting rotation in baseball with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt in the fold. And with a still-potent offense that is highlighted by slugger Ryan Howard and extraordinary second baseman Chase Utley, this Phillies team could be one of the better squads in recent history.

Let’s take a look at some possible names that the Phillies could still be targeting as Spring Training rapidly approaches.

John Maine, Starting Pitcher

Maine was non-tendered by the New York Mets after spending the majority of the 2010 season on the shelf following shoulder surgery.

Slated for a major role in the Mets rotation, Maine was a major disappointment and has never been quite as effective as he was during a magical 2007 season when he won 15 games.

Maine is primarily a fastball pitcher and perhaps repeated shoulder troubles have sapped the life on his fastball, because he’s not fooling anyone. For the Phillies, he would serve as depth for the rotation should the team be able to work out a deal for SP Joe Blanton to pitch elsewhere. 

If signed, he’s nowhere near a sure bet to make the final roster. He could pitch in relief, but that’s a long shot to happen.

Chad Durbin, Relief Pitcher

Durbin and the team have reportedly exchanged terms on a potential contract agreement, but it seems that the two sides are still a bit apart in negotiations for a new deal.

The journeyman reliever has spent the last three seasons in Philadelphia, and this last season was his best since 2008.

Although the Phils have a rather crowded bullpen, if Durbin reaches an agreement with the team he should carve out a role without any trouble at all.

His demands aren’t thought to be incredibly lucrative, but the Phillies may nonetheless be hesitant to shell out the type of dough that he’s in search of.

Scott Podsednik, Outfielder

After finishing up the regular season with the Dodgers, Podsednik declined his player option with the team but has yet to find a job this offseason.

Despite being 34 years old, Podsednik managed to swipe 35 bags last season, the majority of which were accumulated before mid-August. Batting .297, it’s clear that he still has the tools to serve as an asset to a team looking for a leadoff hitter.

However, Pods doesn’t exactly offer up much in terms of anything outside of speed and batting average, and with most teams preferring increased offense in the outfield, he may be relegated to a backup role. 

If the team feels uncomfortable with Francisco, Pods could be a great left-handed option to platoon with and potentially even take over the full-time role until Brown is ready.

Justin Duchscherer, Starting Pitcher

After being reported that both the Yankees and Red Sox have had interest in the former ace of the Oakland A’s, the interest in Duchscherer has been rather sparse of late.

Because he’s been rather injury-prone over the last few seasons, it’s understandable that most teams would be hesitant to roll the dice. However, Duch is a very effective starter when healthy, and just one look at his impressive 2008 season will tell anyone exactly that.

He shouldn’t command much more than a $1 million base salary with built-in incentives in the contract, and the Phillies could have a potential steal and one of the best number five starters in the entire National League.

Jerry Hairston Jr., Infielder/Outfielder

With his brother Scott recently signing a minor league accord with the New York Mets, Jerry is hoping to find a new home sooner rather than later.

After spending last season in San Diego and hitting .244 with 10 HR in just over 400 AB, Hairston should at least be able to find a spot at the end of the Phils’ bench if they can’t secure a more attractive option.

Hairston could serve as a nifty insurance policy to Chase Utley in the infield, as well as Placido Polanco at 3B given his history of health issues throughout the years. Hairston’s versatility would serve the team in a multitude of ways.

Manny Ramirez, Outfielder

Although this possibility is obviously a little far-fetched, Ramirez would really be a great addition for the Phillies.

Rather than rolling out a platoon of Ben Francisco and another player (TBD), Ramirez could serve as the everyday right fielder in a Citizens Bank ballpark that would serve to inflate his stats coming off of a down season.

Although they may be the worst defensive outfield in quite some time with the aging Ibanez in left field, the offensive production would be enough to disregard the ineptitude on defense.

If the price drops enough where Philadelphia can make a serious offer, Ramirez would be hard pressed to say no as this would be his best chance to securing another World Series ring before retirement. 

Michael Young, 3B/DH

With the signing of Adrian Beltre, it’s clear that the Texas Rangers don’t view the overpaid Young as part of the long-term future.

Despite the team indicating that he’ll serve as the full-time designated hitter, it’s no secret that the franchise would love to move his massive contract in the right deal.

In a rare situation where the trade could serve to benefit both sides: The Phillies could send Raul Ibanez to Texas as he has just a single year remaining on his deal, and take on Young and the remaining tenure of his deal.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Spring Fever: 10 Keys To a Philadelphia Phillies World Series Victory

As the spring draws closer, the talk of pitchers and catchers starts circulating amongst the fans.

Philadelphia Phillies fans, and baseball fans in general, start to grow restless as thoughts of home runs and Cy Young Awards dance in their heads.

With a tumultuous offseason almost over, the Phillies roster has been altered in a big way.  It will be interesting to see the effects of the big addition of pitcher Cliff Lee and the departure of right-handed hitter Jayson Werth.

The following list consists of 10 things that have to happen for the Philadelphia Phillies to have a shot at another World Series win.

The wait for spring training is on and the let the excitement grow, Enjoy!

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: 10 Reasons Rollins, Utley Will Return to Form in 2011

Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley make up a deadly combination in the middle of the infield. Both of these players are dynamic in the field and at the plate. However, both of these players are coming off of a season that does not show their best performances. That being said, Rollins and Utley have shown some signs of growth as players, and they will be back to their normal caliber, or perhaps better, for 2011 if they can both avoid the disabled list where both spent a great deal of time in 2010.

Expect Rollins and Utley to have a bounce back year in 2011.

Begin Slideshow

« Previous Page — Next Page »