Philadelphia Phillies Round-Up: Blockbuster Speculation, Carpenter Nailed & More

Finally, Spring Training is here and the Philadelphia Phillies have had quite a busy week. With all pitchers and catchers in Clearwater, Fla. and accounted for, the Phillies have begun their season-long quest for postseason greatness once again.

In fact, with the arrival of Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino to camp yesterday afternoon, all of the Phillies’ big names are already in Clearwater, despite the mandatory reporting date for position players still a few days away.

In an interview with reporters this morning, Chase Utley said it best, “We’re pretty hungry.”

So with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the news and notes coming out of Phillies’ camp this week.

After several chances with the big league club and numerous failures, the Phillies have finally seen enough of right-handed starting pitcher, Drew Carpenter. The Phillies made a small roster move yesterday when they claimed right-handed reliever and former Phillies’ prospect Brian Schlitter off waivers from the New York Yankees. To make room for the new reliever, the Phillies’ designated Carpenter for assignment, effectively removing him from the 40-man roster.

Carpenter, 25, has been somewhat of a disappointment for the Phillies. Once upon a time, they thought very highly of his “stuff,” and saw him as a future staple in the rotation. Obviously, that never came to fruition.

He’s appeared in nine games with the big league Phillies and posted a record of 1-1 with an ERA of 9.31. His minor league career isn’t much better. After going 17-6 with the Phillies’ A+ club in 2007, Carpenter has been on a steady decline and last season with the Phillies’ AAA club posted an ERA of 4.05.

Schlitter, 25, is joining the Phillies for his second stint with the club. After drafting him in the 16th round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft, the Phillies traded him to the Chicago Cubs during the 2008 season for an integral part of that World Series roster—left-handed specialist, Scott Eyre. Now, after being claimed on waivers by the Yankees earlier in the offseason, Schlitter re-joins the Phillies, taking Carpenter’s spot on the 40-man roster.

Though his major league debut in 2010 wasn’t very impressive—an 0-1 record to go along with a 12.38 ERA in eight innings with the Cubs—Schlitter has had some impressive minor league seasons. Most recently, with the Cubs’ AAA affiliate, he logged 45.2 innings and compiled an ERA of 3.15.

Plain and simple, the Phillies grew tired of waiting for Carpenter to develop. At this point in his career, he’s nothing more for insurance of the “injury apocalypse.” I’d say the Phillies are comfortable with Kyle Kendrick, Vance Worley and David Herndon all on the depth chart in front of him. While he can still pass through waivers and rejoin the Phillies, more than likely, he’s seen the last of Philadelphia.

After the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension by Wednesday afternoon’s deadline, trade speculation began to spread like wildfire, despite the fact that Pujols has echoed his sentiments that he will not allow a trade, thanks to his 10-and-5 rights and that he “want(s) to be a Cardinal forever.”

Well, remember those crazy Pujols for Ryan Howard rumors from last offseason? They’re back.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, in a piece he makes perfectly clear is pure speculation on his behalf, the senior analyst writes that the Phillies and Cardinals could agree to a blockbuster deal in the future. Of course, the main components of the deal would be Howard and Pujols.

In his proposed deal, which is actually a back-up plan in an attempt to swap Pujols with Mark Teixeira of the Yankees, Rosenthal makes a lot of interesting points. Howard, who’s five-year, $125 million contract extension kicks in following the 2011 season, isn’t all too shabby of a consolation prize. The prolific slugger is a native of St. Louis, and though he has a partial no-trade clause, he would surely go home to play with the Cardinals.

Pujols to the Phillies, on the other hand, makes more sense than anything in baseball. The Phillies, who feature a lineup that is predominantly left handed, would be adding the game’s greatest right handed hitter, and as Rosenthal notes, “Pujols in Citizens’ Bank Park would be even more frightening than Pujols in Yankee Stadium.”

I think “terrifying” is the term Mr. Rosenthal was looking for. He also notes the Cardinals taking on Howard’s contract would allow the Phillies, who’s actual payroll situation is unknown, to commit to Pujols over a long span of time.

At this point, it’s speculation, but we can dream.

The Phillies also expressed some interest in adding minor league depth this week, when Jim Salisbury of CSNphilly.com reported they were one of the few teams remaining on John Maine’s wish list. Maine, who would provide insurance in the event of an injury, is recovering from shoulder surgery and would have to battle the likes of Kendrick and Worley on the depth chart. At least Carpenter is out of the picture.

Maine, 29, last pitched for the New York Mets in 2010, where he posted a record of 1-3, with an ERA of 6.13. Over the course of his career, he hasn’t been much better. He is the owner of a lifetime record of 41-36, with an ERA of 4.35. The more we talk about him, the more he sounds like Kendrick. Unlike the current Phillies’ long man, however, Maine’s health and durability have been question marks over the last few seasons.

He does have a few options remaining. If he doesn’t want to battle it out in the Phillies’ camp, the Kansas City Royals have also expressed interest in the right hander, most likely as a one year stop-gap before their top prospects hit the major leagues.

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