2012 Philadelphia Phillies: Why Signing Jim Thome Can Be Low-Risk, High-Reward

The announcement was just made and confirmed by Phillies.com: Jim Thome is returning to the Philadelphia Phillies, pending a physical.

For the Phillies, signing 1B Jim Thome didn’t exactly come as a surprise. The pieces were in place to bring Thome back last season, but ultimately he was traded to another of his former teams, the Cleveland Indians.

With Thome back in the clubhouse, it is sure to boost the spirits of fans and players alike. Although he has played barely any defense since being traded from the Phillies to the White Sox, it looks that he might be called to do that for the Phillies.

It will be an interesting move to see what the 41-year-old has left. In a seemingly low-risk, high-reward move, the Phillies could be rewarded big time for bringing the adored superstar back to Philadelphia.

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Jim Thome Signs 1-Year Deal with Philadelphia Phillies: What It Means for Them

Jim Thome has agreed to a one-year, 1.25 million dollar deal with the Phillies according to Todd Zolecki at MLB.com.

Thome could be one of the missing pieces in the Phillies’ lineup, but how effective can he be?

What follows is a quick breakdown of what Thome’s signing means for the Phillies.

 

Cover for Ryan Howard:

First and foremost, Ryan Howard will miss the beginning of the 2012 season. Thome could start at first base in his stead if he is in good shape. Thome has primarily played designated hitter since 2006 so his fielding could definitely be an issue.

 

Left-Handed Power Batter:

Thome’s addition gives the Phillies a left-handed power batter, which they have been lacking for some time. Thome managed 15 HR and 50 RBIs in only 277 at-bats during the 2011 season. The trouble will be finding at-bats for Thome once Howard returns. Will he be an effective pinch hitter?

 

Potential Injury Risk:

Thome is 41 years old and has struggled with recurring back problems in the past. The Phillies obviously don’t see him as too much of a risk, but this seems like a step in the wrong direction if the Phillies are trying to become a younger team. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke about getting younger back in October:

“I think we do have to try to get young if we can. It’s not easy to do. We did get a little younger with our staffs. At some point, we’re going to have to get younger with our position players. It’s a young game, and it’s played by young players.”

 

Despite these comments and his age, Thome will get a chance to show the Phillies that he still has gas in the tank.

 

It was Thome’s season-ending right shoulder injury that gave Ryan Howard his chance to steal the starting role at first base back in 2005. Now, Thome is being given a final shot to come back and help the Phillies win a World Series.

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Reunited: Philadelphia Phillies Bring Jim Thome Back into Fold

Reunited and it feels so good.

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ official website has confirmed that the team has signed first baseman Jim Thome to a one-year contract, roughly in the $1.25 million dollar range.

The deal was first reported by Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, and Jim Sailisbury of CSNPhilly followed with more contract details shortly thereafter.

Thome first signed with the Phillies prior to the 2003 season and is widely credited with helping to turn the organization around from an annual pretender to a perennial contender.

He posted a slash line of .260 / .386 / .543 with the Phillies, hitting 96 home runs and collecting 260 RBI. Though productive, the emergence of slugging first baseman Ryan Howard made Thome expendable, and the Phillies dealt him to the Chicago White Sox prior to the 2006 season in exchange for outfielder Aaron Rowand.

For some, a reunion between the Phillies and Thome was inevitable. With Ross Gload and his fraying hip hitting the free agent market, the Phils were in desperate need of a legitimate threat off the bench against right-handed pitching.

By signing Thome, the Phillies not only filled that requirement (.822 OPS vs. right handed pitchers) but also signed a legitimate threat versus left handed pitching (.878 OPS vs. lefties.)

That said, the Phillies may still be in the market for a left-handed pinch hitter. With first baseman Ryan Howard slated to miss the beginning of the 2012 regular season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, Thome provides an option for manager Charlie Manuel at first base.

Questions exist about his actual ability to play the field, something he has not done regularly since leaving the Phillies.

Eventually, Howard will return to the Phillies’ lineup as the everyday first baseman, and Thome will take over the role as the team’s primary pinch hitter.

Though some wonder whether or not he’ll be able to stay sharp enough in that role, Thome certainly believes he can. After all, his first choice was to return to the Phillies during last year’s waiver period, but he was instead claimed by the Cleveland Indians.

Regardless of whether or not he can succeed, the Phillies’ offseason opening salvo has been fired. Jim Thome is once again a member of the Phillies.

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Jimmy Rollins and the 10 Greatest Shortstops in Philadelphia Phillies History

With the free agency period officially underway, baseball fans everywhere are celebrating the beginning of another exciting off-season with a Christmas-like jubilation, and as free agents became eligible to sign with other teams at the stroke of midnight in the wee hours of Thursday morning, with most fans tucked into their beds and fast asleep, not a creature was stirring—except for Jimmy Rollins, who is about to get paid.

The longtime Philadelphia Phillies‘ shortstop if officially a free agent, and though the club would love to have him back, as Cliff Lee proved last season—anything is possible. With few talented shortstops available, Rollins is sure to make a splash in the free agent pool, and though most believe he will eventually return to the club that drafted him nearly two decades ago, no one is certain.

So many fans have only known Rollins as the Phillies’ shortstop, and to be quite honest, watching anyone aside from him playing the position moving forward is going to be different. Whether it was the youngster with dreads that made his debut wearing number 29 or the veteran with the shaved head that has made a name for himself wearing number 11, it wouldn’t be normal to see the man who helped guide this franchise to success wear another team’s colors in 2012.

Rollins is more than just a familiar face at shortstop, however. He’s also one of the organization’s all-time great.

Now that his future with the Phillies is uncertain, what better time to reflect on the career of the Phillies’ longtime shortstop than now? Though many shortstops have come through the organization, it is hard to believe that any have had a larger impact on the franchise than Rollins. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 best shortstops in Phillies history.

Maybe, by the end of this list, we will have a better understanding of what Rollins means to the Phillies, and the history of shortstops that have come before him. Is he the greatest of all time?

Time to find out.

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MLB Trade Rumors: With Little Left at Third, Could Phils Make It Wright?

Every offseason is filled with anticipation and trepidation. It’s a time to reflect on the wrongs of the past, a time to be hopeful for the upcoming spring. As baseball enthusiasts prepare for a long hibernation period, trade rumors and free-agent talk become the acorns that sustain true baseball nuts.

Most teams have major moves and decisions to make but no team’s needs appear as pressing as the Philadelphia Phillies. After keeping much of their team intact for the past five years, they will be forced to make some tough decisions on key players. 

Since 2008 Philadelphia has watched a steady regression of a team expected to amass serious hardware. Young scrappers who played baseball the way we demanded have become hobbled shells of their former selves. So what must this team do to stay relevant? With a window rapidly closing they must continue to mortgage their future for the present, and I believe that starts with acquiring David Wright.

There have been rumors swirling around Wright for the past two weeks. With the Mets looking like bottom dwellers for the foreseeable future, prospects and inexpensive major league talent might get the job done—think Domonic Brown and Vance Worley at Citi Field next year.  

David Wright is a player this city would fall in love with. And it wouldn’t be the first time our hearts went to mush for a one-time enemy. Remember Pete Rose and Lenny Dykstra?

Wright plays a Gold Glove third base and is eerily similar to Chase Utley in his offensive prime. He is under contract for the next two years, and although expensive, his production, leadership and youth would serve this team well.

With Wright solidifying third base, Placido Polanco could rest his aging bones at first base while Ryan Howard recovers from an Achilles tear. Polanco, a productive but injury-prone veteran, would benefit greatly from the addition of Wright. A decreased workload in the field could lead to a major boost in offensive output. 

Utley and Polanco could also flip-flop between first and second, giving Utley some valuable relief to his damaged frame. With just one new player, the Phils have given their infield and bench remarkable flexibility. Charlie Manuel has to find a way to keep his aging veterans fresh for the playoffs, and Wright gives them that solution.

Of course, in landing Wright you would most likely say goodbye to team leader Jimmy Rollins. There is only so much money to go around, and this bullpen must be addressed as well. Rollins has been a tremendous player over his career and would be sorely missed. 

There are cheaper alternatives out there in free agency. Sadly, none will rival Rollins’s skill set and patented J-Rol swagger. At this stage of their careers, though, it appears that Wright is still peaking, and Rollins is trending downwards.

Baseball, like life, is filled with difficult decisions. Ruben Amaro Jr. has done a very good job at making the tough calls. He will have to do so again before the window seals and the curtains are drawn.

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Philadelphia Phillies: The Great Debate over Jimmy Rollins

When the clock ticked past the start of free agency, it may have also began the countdown toward the end of the career of a Philadelphia Phillies cornerstone and fan favorite.

With veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins about to test the waters of free agency for the first time in his 11-year career, the front office is facing one of the most difficult decisions in recent memory.

Rollins’ value to the team over the past decade has been immeasurable, as he has managed to combine outspoken leadership with confident play on the diamond. Though he has hit his speed bumps with fans and managers over the years, J-Roll has worked his way into the hearts of historically hard-to-please Philadelphians. 

However, the question is not how much to pay the infielder for his services that crowds have flocked to see on a nightly basis.

The debate centers around if the team should even keep him on the payroll next season at the risk of committing to a declining player who relies on his body to fuel his game.

Rollins will be 33 years of age when the 2012 season opens, playing in the first year of a new deal. All that remains to be seen is whether General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will open up his checkbook and reward the loyalty of a Philadelphia mainstay or allow him to chase greener pastures.

There are legitimate reasons on both sides of the argument concerning the future of the face of the Phils. Is Rollins nothing more than an aging athlete falling out his prime, or is he an indispensable piece of a team that is on the cusp of another title?

Should he stay or should he go?

You decide.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking Each Player’s Importance to 2012 World Series

The 2011 season was a complete and utter failure for the Philadelphia Phillies, and there will be no two ways about it. Sure, you could point to obvious (and trivial) facts like, for instance, the team had the best record in all of baseball, home field advantage throughout the duration of their postseason, and one of the greatest pitching rotations ever assembled, but in the end, they failed.

The Phillies were build to do one thing, and one thing only: Win the World Series.

Over the last few seasons, they’ve traded about a dozen top prospects. They’ve increased the payroll year by year, adding millions of dollars and acquiring prime-time athletes to push the team over the top, but in the long run, they’ve been no better than they were in 2008.

There is an argument to be made that the Phils’ season wasn’t a complete failure, but it’s just that—an argument. It’s time to face the facts. Roy Halladay approved a trade to come to the Phillies because he wants to win a World Series. Ditto for Roy Oswalt. Cliff Lee came back to Philly as a free agent for the same reason.

If you’re an honest believer that guys like Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard and Ryan Madson have grown complacent with one ring, it’s time to think again. No player that comes to Philadelphia gets away with being complacent, and the Phils’ roster houses some of the most competitive guys in all of baseball. 

So it’s time to stop making excuses, Philly. The 2011 season was a failure.

But the greatest part about baseball, and however dried up and shriveled the old cliche might be, there is always next season. Just days away from free agency’s opening salvo, the Phillies already have their eye on the ultimate prize in 2012.

In this slideshow, we’ll attempt to take an educated guess at the Phillies’ Opening Day roster for the 2012 season, and rank each player’s value to the club if it wants to capture its third World Series title. We’ll take a few creative leaps—predicting a few free agent signings, perhaps—but all in all, this slide show offers a realistic prediction at the 2012 squad.

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MLB Free Agency: 10 Players the Philadelphia Phillies Should Consider Signing

When you win 102 games, it’s pretty obvious that you don’t have many holes to fill. But with the Phillies not living up to their World Series expectations, my fellow Phillies fans and I are wondering: How can we make this team better?

I have come up with 10 potential targets the Phillies should consider to do just that and bring another championship to Philadelphia.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Projecting the 2012 Phillies’ Bullpen Ladder

There is an old saying that goes, “every team is only as strong as its weakest link.”

This is the case in all sports and all teams. For the Philadelphia Phillies, a team with a great amount of talent but as observed in the 2011 NLDS, quite a few flaws as well, their weakest link was partially caused by a lack of bullpen depth.

For the Phillies, who, in the past, 2008 to be exact, had the best bullpen in MLB, the opposite could be said of the 2011 team. Suffering injuries to all three of their closer options, the Phillies were forced to start an inexperienced pitcher at both the closer and set-up positions. Although the experiment worked at first, both of the young arms burned out by September, giving the Phillies few options in the bullpen.

Although the bullpen cannot be solely blamed for the 2011 postseason failure, it is a contributing factor. In 2008, the Phillies won the World Series with their excellent bullpen, and in 2012, they are going to need a bit of a bullpen redux in order to hope to do it again.

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MLB Free Agents 2012: Phillies Need To Re-Sign Ryan Madson, Cole Hamels

Smart guy, Ruben Amaro is.

OK. So maybe this example pales when held against the deals he’s swung and calls he’s made.

But, however unglamorous and admittedly obvious, Amaro’s intentions have their merits too. Let’s be real: Who wouldn’t try to keep Ryan Madson from the sharks lurking in the free-agent surf?

“We’d love to keep (Madson and Jimmy Rollins) off the market if we can do it,” Amaro said, in advent of tonight’s midnight opening of free-agent waters.

“We’ve had discussions with the agents of both players.”

That quote alludes to a crowd that I can’t warm up to, being that it includes Rollins, both yesterday’s news and tomorrow’s letdown. They can’t bring J-Roll back, not for the five years he thinks he has left nor the $13 million per he thinks he’s worth.

But that’s a separate issue we’ll stew on later.

This is about Madson. Not the column.

Next season.

Madson is 31 years young, and went 32-for-34 in save attempts last season, which bodes well for his reliability and longevity. His production could dip—wouldn’t be the first time a closer’s fallen off—but there’s no reason to expect it.

They could poke around free agency for a replacement, say, Jonathan Papelbon or Heath Bell or Francisco Rodriguez and Co. But why bother? Given those options’ future price points and past production, the chase for any would be essentially the same, minus all the trust Madson’s built.

They need to spend money this winter, and it best be on Madson.

Why? They don’t have in-house alternatives. Sure Antonio Bastardo’s marks were comparable—Bastardo blew only one save in nine tries—but even a half-season-plus of consistency didn’t add up to comfort enough to pitch him in the postseason. Bastardo saw the mound only twice in October, for a whopping one inning of work.

If you couldn’t count on Bastardo then, you can’t lean on him throughout next season.

Ryan Madson must come back.

The conventional wisdom is that he’ll go to the highest bidder, being a Scott Boras client and all. Even in light of Jered Weaver bucking the money-hungry history of Boras clients and signing a five-year, $85 million extension somewhat shockingly—he did it during the middle of this past season, and against his agent’s wishes—you can’t expect that lightning to strike twice.

At least you can’t leave it to chance, especially not since, according to Amaro, sides have spoken between the end of the season and now—when the Phillies have had exclusive negotiating access—but haven’t yet struck a deal.

The Phillies have to pony up.

How badly? What’s the importance of a closer these days?

Chew on this: In 2011, no stat in baseball more closely correlated with winning than relief pitching. Of the eight teams to qualify for the postseason, six—the Phillies (No. 1), Tigers (No. 2), Diamondbacks (No. 3), Yankees (No. 6), Rays (No. 7) and Brewers (No. 8)—finished among baseball’s top eight in save percentage. 

That held up more than Moneyball numbers—only five playoff teams finished in the top eight in OPS and walks—and hallmarks of starting pitching, like ERA and strikeouts.

And that’s just what was. What will be in 2012? Tired arms from Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, who went No. 2 and 4 among National League pitchers in innings pitched and, with a combined $41.5 million scheduled earnings, are too pricey to ask of a similar load again.

Allow me to reiterate: They need Madson.

He has to be top priority. I’ve heard the rumblings about Vance Worley-and-Domonic Brown-for-David Wright deal with the Mets, which would fill a need and make a splash—two things sports fans everywhere love to love—but also jockeys for both dollars and attention.

They can’t afford to skimp on either.

Madson has to come first.

If negotiations slip, or if Madson walks, the 2012 season isn’t lost. I mean, the 2009 Phillies won more with less.

But Phillie teams were more prohibitively favored in the two years that followed, and rightly so.

They regressed. Twice.

Losing out on Madson would grease the slide.

But Amaro sees all that. He has to.

Smart guy, Ruben Amaro is.

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