Philadelphia Phillies: How Long Can Ruben Amaro Jr. Keep Granting Fans’ Wishes?

Ruben Amaro Jr. is listening.

No matter how much GM-speak he rolls out, no matter how often he says that every decision he makes is tied to giving the Phillies the best chance to win, he hears those sounds.

Cole Hamels sat at his press conference on Wednesday, the announcement of his six-year, $144 million contract extension, and talked about the various factors (you know, besides all that jingle) that convinced him to stay in Philadelphia instead of taking his chances in free agency.

One of the things he referenced was unexpected.

Hamels talked about the response he received walking off the mound at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, July 21.  He had just made a yard sale of the eighth inning, giving up a game-tying home run to Melky Cabrera, then allowing three more baserunners before surrendering the ball after 7.2 innings, five earned runs and 10 hits. 

You imagine that if, say, Joe Blanton had just done that, the fans would either boo or be nervously silent.

But Hamels was still as likely to leave Philadelphia as he was to stay in that moment, and the fans knew it.  And they stood and cheered in appreciation for all he had given them in past seasons, and in this one.

“Words can’t really describe the emotions that you get, and the way the fans were standing and cheering, that was ultimately the deciding point to be here,” Hamels said.

You have to believe Ruben Amaro Jr. also saw those people standing and heard them cheering.

You wonder, though, whether he hears—and listens—to too much of that sort of thing.

Since he took the reins of the franchise in 2009, Ruben Amaro Jr.’s most prominent moves have read like this:

July 2009:  Traded four minor leaguers to the Cleveland Indians for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco

December 2009:  Traded three minor leaguers to the Toronto Blue Jays for Roy Halladay; traded Lee to the Seattle Mariners for three minor leaguers, granting Halladay a three-year, $60 million contract extension in the process

April 2010:  Signed Ryan Howard to a five-year, $125 million contract extension

December 2010:  Signed Cliff Lee to a five-year, $120 million contract

July 2011:  Traded four minor leaguers to the Houston Astros for Hunter Pence

November 2011:  Signed Jonathan Papelbon to a four-year, $50 million contract

December 2011:  Signed Jimmy Rollins to a three-year, $33 million contract

July 2012:  Signed Cole Hamels to a six-year, $144 million contract

Eight prominent moves, and you will notice that the only truly unpopular piece of any of it was the trade of Lee to Seattle.  Which, you will also notice, Ruben Amaro Jr. promptly fixed by signing Lee as a free agent a year later.

The problem with all of this is not the money.  Unless you own a piece of the Phillies (I’m guessing you don’t) you have no reason to care how much money the team spends on any player. 

Besides, do you think the Phillies are that worried about things like the luxury tax?  Parking at the games is $15 now; soon enough it will be $20.  Beer at the games is $7.75; soon enough it will be $9.50.  Those issues tend to take care of themselves.

No, the problem is the unshakable feeling that Ruben Amaro Jr. is running the Phillies the way an impetuous rotisserie team owner manages his roster.  Except it is not his whim that prompts the trades and the signings…it is stuff like the emotion pouring from the seats when Hamels leaves the mound for what looks like the last time.

The Hamels signing, while an expensive one, was probably the right decision for the franchise.  After splashing cash at so many other players to sign them, retain them or extend them, and watching those players age and decline precipitously this season, letting a 28-year-old ace walk away was never going to fly.

This season, this trade deadline, though, is where we will find out whether he can do some unpopular things like trading the likes of Lee (again), Pence and Shane Victorino for the ultimate betterment of the franchise. We will see whether Ruben Amaro Jr. can avoid becoming another object lesson of the old baseball adage that says if you listen to the fans too much, pretty soon you’ll be sitting with them.

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Phillies Trade Rumors: Will Phillies Target Jacoby Ellsbury This Offseason?

Following today’s non-waiver trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies outfield could have a much different look to it.

And that’s just for the rest of this season.

If the Phillies decide to trade Shane Victorino, who is a free agent-to-be even if he is not traded, and/or Hunter Pence, the team’s outfield could feature three new starters next season.

However, before next season, the Phillies will have an offseason to reload their roster after what is appearing to be a season that does not include a postseason run.

And one player that could be available this offseason just so happens to play the outfield.

According to a tweet by Nick Cafardo, the Boston Red Sox may consider trade offers for center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury this offseason.

Ellsbury, who finished second in last season’s American League MVP voting, is batting .269 while playing in just 23 games this season.  However, he is just one season removed from batting .321 with 32 home runs and 105 RBI.

There are two catches with Ellsbury, however, that could make a trade for the Phils a risky attempt.

First, Ellsbury is set to become a free agent after next season.  Second, he’s represented by agent Scott Boras.

Not a cheap combination.

However, the Phillies could make moves prior to making an offer for Ellsbury that would give them payroll flexibility in addition to other trade assets.

For starters, trading Cliff Lee and Hunter Pence at the deadline would save the Phillies nearly $39 million in salary next season.  That amount doesn’t include the expiring contracts of Shane Victorino and Joe Blanton, as well as potential buyouts of the contracts of Placido Polanco, Ty Wigginton and Jose Contreras.

And that’s just how much money the Phils could take off their payroll by the time the offseason gets into full swing.

Meanwhile, the Phillies could put an approach on hold that they are rumored to be considering this season.

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi on mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com recently wrote that the Phillies may attempt to use prospects that they acquire in trade deadline deals this season to acquire players such as Chase Headley or Shin-Soo Choo.

But what if the Phillies held on to any prospects they acquire at this season’s trade deadline and use them as trade chips during the offseason?

By trading players such as Lee and Pence, the Phillies would not only lower their payroll, but also acquire multiple prospects that could be enticing to other teams in future deals.

As Buster Olney recently tweeted, the Texas Rangers may have interest in Lee, and third baseman Mike Olt could part of a deal.  If this deal were to go through at the trade deadline or during the offseason, the Phillies would acquire their third baseman of the future, and not have to spend significant money on a free agent at the position.

The Phillies also have players such as Domonic Brown and Tyler Cloyd currently in Triple-A who still have the potential to reach the major leagues.  Between acquisitions and call-ups, the Phillies could have a rotation spot, left field and the bullpen as areas in need of improvement headed into next season following potential trades.

However, by saving money in other areas, the Phillies would have a chance at signing Ellsbury to a long-term contract, especially if Lee’s salary was moved.

The team may also see Roy Halladay hit free agency after next season, which could mean the team’s payroll would decrease even more.

Meanwhile, by the time Ellsbury’s potential extension kicked in, the luxury tax threshold would be set to increase to $189 million, giving the Phils more room before having to pay an additional tax.

Prior to this season, Mark Polishuk on mlbtraderumors.com suggested that Ellsbury could receive a seven-year, $133 million contract extension.  However, this also came after Ellsbury finished second in American League MVP voting.  This season is the second time in three years that Ellsbury has missed significant time due to injury.

Ellsbury could still command a huge long-term contract by the time his free agency rolls around, but the Phillies may only have two contracts worth over $100 million at that point, as well, in Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels.  The team would also be just a few seasons away from signing a new television contract that could also increase their funding.

The Cincinnati Reds already checked on Ellsbury’s availability this season, according to a tweet by Gordon Edes.  By the offseason, more teams could be calling the Red Sox about Ellsbury.

Depending on the Phillies moves at the trade deadline and in the offseason, as well as their plan going forward, targeting Ellsbury could become an option.

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Phillies Trade Rumors: Cliff Lee for Mike Olt Trade Is Ideal Deadline Deal

Cliff Lee is back on the trade market according to Monday reporting from ESPN’s Buster Olney. This makes some sense considering the Philadelphia Phillies are looking to shed salary and retool for 2013.

The 33-year-old lefty still has three years remaining of the five-year, $120 million deal he signed before the 2011-12 season. With the Phillies likely eliminated from playoff contention barring a miraculous turnaround, you can see why this is a very appealing option for the Phils.

“If we get swept here, it will be pretty daunting,” Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. said prior to this past weekend’s crushing sweep at the hands of the Atlanta Braves, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.

Trailing by 12.5 games in the wild-card race and getting swept in the midst of trade deadline discussions pretty much speaks for itself, manager Charlie Manuel said.

That brings us to today. The trade deadline is this afternoon at 4 p.m. ET and all eyes will be on the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils have been buyers at this time in recent years but will likely be looking to unload several pieces in order to shed salary and retool for the future.

 

Cliff Lee may be fading but he’s not gone yet

Lee has not had the year everyone had hoped for. His 1-6 record and heightened 3.95 ERA has been uncharacteristic of the commanding left-hander. But numbers don’t always paint a perfect picture.

Despite his struggles, Lee has posted an excellent 112-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio, is only allowing 1.8 walks per nine innings and is fanning 8.5 batters per nine in addition to posting a 46.7 percent ground-ball rate, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

At the end of his deal, he will be 38 years old and the win-now-minded Rangers will have gotten the best of what he has left to offer by then. He’s already been paid at that point, he’d probably stick around at a much more economic salary.

 

Mike Olt is a rising star 

Olt was ranked as the 43^rd best prospect in the MLB minor leagues heading into 2012, according to Baseball America. In Double-A this season, he’s done nothing but improve his standing.

In 92 games, Olt has hit 27 HR and plated 80 RBI this season, nearly doubling his previous years’ stat lines. His average is respectable at .291 while he maintains a staggering .401 on-base percentage.

Not only is Olt a solid power hitter, he’s also very versatile and could fit in a number of positions at the MLB level, Steve Buechele, RoughRiders’ manager (Rangers’ Double-A affiliate) said.

 

Outlook

This deal, with cash considerations for Texas, is in the best interest of both teams and would help them both in the long run. With Olt being so young, versatile and promising, it would obviously help the Phillies more as he could help solidify their lineup for the foreseeable future.

Olney tweeted that it will take more than just Olt on the part of the Rangers in order to get a deal done and that this deal will come down to Lee’s contract, cash considerations and which prospects will be included.

As Rangers and Phillies try to work through possible Lee deal, there are lots of complicating factors: His salary, buy down, prospects, etc.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 30, 2012

Hopefully, a deal can be struck and the Phillies can unload Lee now to get as much as possible from the World Series minded Rangers.

 

I cover all breaking sports news but have a passion for bad Cleveland sports franchises. If you want to talk sports, that’s all I really do on Twitter, and I enjoy constructive banter.

 Follow me on Twitter @BigHoagowski

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MLB Trade Deadline 2012: Possible Cliff Lee Deal Shows Philly Is Changing Plan

After five consecutive National League East Division titles, Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Philadelphia Phillies have earned the right to change the plan a bit.

The weeks leading up to the 2012 MLB trade deadline have been filled with various trade rumors regarding Phillies players who played a big part in the team’s recent success.

Starting pitcher Cliff Lee has been the most recent topic of trade rumors and speculation (per ESPN’s Buster Olney via Twitter):

Source:Cliff Lee is in play in trade talks today. Rangers obviously the most logical landing spot, with 3B Mike Olt as possible centerpiece.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 30, 2012

Lee has been in the news for the last couple of days, but before that it was Hunter Pence, who, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, was the topic of conversation between the Phillies and the San Francisco Giants.

That deal seems to be less likely than one involving Lee, but now yet another Phillies player involved in trade deadline talks.

Shane Victorino has heard his name come up as well (via ESPN’s Jayson Stark).

Before Pence, Cole Hamels appeared to be on the move in what could have been the start of a fire sale for the Phillies in a disappointing season that has seen them compile a 45-57 record. However, the Phillies axed that possibility by signing their most valuable asset to a monster deal (via Yahoo! Sports).

The Lee deal reportedly has fallen through, but if something changes and Lee is shipped to the Texas Rangers, it would be the beginning of a youth movement.

Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, though both recently returned from injuries, are shells of their former selves. At 32 and 33, respectively, they are certainly on the decline and won’t have as much of an impact on the team’s future as the organization would have hoped.

Roy Halladay, at one time was one of the most feared starters in the entire league, has had one of the worst seasons of his career. His injury has been a contributing factor to his ineffectiveness, and at 35 years old, it is impossible to tell how his body will rebound in the future.

The Phillies are getting old. There’s no way around that. We have seen a changing of the guard in the NL East this season, with the Washington Nationals running roughshod on the other four teams.

It isn’t just the Nationals either. The Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins and New York Mets all boast youthful players and prospects that should shape the future of each team.

Amaro and his charges surely realize that younger players must be brought in for Philadelphia to remain relevant in the coming years.

Lee’s departure would be the first step in injecting youth into the organization. There are prospects to be had in exchange for his services despite his subpar season. In fact, there are prospects to be had for all of the aging players on the roster.

There’s no predicting what is going to happen before Tuesday’s trade deadline, but if Lee goes, the landscape of the Phillies will certainly change.

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Phillies Trade Rumors: Assembling Perfect Prospect Packages for All Top Chips

With less than 24 hours until Major League Baseball’s trade deadline, there will likely be a slew of deals that transpire. The most notable team of those said to be “sellers” is the Philadelphia Phillies, who are prepared to unload Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence and Joe Blanton, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.

There’s also a strong chance the team trades Juan Pierre and Ty Wiggington by the deadline, says Salisbury, with multiple teams interested in both players.

The Phillies’ wild-card trade candidate is of course Cliff Lee, who has been rumored to be the center of discussions between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers. However, as FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported today, those talks have subsided.

In return for their coveted players, the Phillies are looking for near big-league ready prospects and, in general, are expecting flattering offers across the board.

Assuming that the organization ultimately executes prospect-centered trades for Victorino, Pence, Blanton, Lee, Wiggington and Pierre, here is the type of return they could receive from potential suitors.

Begin Slideshow

Hunter Pence Trade Rumors: Latest on Possible Deadline Deals

The Philadelphia Phillies are finally coming to terms with their lost 2012 season and are ready to sell some of their best players for the right price.

Hunter Pence was traded to the City of Brotherly Love almost a year ago to the day (July 31, 2011), in a deal that sent two highly rated prospects (Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton) to the Houston Astros. Another World Series run was the goal.

Now, the plan has changed and the Sporting News is reporting that a slew of Phillies are available including the 29-year-old Pence.

Time is running out with Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET non-waiver trade deadline quickly approaching, and there has been plenty of interest in Pence.

Here’s the latest involving one of the top hitters available on the market.

Begin Slideshow

MLB Trade Rumors: Teams That Must Target Cliff Lee

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee is reportedly back on the trade market with the MLB trade deadline looming less than 24 hours away.

Recent developments may have completely changed the landscape of the free agency market in the waning moments leading up to Tuesday’s deadline. Cliff Lee has become the defacto No. 1 pitching option on the market.

This is due to Josh Johnson being unlikely to be traded because of the asking price and his contract and James Shields likely staying put in Tampa Bay.

Johnson was watched by 15 scouts in his most recent start, in which he recorded six walks and four strikeouts over five innings, while allowing three earned runs. Shields, on the other hand, is likely going to stay put because the Rays have found themselves in a good position to make a playoff run in September. They will need their former ace for that run.

Lee has struggled somewhat in 2012, recording a 1-6 record while posting a 3.95 ERA.

Some of Lee’s struggles are due to run support issues. While not reflected in the W-L column, he has stayed consistent and posted a good 112-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He’s also only allowing 1.8 walks while striking out 8.5 batters per nine innings, according to Baseball-reference.com.

Lee is owed $87 million dollars over the next three seasons, which is left over from his five-year, $120 million contract he signed in 2011 with the Phillies.

 

The Texas Rangers

The Rangers have a deep and young enough roster to make a move like this. There are a lot of working parts at play in order to get a deal done by tomorrow, but it wouldn’t be impossible.

In Lee, the Rangers know what they’ll be getting. It will be easier for them to gauge how much they should surrender in order to bring him back for a playoff run.

After their divisional rival Anaheim Angels signed Zack Greinke over the weekend, it would be wise for the Rangers to make some type of addition to shore up their rotation as they try to keep the Angels at bay in the division in order to prepare for the playoffs.

Recent tweets from ESPN’s Buster Olney and Jayson Stark indicate that talks may have died between the Rangers and Phillies and that they may again resume during the offseason. Here are those tweets:

Jayson Stark now hearing from a source that PHI’s Lee talks with TEX have all but ended. Complicated, multi-layered, better for offseason.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 30, 2012

One exec who spoke with #Nationals says: “If I looked up and saw that Washington traded for Ryan Demoster it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 30, 2012

 

The Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers may be actively trying to strike a deal for Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster, but they have considered other options if they are unable to come to a deal.

The Dodgers SHOULD consider Lee, but they have shown they are rumored to be unwilling to part with their top prospects in the Dempster negotiations to this point, according to a tweet by ESPN’s Kevin Goldstein.

Lee is a premiere talent and worth the price of admission for a Dodger team with World Series aspirations. If they have any hopes, at all, of landing someone like Lee or Dempster, they are going to have to part with a prospect they value.

 

Outlook

This recent source reporting from ESPN indicates that a trade is more than likely not going to happen. However, if it does, the Rangers, followed by the Dodgers, have the most to gain by acquiring Lee.

Reports change frequently and people change their minds as the deadline nears. One thing is for certain: at this time tomorrow we’ll finally have some closure.

 

 

 

I cover all breaking sports news but have a passion for bad Cleveland sports franchises. If you want to talk sports, that’s all I really do on Twitter, and I enjoy constructive banter.

So, follow me on Twitter @BigHoagowski 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Phillies Trade Rumors: Cliff Lee and Joe Blanton Being Shopped by Phils

It seems like just a few days ago when the Philadelphia Phillies had decided not to shop Cliff Lee at this season’s trade deadline.

Oh, that’s right.  According to a recent article by Jon Heyman on CBSSports.com, it was just a few days ago.

However, with less than two days to go until the non-waiver trade deadline, Lee’s future with the Phillies is at least a little less certain.

According to a tweet by Buster Olney, Lee’s name has been involved in trade talks today, and the Texas Rangers may still be a likely destination.

Following the recent six-year contract extension signed by Cole Hamels, the Phillies are set to pay three starting pitchers more than $60 million next season, while likely exceeding the luxury tax threshold both this season and next.

Lee, whose salary is soon to increase to $25 million per year, could be moved so as to free up money to find players for third base, left field, center field and the bullpen.

Although Lee is just 1-6 this season with a 3.95 ERA, he is still just one season removed from finishing third in National League Cy Young voting.

Lee is owed nearly $98 million for the remainder of his contract.   Would a team such as the Rangers be willing to pay most of it?  How much of Lee’s salary would they ask the Phillies to pay?

Meanwhile, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com has written that the Baltimore Orioles are interested in acquiring Joe Blanton, who is set to become a free agent after this season.

Blanton is 8-9 with 115 strikeouts and a 4.59 ERA this season.  Despite the high ERA, Blanton has walked just 18 batters this season and has pitched two complete games.

Would the Orioles be willing to take on Blanton’s salary for the remainder of the season in hopes of claiming a wild-card spot in the American League?

Furthermore, would the Phillies trade two members of their starting rotation this close to the trade deadline?

Trading one pitcher would give the Phils the option to call up Tyler Cloyd from Triple-A.

Cloyd has gone 10-1 with 73 strikeouts and a 1.98 ERA in 17 starts at Triple-A this season.  Combined between Double-A and Triple-A, Cloyd is 13-1 with a 1.94 ERA and has held opponents to a .218 batting average this season.

Even if the Phillies do not move a starter at the deadline, Blanton’s free agency means the team will need at least one new starter in the rotation next season.

After going 1-4 with a 6.96 ERA in six starts in June, Kyle Kendrick may be better suited for the bullpen.

Calling up Cloyd will allow the Phils a glimpse into what their rotation could look like next season.  If Cloyd pitches well, the Phillies’ rotation could be set as long as only one starter is traded at the deadline.  If he struggles, finding another starter could be added to the team’s offseason task list.

Blanton may be the more likely of the two current Phillies starters to be traded prior to the deadline, but freeing up payroll heading into the offseason could give the team more flexibility when it comes to mapping out the offseason strategy.

Trading Lee this close to the deadline, however, could be a risky move.  Trading a player such as Lee could cut payroll, improve the farm system and even help the Phils acquire current major league contributors.

However, rushing such a move could also be detrimental if the right deal is not reached.

With less than two days to go until the trade deadline, the Phillies are seemingly exploring all options.

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Hunter Pence: Trading Star Outfielder Should Be Phillies’ Top Deadline Priority

Hunter Pence was the acquisition who was supposed to put the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series last season. This year, the outfielder should be the piece that is used to help replenish the franchise’s lackluster farm system. 

Jim Salisbury of Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia wrote on Monday morning that the Phillies have at least explored the idea of trading Pence, who is under club control through 2013. 

Most interest is on Vic, Blanton. Phils have pushed Pence but want big return. Phils still have more than 24 hours to max return.

— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) July 30, 2012

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, the Phillies have been pushing Pence more than Shane Victorino, who is two years older than Pence and will become a free agent at the end of the year, making him less valuable to a team trying to acquire him. 

Victorino joins Dempster and Broxton as a must-go free agent, though executives say the Phillies haven’t shopped him nearly as aggressively as Pence, who could make upward of $14 million through arbitration next season.

Pence may not be worth as much as the Phillies gave up to acquire him last year—namely, Jonathan Singleton and Jarred Cosart—but he should, at least in theory, fetch one top-level prospect. 

For the Phillies, trying to get younger and save money wherever they can should be their goal right now. At 45-57, 16.5 games back in the National League East and 12.5 back in the Wild Card, they aren’t going to the playoffs. 

But, looking towards the future, things could get worse before they get better in Philadelphia. The Phillies’ farm system used to be a strength, with homegrown talents Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Cole Hamels being key cogs for the 2008 World Series team. 

Plus, they were able to use their prospects to acquire Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence at various times between 2009 and 2011. 

Now, those impact players in the minors just aren’t there. Dominic Brown is still an interesting prospect, but his stock is not close to what it was two years ago.

Entering the year, Trevor May was the top prospect in the system. Now, he has given up 19 home runs in 110 innings and has an ERA of 5.15 in Double-A. They have a lot of problems in the upper levels of the minor leagues, which means all of their older players have to stay healthy for 162 games to give them a chance to win. 

With the team having no real signs of hope for the rest of 2012 or any time after that, keeping Pence to see his trade value go down the closer he gets to free agency doesn’t make much sense. 

It is time for the Phillies to face the reality of the situation—they are a sinking ship in desperate need of a life preserver. Trading Pence won’t turn everything around right away, but it would be a start. They just have to find the right deal to make it happen. 

Follow @adamwells1985

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Philadelphia Phillies Must Wait Until Offseason to Make Major Moves

As the trade deadline nears, the Philadelphia Phillies have yet to buy or sell any roster pieces to either improve on this season’s standings or prepare for next year.

However, the Phillies best move may be to wait until the offseason to fully get the team back on track for a postseason run.

A three game losing streak leading up to the trade deadline certainly doesn’t help the Phils case to be buyers, while being just one season removed from winning a franchise record number of games and a fifth consecutive National League East title make trading away key players difficult to see happening.

But that hasn’t stopped the thinking that players such as Cliff Lee and Hunter Pence are available, as Joel Sherman recently tweeted.

Following Cole Hamels’ long-term contract, the team could move both Lee and Pence in order to gain back payroll for other moves.  As of now, the Phils payroll is likely to exceed the luxury tax threshold this season and next.  Trading Lee and his contract and avoiding paying Pence an increased salary after this season would help the Phillies spend money on other positions before exceeding the tax threshold.

However, trading either player days before the trade deadline would not help the Phillies find the right deals for improving the team in future seasons.

A recent article by Bob Brookover on philly.com contains a quote from Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., on the effects of trade deadline deals on next season.

“I don’t think we’re going to do anything before July 31 to fill all the holes that we might have in 2013,” Amaro said.  “That’s not going to happen.  We’ve got plenty of time to try to work through that.”

With potential replacements or improvements needed in the starting rotation, left field, center field, third base and the bullpen, the Phillies are going to need all of that time.

The Phillies don’t have to trade players such as Lee and Pence at the deadline simply to avoid paying the luxury tax this season, as players with lesser salaries can be moved to accomplish that.

But trading Lee and Pence could provide the Phillies with a combination of a lowered payroll, minor league additions and/or major league contributors.

Moving players like Lee and Pence could be the Phillies best chance to have next season resemble 2011 more so than the current season.  This is why the Phils must wait until the offseason if they are going to make major moves.

Trading Shane Victorino and Joe Blanton would allow the Phillies to obtain either current major league players or minor league prospects, which would help the team obtain value since both players are set to become free agents anyway.

Trading Lee would mean that the Phillies will have to replace 40 percent of their starting rotation for next season, while trading Pence could mean that the team needs three new starters in the outfield.  Trades involving both of these players could still prove to be good moves, but not this close to the trade deadline.

Furthermore, the trade deadline could primarily consist of non-contending teams trading away talent to contending teams for either average major league talent or minor league prospects.

During the offseason, however, the Phillies could have far more teams interested in acquiring talent in order to improve next season after missing the postseason this year.

At the deadline, a player such as Chase Headley of the San Diego Padres could be a third base option that is available.  However, as Jerry Crasnick recently tweeted, the Padres appear willing to hold on to Headley if trade offers don’t improve.  The Phillies shouldn’t give up high ranking prospects once again, and a deal involving Pence for Headley doesn’t make much sense.

Not to mention, it could be difficult to trade away players while also acquiring a third baseman for the future.

But what about in the offseason? 

A team such as the Texas Rangers has already been rumored to have had interest in Lee, as Danny Knobler recently wrote on CBSSports.com.

But the Rangers also have Josh Hamilton who is set to become a free agent after this season.  If the team doesn’t sign him to a long-term deal, would they be interested in acquiring an outfielder?  Would they have interest in Pence at that point?

These types of scenarios can take place during the offseason and provide the Phillies with many more opportunities to find the right deals for improving the team both currently and in the future.

If the Phils are going to move Lee, Pence or any other player who is signed past next season and who has made major contributions to the team, they must make sure that any deal allows them to cement their status as perennial contenders.

When it comes to making major moves, the Phillies must wait until the offseason.

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