Philadelphia Phillies Offseason Tracker: Latest Trade Rumors, Free-Agency News

Winter is coming. 

It will be an offseason of retooling for the Philadelphia Phillies. Following a third-place finish to the 2012 season and trades of two All-Star-caliber outfielders at last July’s trade deadline, this is a team and a front office with work to do this winter. 

They’ve made no bones about their needs. The Phillies need to add a third baseman with more offensive upside than Freddy Galvis, a center fielder to replace Shane Victorino, a corner outfielder to replace Hunter Pence, a veteran bullpen arm and maybe even a starting pitcher. 

The Phillies have a lot of holes to fill and may not have enough plugs to stop the ship from sinking, but they are sure as hell going to try. 

You will hear the Phillies linked to a number of rumors this winter, and that is why it is important to keep tuning in right here for the latest information. 

We will be updating this very slideshow with the latest news, rumors, free-agent signings, trades and more. The Phillies have a lot of work to do. Make sure you don’t miss any of it. 

Begin Slideshow

Should the Philadelphia Phillies Bring Back Ryan Madson?

The Philadelphia Phillies enter the offseason with their focus primarily on adding a center fielder, third baseman and corner outfielder.  However, adding a proven, right-handed reliever is just as important for improving the team for next season.

The Phillies used 19 different pitchers in a relief role this season, finishing with a combined ERA of 3.94.  Among right-handed pitchers who pitched in at least 15 games in relief, only Jonathan Papelbon and Phillippe Aumont had ERAs under 4.00.

It’s reasonable to think that the Phils’ bullpen will be improved next season simply because the young pitchers that make it up, such as Aumont, Jake Diekman, Justin De Fratus, Jeremy Horst and Josh Lindblom, will have another year of experience under their belt.

But that’s still a big assumption to make following a season in which the bullpen gave up 183 earned runs in 157 games played.

Having so many young pieces in place could cause the team to shy away from paying a reliever such as Mike Adams upwards of $5 million a season for three years, if not more following Brandon League’s three-year, $22.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  It could be difficult to give any veteran reliever a lengthy deal with so many young pitchers already on the roster.

Ideally, the Phillies could be looking to sign a veteran reliever to a one-year deal to give the team’s younger relievers more time to fully adapt to the big league level.

Ironically, a pitcher that the Phillies chose not to re-sign last offseason may be a candidate for filling such a role this offseason.

Ryan Madson signed with the Cincinnati Reds last offseason on a one-year, $8.5 million deal that also had a mutual option for 2013.  As Jon Heyman on CBSSports.com recently wrote, Madson has declined his portion of the option, making him a free agent for the second straight year.

Heyman’s article also mentions two other points.  One, the Phillies are thought to have interest in Madson and, two, the 32-year-old will be looking to fill a closer’s role this offseason.

While it’s uncertain whether the Phillies truly have interest in Madson, or have even contacted him since the start of free agency, what’s more certain is that Madson and the Phils could be an ideal fit for at least next season.

One of the Phillies’ biggest weaknesses this season was their lack of an eighth-inning setup pitcher to transition the game into Papelbon’s hands for the ninth inning.

Antonio Bastardo saw his ERA increase to 4.33, making his 2011 ERA of 2.64 the only time in his major league career that he has had an ERA under 4.30.  Lindblom, acquired in the trade that sent Shane Victorino to the Dodgers, had an ERA of 3.55, including a 5.68 ERA in August.  Aumont looked great at times, but his 3.68 ERA and 14 strikeouts to nine walks in 18 games likely isn’t enough to pencil him in as the setup guy just yet.

Madson, on the other hand, thrived as the Phillies’ setup reliever while with the team from 2002-2009.  Of course, Madson pitched in every type of role while with the Phils, from starter, to setup reliever, to closer during the 2011 season. 

The Phillies decided to sign Papelbon to be the team’s closer last offseason rather than pay Madson closer money in a long-term deal.  It wasn’t until late in the offseason that the Reds eventually signed him to be their closer and moved Aroldis Chapman into the starting rotation.

There are likely two reasons why Madson remained a free agent for so long: he was looking for closer money and he is represented by Scott Boras.  Yes, Madson saved 32 games in 34 chances in 2011 with the Phillies, but prior to that he only had one season in which he had more successfully converted saves than blown saves. 

Entering 2011, Madson had 20 career saves to go with 26 career blown saves.

With Boras looking for closer money for a pitcher with only one successful season as closer under his belt, Madson spent a great deal of time as a free agent.

Which team will be willing to give Madson a closer’s job this offseason after the pitcher missed all of this season following Tommy John surgery?

Ryan Lawrence on philly.com raises the following question: Why not sign with the Phillies on a one-year deal, the same amount of years that other teams are likely to offer, to return as the Phils’ setup reliever and re-establish himself?

The Phillies need a right-handed reliever who can set up and take over the eighth-inning role. 

Check. 

With so many young relievers having potential to fill out the bullpen over the next few seasons, the Phillies could be looking for a reliever who will sign on a short-term deal, giving the younger relievers another season to adjust while not having to pitch in high pressure situations. 

Check.

Paying a pitcher coming off injury to a one-year deal as opposed to signing an older veteran to a three-year deal influenced by League’s new contract could save the Phillies close to $20 million in total.

Madson, meanwhile, could prove his dominance once again in the eighth inning, and likely pick up around five to 10 saves on the season if the Phils have pitched Papelbon on consecutive days.

Signing Madson to a one-year deal worth $6 or $7 million would save the Phils payroll room in the two years to follow if they had instead decided to sign someone to a three-year deal, and it would allow them to focus even more so on improving the offense this offseason. 

It would also solidify the team’s bullpen without locking too much money up long-term on relievers, and still give the younger pitchers a chance to cement their relief roles going forward.

As for Madson, the opportunity to prove himself again while setting himself up to finally sign a long-term deal as a closer would be available by joining the Phillies.

Madson doesn’t need to settle for a setup role, and the Phillies don’t need to place a great deal of focus on the bullpen when the offense has holes.  But if they do talk this offseason, they could find that a contract agreement is beneficial for both sides.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

25 Philadelphia Phillies Offseason Targets to Take Back Power in the NL East

For the first time since the end of the 2006 season, the Philadelphia Phillies will head into the offseason looking up at other teams in their own division. 

They had their reasons. The Phillies dealt with injuries to some of their top players, but also performed inconsistently all season long. 

Leave the excuses where they belong and you’re left with a simple fact: The Phillies finished 2012 as a third-place team. Even if they are completely healthy in 2013, the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves aren’t going anywhere. 

If the Phillies want to reclaim the National League East, they’ll have their work cut out for them this offseason. The front office needs to fill big holes in center field and at third base, and manager Charlie Manuel has expressed his desire for a top-notch setup man. 

So how can the Phillies fill all of those needs and get back to the top of the NL East? Glad you asked. Let’s take a look.

Begin Slideshow

5 Things the Philadelphia Phillies Need to Fix

With free agency upon us, rumors have begun circulating everywhere, speculation about which player ended up where have been rampant.  Phillies fans know what their club needs: an outfielder (maybe two), a third baseman and dependable relief help.

Every one of those needs can be found and addressed on the free-agent market.  Theoretically, at least the Phillies can go out and sign Josh Hamilton, Kevin Youkilis and Jeremy Affeldt.  They should have the money (whether they want to spend it and cross the tax threshold remains to be seen) if that is their desire.

And yet doing so might not solve all of the Phillies problems, nor return them to playoff contention.  That’s because most of what plagued the Phillies in 2012 (and in a way, both in 2010 and 2011 playoffs) were internal problems.  

Going forward, if the Phillies are going to reclaim their level of prominence atop the National League, they are going to have to deal with these issues first.  No matter which free agents they sign or players they bring in through trades, the Phillies will not be legitimate World Series contenders until they solve these five issues.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Players Poised for Huge Rebounds in 2013

A team decimated by injuries and underachievement in 2012, the Philadelphia Phillies are looking to rebound and return to their winning ways in 2013.

The Phillies were one of the more unlikely storylines this season. Manager Charlie Manual had a surplus of talent and promising young players, but struggled to get the team to mesh through the first half.

At the all-star break this team looked to be down and out, trailing first place Washington by 14 games in the division with a record of 37-50. At the break in 2011, the Phillies were 56-33 with a comfortable lead in the NL East.

A dormant Phillies team was rejuvenated by the return of their three and four hitters within 10 days of each other.

With the return of Ryan Howard, who ruptured his Achilles during the final game of last year’s playoffs, and Chase Utley, who was nursing various knee injuries, the Phillies went on a tear.

Philadelphia went 44-31 after the all-star break. They jumped New York and Miami to end third in the division, avoiding a sub-.500 record by going 81-81.

If Charlie Manual would like to avoid taking his place on the coaching hot seat next season, the Phillies need to play up to their potential and avoid injury.

Here are five Philadelphia Phillies set to have significant rebounds in 2013.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: B.J. Upton Is Not Worth the Cost of First-Round Pick

Now that the Tampa Bay Rays have extended a qualifying offer to B.J. Upton, is it any less likely the Philadelphia Phillies pursue him?

Probably not. But it should be.

If there is a silver lining to the terrible season that was 2012, it is that the Phillies will once again draft outside the bottom of baseball.  With an 81-81 finish, their worst record in a decade, the Phillies qualified for the 16th pick in baseball’s annual draft next summer—the highest they’ve selected since 2001.  (Cole Hamels was the 17th pick in 2002.)

In the four drafts that proceeded their fall (or climb, depending on how you look at it) from the top half of the draft, the Phillies selected Gavin Floyd (’01, picked fourth), Chase Utley (’00, picked 15th), Brett Myers (’99, picked 12th) and Pat Burrell (’98, picked first overall).  Each of these players, outside of Floyd, were major components of the club that won the 2008 World Series.

No player the Phillies have drafted since Cole Hamels has had as much impact as Cole or the three of the four first-round picks preceding him (mentioned above). 

Could that be a direct correlation to where in the draft they are selecting, or is it simply luck of the draw?

Vance Worley was chosen with the 102nd overall selection in 2008, and while he has been a nice find, his future is anything but set in stone.  He could develop into the next Cole Hamels or simply be a flash in the pan.  Most likely, Worley will end up somewhere in between the two extremes.

 

The probability of finding impact talent outside the first round of the draft is too rare for the Phillies to pass up on their highest draft pick in a decade in order to sign a player with so many question marks.

I’m well versed on what the Phillies need going forward.  (While the team’s biggest fault in 2012 was the lack of a true eighth-inning shutdown reliever, it’s hard to believe it’s going to be an issue going forward.  Either the Phillies will sign a veteran setup reliever or one of their young arms, many of whom gained valuable experience in 2012, will step up and fill the void.)  They need a center fielder.  They need a right-handed power bat in the lineup.  And they need to get younger.

B.J. Upton fits all of those things and more: He can steal bases, plays good defense and despite his nearly seven full seasons in the major leagues, still has enormous upside.  I have no doubt that if the Phillies were to sign Upton, he would thrive in Philadelphia.  His power numbers would probably skyrocket playing in Citizens Bank Park, and until he gave them a reason not to, the fans would adore him.

But Upton is also a player who has struck out almost one out of every three at-bats in the major leagues, is a career .255 hitter and has never slugged over .500 in a season in which he’s gotten 500 at-bats.  

Is spending $75 million (which is what it will likely take to sign Upton) and losing a first-round draft pick worth the cost?  Upton has a career WAR (although it’s the stat I hate the most, because its premise is flawed and makes absolutely no sense) average of just 2.4 per season.

To me, it isn’t, and there are far better uses for both their money and draft pick.  The Phillies would be better served, both in 2013 and going forward, in bringing back Shane Victorino and signing a veteran right-handed bat like Torii Hunter to play right field. 

B.J. Upton would look great in center field next April.  However, the cost would be too great.  Paying the man is one thing, but doing so and giving up the opportunity to find the next Mike Trout is something else. 

Now that Tampa Bay has attached draft-pick compensation to B.J. Upton, please move on and find someone else.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

MLB Free Agents 2013: Philadelphia Phillies Should Sign Nick Swisher

It was one of the more disappointing seasons in recent memory for the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans.

While they tried to make a long-shot run at the National League’s second wild-card spot late in the season, their sluggish start to the season was just too much to overcome.

The Phillies did manage to fight their way back to finish with a respectable 81-81 regular season record, but missed the playoffs despite having one of the biggest payrolls in major league baseball.

Phillies fans need not worry, however.

They still have key contributors like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon all signed through at least next season.

With a core of players that are still capable of winning in place, bringing in Nick Swisher seems like a no-brainer.

Not only because Swisher is one of the better bats on the free-agent market to be signed, but also because the Phillies could use some outfielders right now. After all, they did ship Shane Victorino off to Los Angeles and Hunter Pence to San Francisco after it became apparent that they weren’t going to be contenders this year.

Even Juan Pierre, who had a terrific season for Philadelphia, leading the team in stolen bases with 37, hits free agency this offseason.

It’s understandable that some Phillies fans may be weary of taking on another big contract for the foreseeable future, but Swisher would help fill one of those outfield spots and has been consistent at the plate over the course of his career.

 

Sure, he won’t hit .300, but Swisher would bring both power and the ability to reach base to the table.

Swisher hasn’t failed to reach the 20-home-run plateau in any of his eight full major league seasons and is an absolute walk machine. In fact, he’s had an OBP over .350 in all but two of his eight full seasons, despite never hitting .300 in a single season.

The Phillies will still need some sort of table-setter atop their lineup and some bullpen help, but Nick Swisher should be high on their priority list as free agency kicks off.

 

Follow @LeafsWriterBR

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Analyzing Shane Victorino’s Potential Impact in a Philadelphia Phillies Return

Adding an outfielder or two is an offseason priority for the Philadelphia Phillies and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. 

The Phillies outfield was wiped out at the trade deadline with Amaro trading Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by dealing Hunter Pence to the San Francisco Giants. 

Now, as the offseason begins, Philadelphia is looking for a center fielder, and some big names are available. Josh Hamilton is the flashiest name, with Michael Bourn close behind him. Angel Pagan boosted his value with a strong postseason. And B.J. Upton might have the most upside of the bunch.

But there’s yet another center fielder available who plays good defense, has some pop in his bat and can provide a lineup with some speed. The Phillies need all of those things. So could they possibly bring back Victorino next season?

Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News posed that very question in a recent article. For the right price, he feels, bringing back Victorino is an option the Phillies should consider. 

Though Bourn might be the ideal fit in terms of giving the Phillies batting order a leadoff hitter with speed who also plays spectacular defense, he and agent Scott Boras may be looking for a more expensive deal than Philadelphia is willing to pay.

A high price tag would also take Hamilton out of consideration. He’ll be the most expensive center fielder on the market. Besides, the Phillies don’t need his left-handed bat when they already have Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. 

Personally, I feel like Upton is the best fit for the Phillies.

He’s right-handed and could slot in between Utley and Howard. He has the speed for the top of the order, though his low on-base percentage (.289 this season) might not suit him for that role. He has the power to bat in the middle of the lineup. And Upton’s defense is on par with each of the other center fielders mentioned here. 

But Victorino could be a very attractive option. The Phillies certainly already know what they have in him.

Trading Victorino at midseason wasn’t necessarily an indictment of his skills. It was more a concern that he was seeking a significant raise over the $9.5 million he made this season. Rather than risk losing him as a free agent, Amaro at least got a quality reliever in Josh Lindblom and a promising prospect with Ethan Martin. 

Though Victorino struggled this season, batting .255 overall with a .704 OPS, he did play better in Philadelphia than before he was traded to the Dodgers. In 101 games with the Phillies, he hit .267 with a .724 OPS, nine home runs, 40 RBI and 24 stolen bases. 

More than any other team, the Phillies should be familiar with the numbers Victorino put up in 2011. He batted .279 with an .847 OPS, adding 16 triples, 17 homers, 61 RBI and 19 stolen bases in what was arguably his best season. 

Is he capable of providing that kind of production again? That’s the question hanging over Victorino during free agency.

Has he lost bat speed? Is he a step slower in center field? He stole a career-high 39 bases, which seems promising, but does he get on base enough to really utilize that speed?

Those are questions the Phillies would surely ask while judging Victorino against the other center fielders on the market. The team probably had the same concerns before trading him at midseason. 

Would the Phillies be willing to go into next season with an outfield of Domonic Brown in left, Victorino in center and Nate Schierholtz in right? That sentence just sent Phillies fans into fits of screaming, running around the house while knocking all of the books and picture frames off their shelves.

If Amaro is looking to upgrade his outfield, that collection of players won’t do it.

However, if Victorino is willing to accept a shorter contract for less money—perhaps because the market has determined his value for him—it seems plausible that the Phillies might be able to sign him in addition to another outfielder. 

Let’s say that Victorino can be had for a two-year, $20 million sort of deal. ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick talked to four MLB executives about the contract Upton might attract in free agency. Estimates ranged from three years, $27 million to five years, $70 million. 

Even if Victorino wanted a three-year deal and the Phillies were willing to give it to him, while Upton ended up getting the five-year, $70 million contract one executive projected, would $100 million for two outfielders suit Philadelphia’s payroll? 

Amaro wants to keep the Phillies below the $178 million luxury tax threshold for 2013. But a combined salary of $24 million for Victorino and Upton—and that’s presuming they would even be paid that much—seems to fit under those constraints. 

But would that leave enough money to also address the Phillies’ needs at third base and in the bullpen? That’s the dilemma Amaro faces. 

The Phillies can’t build their offseason around Victorino. He’s just not that kind of player. Amaro surely knows that’s not good enough, and the Philadelphia fans wouldn’t stand for it. But Victorino could complement other moves Amaro might make, such as signing another outfielder and/or a third baseman. 

Both sides parted amicably in late July, so there’s no reason to think either Victorino or the Phillies have moved on and want to try something else. It would surely be a popular move among the fans and Victorino himself admitted to MLB.com’s Barry M. Bloom late in the season that he’d love to return to Philadelphia.

Bringing back Victorino is certainly not the worst move the Phillies could make this winter.

 

Follow @iancass on Twitter.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

2012 MLB Offseason: Why the Phillies Need to Pursue Kevin Youkilis

The Philadelphia Phillies need a third baseman like a man stranded in the desert needs water. 

The club turned down its contract option on Placido Polanco during the last week, allowing him to become a free agent and once again opening a void at third base that could more accurately be classified as a black hole.

To make matters worse, the market for third basemen is going to be thin this winter both in terms of free agents and potential targets in a trade. That market is even thinner when you consider the fact that the Phillies seem to want to go in one of two directions—a long-term fix or a short-term stopgap. 

A long-term fix isn’t going to happen this winter unless the Phils sign over the entire deed to their farm system for San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley, a foolish decision for a team who’s decaying MLB roster is going to need some youth—and soon. 

As far as a stopgap is concerned, one name seems to fit the Phillies’ needs rather well: Kevin Youkilis. The longtime Boston Red Sox third baseman hits the free agent market this winter following a midseason trade to the Chicago White Sox, who turned down his contract option following the season. 

Youkilis will be 34 years old during the 2013 season and certainly isn’t going to help this aging Phillies club get any younger, but he’s also not in a position to demand a long-term contract—something that the Phillies should value given their future commitments. 

The “Greek God of Walks” may not be the same player that he once was, but he could still help out a heavily left-handed Phillies lineup. Youkilis hit .235 / .336 / .409, with 19 home runs. 

The numbers don’t leap off of the page, but when you consider the fact that the Phillies’ third basemen hit .272 / .315 / .357 with five home runs as a unit last season and that Youkilis’ low, .268 BABip (against a .322 career BABip), there is some obvious room for improvement. 

The Phillies have a few needs this offseason that Youkilis would help address, particularly offensively, where they are in desperate need of a right-handed bat with some power. Youkilis managed left-handed pitching well last season, posting a line of .275 / .386 / .492 with eight home runs against it. 

Common sense suggests that he would slot nicely into the Phillies’ lineup behind Ryan Howard and in front of Domonic Brown, balancing out the left-handed hitters quite a bit. 

Defensively, Youkilis leaves something to be desired. He posted a UZR/150 of -6.2 at third base last season, which is obviously bad, but not horrendous. Youkilis posted a DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) mark of -1, which means that he cost his team(s) a run with his defense. 

But the Phillies can sacrifice a bit of defense at third base to add a bit of right-handed pop to their lineup. With Freddy Galvis on the bench to provide a little defense in the later innings, having a guy who could throw runs on the board early in the game could be a big help. 

As with any deal nowadays, all of that information is a moot point if the Phillies find that Youkilis is out of their price range. Given all of the variables, one would assume that Youkilis is in line for a deal somewhere in the two years and $16-20 million range. 

But the law of supply and demand is not working with the Phillies this offseason, at least at third base. Youkilis is actually one of the better options available this winter and plenty of teams could use a third baseman. 

The Phillies seem confident that Cody Asche can take over in the near future (he played at Double-A Reading in 2012) and probably don’t want to pay a future 36-year-old Youkilis anything, let alone as a third baseman. 

The Phillies are also still squirming under the luxury tax and probably don’t have the ability to throw a ton of money at Youkilis in order to get him signed to a two-year contract. 

But we’ll assume for a moment that the Phillies and Youkilis can agree to financial terms. If they were to get him signed, it would be a solid deal. 

As the roster currently stands, the Phillies will open the season with their third baseman as one or some combination of Freddy Galvis and Kevin Frandsen. Those are solid players, but neither has the bat to play third base every day. 

Youkilis just makes more sense. He isn’t of the same caliber defensively, but could be leaps and bounds better offensively, which the Phillies will need. 

If the price is right, Youkilis could be a no-brainer for the Phils.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Why They Should Be Careful Chasing BJ Upton

The Philadelphia Phillies are the early front-runners in the race for free-agent center fielder B.J. Upton, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

The Phillies should proceed very cautiously if they truly are interested in Upton.

On one hand, he is one of the most physically talented players on the free-agent market this year. Everyone has known for a long time that he is a legitimate five-tool player. He is one of the rare players who has substantial power and speed.

However, we have only had brief glimpses of that brilliance. In 2007, he did hit .300 with 24 home runs, 82 RBI and 22 stolen bases. However, we have not seen all-around excellent numbers like that since. In 2012, he hit .246 with 28 home runs, 78 RBI and 31 stolen bases.

Obviously, some of his numbers improved, but what concerns me most about Upton is his tendency to add to the problem that the Phillies already have. He is a career .255 hitter, and he strikes out in bunches.

As a team last season, the Philadelphia Phillies hit .255. That placed them right in the middle of the league at 15th place.

In theory, it would be desirable to move up this list rather than move down, but given Upton’s history, the team batting average could easily drop further.

I know that everything does not rely on batting average, but when you look at the statistics from 2012, batting average is an important determinant of runs scored. I ran a little bit of statistical analysis on team data from last season, and the correlation between runs and batting average came to essentially .75 (for the purpose of full disclosure, I copied the table from the MLB.com Team Statistics page into Microsoft Excel and ran the Data Analysis add-on package for correlations).

The statistician in me looks at that relationship and worries about dropping the Philadelphia batting average even more. It could drop run production even more.

If he is able to tap into the potential that we all have been waiting for and puts up a season like he demonstrated he could in 2007, he would obviously help in Philadelphia. However, if you look at more recent history, his potential signing is somewhat more questionable.

 

Whether you think I know everything or nothing about Major League Baseball, you should follow me on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook and keep in touch. I love hearing what you all have to say!
Follow @spinkickers

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »