Updating Jonathan Papelbon Trade Suitors After Burning Bridges in Philly

Back in mid-June, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reported that the Philadelphia Phillies believed that the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals each had interest in reliever Jonathan Papelbon.

Although general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. had recently expressed his lack of interest in trading his closer, claiming that they didn’t have a capable replacement in the organization nor was there a strong market to find a closer in the upcoming offseason, I went ahead and put together potential trade packages from those three teams.

With the Phillies hanging around in the playoff race over the next several weeks, rumors surrounding Papelbon had dwindled.

But after voicing his frustrations with the direction of the organization on Sunday, following the team’s seventh consecutive loss, the word is that the Phillies are open to trading him. In fact, it appears they’re listening in on everyone, aside from Domonic Brown, Chase Utley and Cole Hamels, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.

Jayson Stark of ESPN says that the Phillies’ unwillingness to take on any of Papelbon’s remaining contract (remainder of $13 million in 2013, $13 million in 2014, $13 million in 2015, $13 million vesting option in 2016) could make it difficult to make a deal.

In addition, the Texas Rangers are reportedly shopping closer Joe Nathan, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, which would also seem to drop Papelbon’s value. 

There’s one additional team to add to the mix of teams potentially seeking a closer after the Pittsburgh Pirates lost Jason Grilli to a strained forearm for at least a month and possibly the remainder of the regular season. Papelbon’s contract makes them even less likely than the other three aforementioned teams, who have much bigger payrolls.

As for those aforementioned teams, here’s an update on their current bullpen situation and the trade package I put together for each back on June 19. Since then, the 32-year-old Papelbon has allowed four earned runs in 13 innings pitched with three walks, 10 strikeouts and six saves in nine chances. 

 

Boston Red Sox 

My original trade package had the Sox sending Junichi Tazawa to Philly to give the Phils a potential replacement for Papelbon, as well as outfield prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. and Anthony Ranaudo. Today, that sounds closer to what the Phillies would get for trading Cliff Lee to the Sox.  

I didn’t write that this would get the deal done for Papelbon. I was only speculating on what the Phillies would be asking for in exchange for one of the top closers in the game. It’s doubtful the Sox would include Bradley in any deal that wasn’t for an impact starting pitcher or hitter. 

Koji Uehara (pictured) has also stabilized the closer’s role (12 IP, 0 R, 5 H, BB, 17 K, 5 Sv in six chances), lessening the need to add a closer, although there’s no doubt that Papelbon’s presence would push everyone else down and make the group even stronger. 

If the Sox would take on the remainder of Papelbon’s deal, I think Ranaudo and Tazawa would be enough to bring Papelbon back to town.

Detroit Tigers 

I had the Phils filling two holes with a Papelbon-to-Detroit deal last month. Avisail Garcia would come over and take on the starting right field job in 2014, while hard-throwing rookie Bruce Rondon would immediately become the team’s “closer of the near future”. Low-A starter Jake Thompson, who is having a strong season in Low-A ball, would be the third piece. 

The Tigers have cooled on the idea of acquiring Papelbon, however, with Joaquin Benoit (pictured) taking the closer’s role and running with it over the past several weeks (17 IP, ER, 13 H, 3 BB, 23 K, 8 Sv in eight chances). Drew Smyly has flourished in the eighth inning role and Monday’s acquisition of Jose Veras, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, helps to solidify the bridge to Benoit. 

While the Tigers could still add bullpen help, it’s unlikely to be a closer with a big contract like Papelbon.

St. Louis Cardinals

I had to get a bit creative to make a potential Papelbon trade with the Cards work last month, expanding the deal to include Jimmy Rollins as an upgrade at the shortstop position. In order to land the two veterans, I had St. Louis giving up two top prospects, second baseman Kolten Wong and right-handed starter Michael Wacha. 

There’s two reasons why this potential trade proposal isn’t happening now.

First of all, Edward Mujica continues to get the job done as the Cardinals’ closer, converting 30 of 32 saves overall and posting a 2.01 ERA with only two walks and 38 strikeouts in 44.2 innings.

Adding Papelbon to close and dropping Mujica (pictured) into an eigth-inning role would strengthen the ‘pen overall, but it’s probably not worth the price—at least one top prospect while taking on Papelbon’s contract. 

Secondly, Jimmy Rollins wasn’t hitting much (.701 OPS on June 19) at the time of my proposed blockbuster trade. He’s been even worse since (.599 OPS in 32 games). They could still use an upgrade over Pete Kozma at shortstop, but it won’t be Rollins, who has a big contract and a full no-trade clause. 

So unless the Sox decide they want Papelbon back and will take on the remainder of his contract, Papelbon and the Phillies are stuck with each other, as one rival executive put it, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

 

 

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Philadelphia Phillies Trade Rumors: Last Minute Buzz Ahead of the Deadline

As the July 31st trade deadline is less than 48 hours away, the Philadelphia Phillies and GM Ruben Amaro have been making calls and listening to offers on just about every one of the team’s top guys.

Included in this list are Cliff Lee, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Jonathan Papelbon, Carlos Ruiz and Michael Young.

Of course, some of those guys are going to be easier to move, some, as it turns out, the team doesn’t want to move and some have no-trade clauses or incredible salaries that it will be near impossible to move.

Whatever the reason, the Phillies have to be considered sellers and it is only a matter of time until they finally trade away some of the veteran stars.

So as the so-called “eleventh hour” approaches, here is the latest trade chatter revolving around the Phillies.

All trade rumors are provided by MLB Trade Rumors unless otherwise stated. All rumors are updated as of Monday July 30, at 1 a.m.

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Phillies Trade Rumors: Stars Who Could Be on the Move at MLB Trade Deadline

As the 2013 MLB trade deadline approaches, the team most commonly referenced has been the Philadelphia Phillies.

Far removed from their 2008 World Series title, the Phillies are now a popular target for teams looking to acquire stars from a team flush with big names surrounded by poor role players.

The question is, which of Philadelphia’s stars could be on the move come the trade deadline?

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has not ruled out the possibility of trading his biggest stars. That includes some of the biggest names in baseball, with Cliff Lee, Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley and Michael Young all potentially targeted.

To put it simply, when teams come calling, Amaro Jr. will not be so quick to say no, according to Crasnick:

I can’t sit here and say I’m not going to trade Chase [Utley], or Cliff [Lee], or Michael Young, or Chooch (Carlos Ruiz), or any of these guys. Some guys are less tradable than others. But I think I owe it to us as an organization to listen. If teams are going to come at us and suggest things, I’m not going to turn off the faucet and stop listening to them.

That may not give you a committed answer, but it opens the door for potential trades involving some of the biggest names in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia has not been MLB’s most successful franchise of the 2013 season, resting at 49-56 and with an eight-game losing streak in tow. With that being said, their top players rank among the best at their positions and have undeniable trade value for a contender looking to add missing pieces.

Here’s who may be on the move.

 

The Pitchers

Lee remains one of the best pitchers in baseball, and if he were playing for a contender, he’d like be a NL Cy Young Award contender. He’s 10-4 with an ERA of 3.05, an opponent batting average of .230 and a WHIP of 1.01.

That’s exactly why the baseball world has such a close eye on his future.

Lee continues to go deep into games, averaging more than seven innings per contest. In addition, Lee has maintained his dominance, ranking in the top 10 in both WHIP and wins above replacement for pitchers.

Here’s the kicker: Just as Amaro Jr. made Lee available, he reportedly changed his mind without hesitation.

Fear not—another elite pitcher on Philadelphia’s pitching staff is still available.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, closer Jonathan Papelbon spoke candidly on his future in Philadelphia. Papelbon opened up on his feelings about the current situation in Philadelphia and what needs to change for the team to rediscover its glory days.

Most importantly, Papelbon spoke on whether or not he’d accept a trade:

“I definitely didn’t come here for this,” he said.

Asked after the game if he wants to be traded, Papelbon said, “No, I would like to stay here. But if I’m going to have to put up with this year after year, then no, I don’t want to be here. Why would you? Why would anybody?”

Papelbon has every reason to feel that way, and teams have every reason to be interested in acquiring his services.

Papelbon has converted 20 saves this season, going 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA. He’s blown five save opportunities, but in the end, his overall body of work is significantly more impressive than the rare slip-up.

With every contender needing back-of-the-bullpen aid, adding a former World Series champion is as attractive as it gets.

 

The Hitters

As stated in Crasnick‘s report, Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley and Michael Young are all in play for the Phillies. Each player is a former All-Star, possessing strong-to-elite hitting ability and the remaining skill level to make a major impact.

Due to his multi-faceted game, the most sought-after name has been Young.

Young is a seven-time All-Star, a 2008 Gold Glove winner and a career .300 hitter. While he isn’t having a stellar season in Philadelphia, it’s perfectly clear that the man can still hit.

At 36, Young has seven home runs, 32 RBI, 18 doubles and three triples on a batting average of .277 this season, which has numerous teams in the market for the former batting champion.

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that the Texas Rangers are now out of the market for Young.

Health has always been an issue for Utley, but he also has extraordinary value. The four-time Silver Slugger is hitting .274 with 13 home runs and 36 RBI, also registering in 16 doubles and four triples in 76 games.

Injuries are all that separate Utley, who also has seven stolen bases, from maintaining his label of elite.

Ruiz hasn’t been as strong, hitting .253 with nine RBI in 46 games. Those aren’t the best of numbers, but they sum the Phillies’ situation up perfectly.

For teams in the market for a veteran, few teams can offer as much as the Phillies.

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Stock Up, Stock Down for Philadelphia Phillies’ Top 10 Prospects for Week 17

The Philadelphia Phillies have less than three days until the non-waiver trade deadline and their last opportunity to move players prior to this upcoming offseason—not including any waiver deals in August.

The Phillies made one midseason move last week when, according to Jeff Passan on Yahoo! Sports, the team reached a six-year deal worth nearly $59 million with Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.

Any additional moves, however, could involve prospects either joining or leaving their minor league system.

A new set of prospect rankings was also released this past week when MLB.com’s 2013 Prospect Watch was updated to include players from the June draft.

These rankings feature just two changes from last week’s rankings, but several players have made either major moves up or down since their preseason rankings.

Which players are new to the top-10? Will any new players be added to this list following the non-waiver trade deadline? How did the current list of top-10 prospects fare this past week?

Let’s take a look at whose stock is up and whose is down following Week 17.

 

*All statistics courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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Phillies Trade Rumors: Breaking Down Latest Buzz Surrounding Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly open to trading left-hander Cliff Lee, third baseman Michael Young, catcher Carlos Ruiz and closer Jonathan Papelbon, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.

Stark reported on Saturday that “teams that have talked with the Phillies say they’ve shifted course in the past 24 to 48 hours.” As of this writing, the Phillies have lost eight games in a row and stand at 49-56, 10.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

Here’s a breakdown of the four players being discussed.

 

Cliff Lee, SP

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke about left-hander Cliff Lee on Friday, per Jerry Crasnick of ESPN:

I never put any real absolutes on anything. Although we don’t have any desire to move a guy like that because we view him as someone who will be key to our future, I am a businessperson, as well, and I’ll be a good listener. 

Lee, who was removed from Saturday night’s start against the Detroit Tigers with a stiff neck, has posted a 10-4 record with a 3.05 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 131 strikeouts in 144.2 innings this season. The 34-year-old was also selected to his fourth career All-Star Game.

It hasn’t been reported which clubs are interested in Lee, but you can bet the list reaches far and wide. Crasnick notes that the Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers are all in need of starting pitching.

Of course, those interested may have to pay a steep price to acquire Lee. He’s worth $25 million per year from 2013 to 2015. His deal also includes a $27.5 million team option in 2016 and a $12.5 million buyout.

For a player who is getting up there in age, there’s certainly a risk in acquiring Lee. On the other hand, he’s been excellent so far in 2013.

 

Michael Young

Michael Young is a free agent after this season and is unlikely to re-sign with the Phillies, so it comes as no surprise that Stark would report Philadelphia is “more open to trading Young” than Lee.

According to Stark, the Phillies and Texas Rangers have held “exploratory” talks about sending Young back to Texas where he spent his first 13 seasons in the league.

Young is batting .277 with seven home runs, 32 RBI and 38 runs this season. Last year with the Rangers, he batted .277 with eight home runs, 67 RBI and 79 runs in 156 games.

 

Jonathan Papelbon

If you haven’t heard, Jonathan Papelbon ripped the entire Phillies organization after the club’s 12-4 loss to the Tigers on Sunday.

Per Todd Zolecki of MLB:

Asked what he thought about the direction the organization is headed, he sighed.

“Oh, man,” he said. “We could be here all day.”

So then what about this team’s ability to turn things around, if not this season, then next season?

“It’s going to take, in my opinion, a lot,” he said. “And in my opinion, I think it’s going to have to be something very similar to what the Red Sox went through a couple years ago. From top to bottom.”

When asked if he would like to be traded, Papelbon said, per the report:

No, I would like to stay here. But if I’m going to have to put up with this year after year, then no, I don’t want to be here. Why would you? Why would anybody?

So, in other words, Papelbon would like to stay, but he’s not willing to ride it out. 

To his credit, Papelbon has mainly pitched well this season, posting a 2.21 ERA with a 0.88 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched. On the other hand, he has blown five saves in 25 chances.

On top of that, he’s due $13 million per season through 2015. The price tag has reportedly turned off some teams, including the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers.

 

Carlos Ruiz

Carlos Ruiz is batting .253 with zero home runs, nine RBI and 12 runs in 46 games (146 at-bats) this season. 

That’s after batting .325 with 16 home runs, 68 RBI and 56 runs in 2012.

The 34-year-old has dealt with hamstring problems this season. He appeared in his first game of the season on April 27 after a 25-game suspension for taking a banned stimulant, then was diagnosed with a right hamstring strain in late May. He returned to the lineup on June 18. 

 

 

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Jonathan Papelbon Rips Entire Philadelphia Phillies Organization

A long losing streak usually brings out the worst in players. It also leads to them making statements they might later regret. 

This is exactly what happened Sunday with the always-vocal Jonathan Papelbon, who believes the Philadelphia Phillies require a lot of change going forward. Following his team’s 12-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports on some of the closer’s very negative opinions about his team:

Asked what he thought about the direction the organization is headed, he sighed.

“Oh, man,” he said. “We could be here all day.”

So then what about this team’s ability to turn things around, if not this season, then next season?

“It’s going to take, in my opinion, a lot,” he said. “And in my opinion, I think it’s going to have to be something very similar to what the Red Sox went through a couple years ago. From top to bottom.”

At least when he was asked about possibly being traded, he declined by saying, “No, I would like to stay here. But if I’m going to have to put up with this year after year, then no, I don’t want to be here. Why would you? Why would anybody?”

This is obviously not what you want to hear from anyone on the team. While no one enjoys losing, the closer called out all of his teammates, as well as other members of the organization, by saying they needed to be replaced in order to be successful.

Of course, this type of attitude is almost understandable from Phillies players, as the team is in the midst of an eight-game losing streak. The latest loss drops it to 49-56 on the year, which is 10.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

If the year continues to go in this direction, it will be the first losing season for the organization since 2002. 

As for Papelbon, he is in the second year of a four-year, $50 million contract that he signed after the 2011 season. He has been solid with a 2.27 ERA and 0.88 WHIP, but he also has five blown saves in 25 opportunities.

Despite this success, it is unlikely his latest comments are making him any new friends in the Phillies clubhouse.

 

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.

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Phillies Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Michael Young, Cliff Lee and More

Perhaps no team in baseball is stuck in the middle more than the Philadelphia Phillies. The Fightin‘ Phils have plenty of high-quality veteran players, but they find themselves fading fast as their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. With that in mind, the Phillies have to decide whether they’re buyers or sellers.

That decision could be a defining one in terms of where the franchise goes from here, as it is built to win now. If Philadelphia engages in a fire sale, though, it could enter into a rebuilding phase. Considering the high-quality players that they could deal, however, a rebuild may not take very long as some great youngsters would be coming back the other day.

Here is the latest buzz surrounding third baseman Michael Young, starting pitcher Cliff Lee and the Phillies’ top bargaining chip as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

 

Michael Young

After a disappointing 2012 season, the Phillies went out and made a deal that they believed would get them back to the playoffs, as they acquired Michael Young from the Texas Rangers. Young was a seven-time All-Star at multiple positions for the Rangers, and he helped them reach the World Series twice. The Phillies’ front office hoped he could help do the same in Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, that seems highly unlikely at this point. The Phillies are nine games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and 9.5 out in the wild card race, so they would need to make an improbable comeback. If Philly decides that it won’t be able to make it happen, Young is a top trade candidate, as his contract expires at the end of the season. According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, there has been discussion about trading Young back to Texas.

Although the Rangers are more in the market for a right-handed hitting outfielder, they are very familiar with Young and could use him both at first base and designated hitter. The Phillies probably wouldn’t get a ton out of the Rangers for him, since he is 36 years of age and his skills are eroding to some degree, but it would be better to get something for him than to let him leave via free agency.

 

Cliff Lee

It can be argued that starting pitcher Cliff Lee is now the biggest name on the market as the Phillies’ current state could prompt them to entertain offers. According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, Lee was scratched from his start on Saturday due to neck stiffness. With the trade deadline just days away, it is certainly a suspicious move, as it feels like the Phillies are protecting their asset rather than making a routine decision.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. didn’t elaborate on what type of interest there is in Lee, according to Crasnick, but he didn’t rule out anyone on the roster. Crasnick listed a number of teams who could potentially make a run at Lee, including the Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Lee has been one of the few bright spots for Philly this season, as he sports a 10-4 record with a 3.05 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. The southpaw doesn’t appear to be far off from his 2008 Cy Young form, which is why so many contenders would love to get their hands on him. His showings in the 2009 and 2010 playoffs are still the stuff of legend, and there is no question that the Phillies could demand and receive a huge package of players and prospects for him.

 

Chase Utley

Second baseman Chase Utley has been a fan favorite in Philadelphia since his debut in 2003, but his tenure could soon be coming to an end. Utley has really struggled with injuries for the past four seasons, and with his contract set to run out, it’s possible that the Phillies won’t want to invest in a 34-year-old player with a long injury history. Even so, Utley is discussing an extension with the Phillies currently, according to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports.

Utley’s statement is quite telling, as he seems as uncertain as anyone about his status. When Utley has been on the field this season, he has produced to the tune of a .279 average with 13 home runs and 36 RBI. At his peak, Utley was putting up more than 30 home runs and 100 RBI per season. It is difficult to imagine him getting back to that level, but he is still one of the game’s better power-hitting second basemen when healthy.

According to Morosi, the Oakland Athletics are a team to watch if the Phillies choose to move Utley. The A’s aren’t known for going after big-ticket players, but if they believe that they are close to competing for a World Series title, it would make sense to go out and get a rental at a position of need. Of all the players the Phillies could potentially trade, Utley may end up being the toughest decision. He has been a huge part of the team’s success in recent years, but maybe it is time to move on.

 

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

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Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez Signing Is Worth Risk for Philadelphia Phillies

It isn’t often that a potential All-Star-caliber starting pitcher becomes available on the free-agent market during the regular season, but due to the special case of Cuban righty Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, the Philadelphia Phillies suddenly have yet another strong arm to add to their already impressive stable.

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, the Phillies signed the 26-year-old phenom to a six-year deal worth in excess of $50 million.

In fact, ESPN.com is reporting that the contract could potentially be worth as much as $60 million, so there is no question that the Phillies are taking a bit of a risk with an unproven commodity.

With that said, the Phillies are better off getting a pitcher with immense potential such as Gonzalez than waiting for the offseason. Fairly average major league starters tend to get $10 million-per-year contracts in free agency due to the simple fact that teams don’t let their elite starters hit the market.

It remains to be seen if Gonzalez will become elite, but he clearly has a better chance of reaching that level than the likes of Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett or countless other middle-of-the-road guys. Also, with Philadelphia’s starting pitching situation in flux, it makes perfect sense for the team to bring in another rising star at the position.

Just a couple years ago, there was talk about the Phillies having the greatest rotation of all time as it sported Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt. While that quartet had some success, the Phillies were unable to reach the World Series, and their time frame of dominance really only lasted for one year.

Halladay has been on the shelf for the bulk of the season, and he has been absolutely awful when he has pitched, so it seems pretty unlikely that the Phillies will re-sign him.

Lee has had a fantastic season, but there are rumors swirling around him with the trade deadline approaching and Philly tumbling in the standings. According to Mike Axisa of CBS Sports, Lee has been scratched from Saturday’s start with a stiff neck. While Lee may actually be banged up, there is plenty of speculation that the Phillies could be protecting their asset in the event of a trade.

As for Hamels, he has really struggled this season after signing a monster, seven-year contract extension. His awful record of 4-13 is a bit misleading as his ERA is 4.09 and his WHIP is 1.25, but he has thrown significantly worse than he has over the past three years.

Since it’s unclear if or when Hamels will return to ace form, Gonzalez is essentially an insurance policy. If Hamels is able to bounce back, then the Phillies could have a formidable one-two punch at the top of the rotation. Even if he continues to fall off, though, Gonzalez will be the ace in waiting.

The general consensus is that Gonzalez is major league-ready right now, so the Phillies should get an opportunity to work him into the rotation late in the season. He’ll probably need a couple starts in the minors, but with Philadelphia falling out of the playoff race quickly, it makes perfect sense to give Gonzalez a taste of the big leagues in September.

The best historical comparison that can be made to Gonzalez’s case is that of Jose Contreras. The Cuban veteran was signed by the Yankees at the age of 23 in 2003, and he showed flashes of brilliance early as he went 7-2 with a 3.30 ERA in his first season. Contreras quickly fell off after that, though, and he has bounced around ever since.

Although Contreras never became the ace that the Yankees hoped, he pitched out of a major league bullpen as recently as this season with the Pittsburgh Pirates at 41 years of age. With that said, the Phillies can’t base Gonzalez’s situation off Contreras’ because they are totally different pitchers.

Aroldis Chapman was in the same situation a couple years ago, and he has happened to develop into one of the best closers in the game. Simply put, every case is different, so Gonzalez can’t be judged until he takes the mound and either sinks or swims.

Teams that take risks tend to excel, so the Phillies should be applauded for thinking outside the box and going for the big score with Gonzalez.

 

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

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Phillies’ Signing of Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez Means Cliff Lee Not Going Anywhere

Cuban-born pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez may not have pitched a single inning in Major League Baseball, but he could be the missing link the Philadelphia Phillies have been looking for.

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, the Phillies have inked Gonzalez to a six-year, $48 million contract, with an option for a seventh year at $11 million—bringing the total value to $59 million. That represents the largest international signing ever.

The Phillies obviously thought that Gonzalez was worth it, outbidding the Boston Red Sox and several other teams.

For teams who may have thought they might have a shot at landing Phillies starter Cliff Lee, they could now be very disappointed.

Gonzalez is considered to be a pitcher who’s already ready for the majors and may just need a couple of minor league starts to acclimate himself.

The Phillies are five games under .500 and a full 10 games out of a wild-card spot in the National League, but this is clearly a signing that indicates Philadelphia is at least looking at a postseason berth in 2014, if not this season.

According to Passan, Gonzalez has a solid four-pitch repertoire that recently impressed just about every scout who attended workouts in Mexico.

 

Re-Tooling, Not Rebuilding

In recent weeks, the Phillies’ fate as either a buyer or seller has been discussed ad nauseum. Several weeks ago, general manager Ruben Amaro gave every indication that he simply wasn’t interested in offering up players like Lee, despite the team’s mediocre start to the season.

However, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN wrote on Friday that several teams were interested in Lee, and that Amaro was at least listening.

Via Crasnick: 

I never put any real absolutes on anything. Although we don’t have any desire to move a guy like that because we view him as someone who will be key to our future, I am a businessperson as well and I’ll be a good listener.

That could have been nothing but a smokescreen.

The acquisition of Gonzalez gives the Phillies a solid foursome along with Lee, Cole Hamels and Kyle Kendrick. That doesn’t even include Roy Halladay, who has a $20 million option for next season that will likely be declined. That doesn’t mean that Halladay couldn’t come back for much less, however.

Think of that for a starting five, if Halladay comes back healthy.

It simply doesn’t sound like a team that’s going be selling off any of its pitching parts anytime soon.

 

Future Television Money Means Phillies Can Keep Playing With Big Boys

The Phillies can’t necessarily cry poor-mouth—they have the third-highest payroll, according to USA Today. But they aren’t blessed with a TV deal quite like the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers, either.

That could be changing very soon.

The Phillies could be in line for a TV deal that nets them somewhere in the neighborhood of $5 billion. That’s certainly enough to continue paying the likes of Lee, Halladay, Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon and now Gonzalez. 

That’s a whole lot of incentive for the Phillies to have traveled to Tijuana last month to watch Gonzalez pitch. And it’s a lot of incentive to sign him and keep everyone else as well.

Let’s face it—the Phillies have some issues. Injuries have decimated their bullpen, with Jeremy Horst and Mike Adams now out for the season. Ryan Howard is likely out until at least late August with a torn meniscus. Their best power hitter, Domonic Brown, just hit the seven-day disabled list with a concussion, and Chase Utley isn’t getting any younger. 

It’s a stretch to think the Phillies have a snowball’s chance in hell of making the postseason this year. 

But with a rotation that boasts of Lee, Hamels, Gonzalez, Kendrick and Halladay, the 2014 season is all of a sudden looking a whole lot brighter. And the Phillies will have the benefit of a potential $5 billion TV deal that can help cushion the financial blow.

So, to the teams that are currently salivating at the thought of Cliff Lee helping their drive for postseason glory this season, they might have to consider Plan B.

Could Amaro still consider dealing Lee? He said it himself: He’s a businessman. He’ll at least listen. He’d be a fool to turn down a deal that completely overwhelmed him. But it would absolutely have to be a slam-dunk type deal to convince Amaro that Lee needs to be moved.

He has a pitcher in Gonzalez who could very well be the missing link for next season, and who could potentially help in 2013 as well. He has a possible TV deal that will keep the Phillies in the black for quite a while. 

That’s a whole lot of hope. And for teams pining away for Lee, it’s a lot of heartache as well. 

 

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle.

Feel free to talk baseball with Doug anytime on Twitter.

 

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Phillies’ Signing of Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez Can Help Team in 2013 and Beyond

After watching teams such as the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers find success in signing international talent, the Philadelphia Phillies have decided to try their own luck.

According to Jeff Passan on Yahoo!, the Phillies have reached a deal with Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez on a six-year deal potentially worth nearly $60 million.

The Phillies have not spent as much on international prospects as other teams in recent seasons. However, with players such as Maikel Franco, Freddy Galvis and Cesar Hernandez in their minor league system and having success at various points in their minor league careers, it made sense for the team to trust their scouting department on another international signing.

Gonzalez, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher, will receive $48 million guaranteed.

The Phillies have struggled for a season and a half now in trying to push their record above .500 and keep it there while climbing back into playoff contention.

This season, with players such as Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, Carlos Ruiz and Michael Young nearing free agency and the team once again struggling to reach .500, general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. and the front office have multiple difficult decisions to make.

Ideally, Amaro will find a way to trade the right players who bring back the types of prospects who can help continue to improve a farm system that should benefit from a solid First-Year Player Draft this past June, while putting the team back into contention as soon as next season.

Ideally, Amaro will give the Phillies at least a chance to make a run at the second Wild Card spot this season, while pushing for the National League East next season.

In signing Gonzalez, he just might have made a move in that direction.

Gonzalez, who has a fastball that can reach 96 mph, a curveball, changeup and splitter, should be sent to the minor leagues before potentially receiving a major league promotion by mid-August, according to Passan.

If the Phillies want to at least make things interesting in the National League playoff race, they must improve a bullpen that has been among the worst in the major leagues for more than a season and a half now.

However, as the recent trade of Francisco Rodriguez to the Baltimore Orioles showed, the price for bullpen help is very high, with the demand far outweighing the supply. The Orioles traded a highly ranked prospect for essentially an eighth-inning reliever.

The Phillies’ bullpen currently has the third-highest ERA in the National League at 4.18 and the third-highest opponents’ batting average at .262.

Although Gonzalez projects as a starting pitcher, the Phillies could use the right-hander out of the bullpen for the final two months of the season as he acclimates to the major leagues.

Just as the Cincinnati Reds had plans of Aroldis Chapman moving into the starting rotation at some point, the team first—and still is—enjoying his tremendous success out of the bullpen.

Gonzalez could pick up his first few major league innings as a reliever and potentially become the Phillies’ best bullpen option besides Jonathan Papelbon for the rest of this season.

Once the non-waiver trade deadline passes, Gonzalez could turn out to be one of the best bullpen additions in the second half of the season.

After this season, with Roy Halladay and John Lannan possibly reaching facing free agency, the Phillies should have at least one opening in their starting rotation, if not more.

Gonzalez could move into one of these spots and, in the best case scenario, give the Phillies a solid starting pitcher under contract through at least 2018.

Jesse Sanchez on mlb.com recently wrote that scouts believe that signing Gonzalez is like picking up a top pitcher before the non-waiver trade deadline. 

Few options exist for the Phillies to improve in the future without giving up young talent that may also help the team in the future seasons.  However, signing an impact free agent in the middle of the season is a unique opportunity that the Phillies and six other teams, according to Sanchez, had an interest in doing.

With demand outweighing supply on the trade market and teams signing their own players to long-term extensions, both the trade deadline and free agency could take a hit in upcoming years.

If that’s the case, it makes sense for the Phillies to hold onto their prospects while making sure that any trades involves more prospects entering their system rather than leaving.

In signing Gonzalez, the Phillies were able to keep their farm system intact, possibly improve their bullpen for the rest of this season and avoid bidding wars this offseason, if multiple starting pitchers had been needed.

At an AAV of likely less than $10 million, Gonzalez’s contract could pay him less than what free agent starters will make this offseason.

Gonzalez’s signing could improve the Phillies both in 2013 and in future seasons, and at least gives the team a chance to follow in Oakland and Los Angeles’ footsteps and find success in the international market and leave more of a global foot print.

 

*All statistics courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.

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