Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Changes That Must Be Made to Rejuvenate Team

It’s getting to be crunch time for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Following a regular-season first half that saw injuries and poor play combine to keep the team in last place in the National League East, the team must now decide whether they will become buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.

If they become buyers, chances are any additions will not resemble the major midseason acquisitions of past seasons.

If they turn into sellers, the Phillies may be on the other end of those big-name deals that they have been a part of in recent seasons.

Either way, at 14 games back in the NL East and 11 games back in the wild-card standings, the Phils must undergo some changes if they are going to make a run in the second half.

Here are five changes that must be made to rejuvenate the team.

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Phillies Trade Rumors: Is Dealing Cole Hamels the Right Thing to Do?

For the Philadelphia Phillies, trading a 28-year-old All-Star starting pitcher who is still in his prime can’t be a way to improve the team for the future, can it?

Unfortunately, a 50-loss first half and 17-27 home record have put the Phillies in a position that they didn’t want to be in at the trade deadline.

Not only could the team turn into sellers if play doesn’t pick up, but All-Star Cole Hamels has still yet to sign a long-term deal.

The timing of these two instances has led to widespread speculation involving Hamels being dealt at the deadline. Unfortunately, this season has revealed multiple areas in which the team needs improvement for both this season and going forward.

And no player could bring in more pieces for turning the Phils back into contenders over the next few seasons, which brings up the question: is trading the left-hander the right thing to do?

What may be most alarming about this season involves Baseball America’s Midseason Top 50 Prospect List, posted by J.J. Cooper. The list contains Baseball America’s ranking of the top 50 prospects in the minor leagues as of July 1, and does not include those players drafted last month.

Not one Phillies prospect is on the list.

Meanwhile, potential prospects whom the Phillies could acquire for Hamels find themselves ranked high on the list.

According to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal on yardbarker.com, the Texas Rangers have scouted Hamels, and Double-A third baseman Mike Olt could be part of a potential deal.

Baseball America ranks Olt, who is batting .294 with 22 home runs and 63 RBI, at No. 11.

With Placido Polanco having a $5.5 million mutual option for next season, third base is a position that the Phils could be looking at for a replacement, and a younger, cheaper player may fit the bill. A cheaper free-agent signing to serve as a segue until Olt is ready for the major leagues could save the Phils a great deal in payroll rather than targeting a high priced free agent.

A recent article by Corey Seidman on CSNPhilly.com lists Nick Castellanos, a third baseman currently playing in Double-A for the Detroit Tigers, as another potential acquisition.

Castellanos was recently named MVP of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.

Castellanos, who is batting .307 with four home runs and 15 RBI at Double-A, is ranked at No. 12 by Baseball America.

Baseball America also ranks former Phillies prospects Travis d’Arnaud, Jonathan Singleton and Anthony Gose in their top 50 list.

Trading Hamels provides an opportunity to once again have a farm system that features top 50 talents.

The trade speculation surrounding Hamels took an interesting turn following a recent interview with Leslie Gudel on CSNPhilly.com. In the interview, Hamels responded to a question asking if there was a possibility that he would sign with the Phillies in the offseason if he is traded this season.

“It’s an organization and I understand the business side and I won’t be offended.  I think you need to know your players and because I think I’ve been here long enough, I think [the front office] pretty much understands my personality and they know that if something had to arise, I wouldn’t be offended and I still would give them the benefit of the doubt and come back, because this is one of the best organizations I’ve ever seen.  It has the best fan base I’ve ever seen.  It’s a great place to play baseball and there are a ton of great guys to play baseball with.”

Although this can hurt the Phillies’ chances of obtaining multiple high-ranking prospects in a deal, contending teams will still be willing to trade at least one top prospect even if they are only acquiring Hamels for the rest of the season.

And if Hamels hits free agency, he has said that the Phillies would be a top choice of his, as a recent article by Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com explains.

“I’ll always give them the first choice,” he said.  “If there are multiple teams I’m always going to put them at the top of my list.”

To further make matters interesting, the Phillies are likely currently exceeding the luxury tax threshold for this season, meaning the team has to shed salary in order to avoid paying the tax.

Of course, the Phils could trade other players in order to get under the tax threshold. But with multiple areas in need of improvement, the Phillies could have to continue spending during the offseason so as to consistently remain in contention. Avoiding paying the tax this season means the Phillies would not be considered repeat offenders next season should their payroll exceed the $178 million mark for the 2013 season.

A last-place team having to pay the luxury tax could lead to some head scratching.

Both Hamels and the majority of fans want to see the All-Star remain in a Phillies uniform past this season. But if the team’s play doesn’t pick up in the second half, even with a roster at full strength, the Phils will have to make some deals in order to get back into contention past this season.

By trading Hamels, the Phillies would acquire at least one top-level prospect who would likely be close to playing in the major leagues, while also helping the team avoid paying an additional tax due to a large payroll.

And come the offseason, there would at least be some chance of signing the left-hander to resume his career in Philadelphia.

A last-place standing for a playoff-caliber team means changes must be made, and Hamels could become an innocent victim.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Roy Halladay: Why the Philadelphia Phillies SP Is Key to Second-Half Success

No team is happier than the Philadelphia Phillies that the All-Star break has arrived.

At 37-50, the Phillies sit 14 games out of first place in the National League East and 10 games back in the Wild Card standings.

However, during the Phils’ recent string of division success, the second half of the regular season is what has propelled them toward postseason play.

Since 2007, the Phillies have gone 257-157 from July on during the regular season.

This season, the team’s second half will have a different feel for two reasons.  For one, the Phillies haven’t been this many games out of first place at the All-Star break since 2002.

Secondly, they will be getting Roy Halladay back.

After Halladay went on the disabled list with a shoulder strain on May 28th, no Phillies starting pitcher besides Vance Worley had an ERA under 4.00 for the month of June.

Meanwhile, since joining the Phils, Halladay has gone 19-6 with a 2.50 ERA following the All-Star break.

With an offense that has improved since the start of the season and has already received boosts in Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, it’s now the pitching staff’s turn to receive reinforcement.

A return to form by Halladay is key for the Phillies to find success in the second half.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Reasons Chase Utley’s Return Will Jump Start Team

Few teams could use a jump start more than the Philadelphia Phillies this season.

For the months of April and June, the Phils were not able to string together more than two consecutive wins.  In the month of May, the Phils were able to win six consecutive games and four consecutive games on separate occasions.  However, these two win streaks were eventually followed by four- and six-game losing streaks.

With consistency proving difficult to find throughout the first half of the season, the Phillies could use a way to jump start the team so that win streaks become more common and losing streaks occur less frequently.

Enter Chase Utley.

After missing 76 games, Utley has returned to the Phillies’ lineup at the most crucial point in the season.

Although Utley’s return will not single-handedly push the team to the top of the National League East, it will still give the Phils the boost they need while they await the returns of other players, such as Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay.

Here are five reasons why Utley’s return will jump start the Phillies.

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5 Ways Phillies Can Sell at the Deadline Without Giving Up Entirely on 2012

There’s no rule that says a team must turn into either a buyer or a seller at the trade deadline.

However, if a payroll that is over $170 million belongs to a team struggling to make the playoffs, shedding some cash couldn’t hurt, right?

But there’s a difference between trading a starting pitcher who is about to enter his prime and who is the franchise’s all-time leader in postseason wins, and trading a 41-year-old fan favorite who is currently only able to pinch hit.

Trading the first player in that scenario essentially means that any success achieved this season is great, but you’re really planning for the future.

Trading the latter player means that, although it’s difficult, trading certain players can result in acquisitions that benefit the team this season.

Here are five ways the Phillies can sell at the deadline without giving up on this season.

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Can Phillies Get Enough Help from a Shane Victorino Trade to Make It Worth It?

The way the Philadelphia Phillies have played this season has at times made it seem like the only hope is to blow up the entire roster and start over.

Of course, once the pain from a recent loss wears off, it’s easier to think of more realistic options.

The longer it takes for the Phillies to improve on their standing in the National League East, the longer the debate will rage as to whether they should be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.

Recent seasons have seen the Phils become buyers at the deadline, as they acquired players in hopes of advancing deep into the postseason.

This season, however, players may be brought in to simply help the team reach the postseason.

Or the reverse could happen.

Should the Phillies decide to trade some of their own players at the trade deadline, two of their impending free agents will come up in talks.  As Ken Rosenthal wrote last month, at least one team has already inquired about trading for certain players.  A trade featuring one impending free agent, Cole Hamels, could result in the Phils receiving great improvements to their farm system.  But what about a trade featuring another impending free agent?

Can the Phillies get enough help from a Shane Victorino trade to make it worth it?

 

Well, if that help is in the form of current major league talent that is ready to step in and make a difference, the answer is likely no.

However, if that helps is in the form of prospects who may contribute in a few years, the answer could change.

Victorino is batting .252 with eight home runs and 33 RBI through 70 games.  He has also stolen 15 bases, which puts him sixth in the National League.  Victorino’s home run and RBI totals also rank near the top of the National League among center fielders.

So, would any team be willing to offer the Phillies a substantial trade package in order to acquire the 31-year-old outfielder, especially if he stays only for the remainder of this season?

Although the chances of the Phils receiving a current major league contributor in exchange for Victorino are slim, an offer involving a prospect that is ranked in the top 10 of a team’s minor league system could be enough to make a deal worth it.

For that matter, any deal involving a prospect ranked in the top 10 of a system and a prospect ranked in the top 25 of a system or a relief pitcher at the major league level could be intriguing to the Phillies.

With a minor league system that has its share of pitching prospects, a deal for Victorino involving a high-ranking position prospect could be the type of help that interests the Phils.

 

A team such as the San Francisco Giants could be interested in Victorino if they are unwilling to commit to Melky Cabrera or Angel Pagan long-term.

Both Cabrera and Pagan are set to become free agents after this season, and both currently have batting averages well above their career averages.  Adding Victorino to the mix would give the Giants yet another impending free agent, but also the opportunity to put either Cabrera or Pagan in right field in order to bolster their outfield.  The Giants are currently within striking distance of first place in the National League West.

Of the three, Victorino’s consistency, with the exception of this season thus far, could make him the more attractive option for the Giants to meet the salary demands of a long-term contract.  Victorino has batted over .270 in all but one of his major league seasons in which he played in over 100 games. 

Another team currently in contention that could be interested in Victorino is the Cincinnati Reds, who could be willing to acquire the outfielder even if just for the remainder of the regular season and a possible postseason run.

The Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers may also be two American League teams who could be willing to acquire Victorino, even without the guarantee that he’ll re-sign.

With Hamels, Hunter Pence and Carlos Ruiz nearing raises and potential replacements needed at third base and left field, the Phillies may not be able to sign Victorino to the long-term deal he’ll be looking for during the offseason.

 

And with John Mayberry, Jr., who was batting .368 over the past week, and Domonic Brown, who batted .297 in the 10 games prior to suffering a knee injury, the Phillies may have options in center field should they decide to spend money on other areas of the roster.

Brown had been receiving playing time in center field at Triple-A prior to his injury.

An outfield for the remainder of the season consisting of Pence, Juan Pierre and his .323 batting average and a possible platoon of Mayberry and Brown could be solid enough to allow the Phillies to trade Victorino.

With Victorino, the Phillies run the risk, as they do with all impending free agents, that he will sign elsewhere during free agency and the team will receive nothing in return. 

However, a mid-season trade built around a team’s top-10 prospect and top-25 prospect and/or major league reliever could bring about a return that greatly favors the Phillies.

Can a Victorino trade provide the Phillies with immediate help that betters their playoff chances?  No.

Can a Victorino trade result in the acquisition of a prospect or two that can help the Phillies in a few years?  Yes.

Which means that a deal involving Victorino could be out there that is worth it for the Phils.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

5 Things the Media Doesn’t Get About the Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have received much media attention for the past few years due to their win totals, streak of division titles and postseason success.

This season, not so much.

Dating back to spring training, the Phils have been in the news more for injuries and how many games back they are in the standings than they have for somehow staying afloat despite missing key parts of their lineup and pitching staff.

And as this season has proven thus far, a last place team with a payroll in excess of $170 million is bound to receive its share of criticism, with few members escaping blame.

However, there are certain aspects of the Phillies that the media seems to misunderstand.

Yes, the Phillies haven’t won a World Series since Ruben Amaro Jr. took over as general manager, but would they have had the success that they had following the 2008 season without his moves?  Yes, Charlie Manuel has made some questionable decisions, but have you seen some of the lineups he’s had to work with this season?  And yes, Ryan Howard’s contract pays him a lot of money for a player who strikes out over 150 times a season, but should he still be considered overpaid?

No one besides the front office, coaching staff and players can know for sure what goes on before and after the games, but some attempts by the media make it seem like they don’t quite have the pulse of the team.

Here are five things the media doesn’t get about the Phillies.

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5 Signs You Shouldn’t Trust Ruben Amaro Jr. as Phillies GM

Ruben Amaro, Jr., of the Philadelphia Phillies has had his work cut out for him since day one of his tenure as the team’s general manager.

When Amaro was named as the Phillies’ general manager, he was not only filling the shoes of former GM Pat Gillick, but also inheriting a roster that had just won a World Series title.

No pressure.

Since taking over as GM, Amaro has witnessed the Phillies’ payroll increase from approximately $104 million in 2008 to approximately $174 million this season.

To his credit, Amaro has never seen the Phillies finish out of first place in the NL East while serving as GM, and he has brought players such as Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee (twice), Roy Oswalt, Hunter Pence and Jonathan Papelbon to Philadelphia.

To his discredit, he has also traded over 10 prospects in recent seasons and is currently watching the Phils, with the second highest payroll in the major leagues, fight their way out of the bottom of the NL East.

Amaro has consistently given the Phillies a chance at reaching the World Series each season.

But that doesn’t mean he should always be trusted.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Can the Offense Survive If Carlos Ruiz Slows Down?

With Ryan Howard and Chase Utley beginning the season on the disabled list, players such as Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and even Hunter Pence were expected to carry the burden of the Philadelphia Phillies’ offense.

However, through 52 games, Carlos Ruiz has exceeded expectations in the absence of key players.

In 45 games this season, Ruiz has an incredible .371 batting average to go with eight home runs and 31 RBIs.  In 143 at-bats, Ruiz has struck out just 15 times.

Among Phillies regulars, Ruiz is either leading the team or tied for the lead in hits, RBI, batting average, OBP, slugging and OPS.

Chooch has also recently provided the Phils with an option for the cleanup spot.  In 17 at-bats from the four spot, Ruiz is batting .529 with just one strikeout.

For as many contributions as Ruiz has made to the Phillies’ offense so far, the team must also be aware of the fact that it is currently being led by a player who is a career .273 batter, and one who has predominantly been an eight spot hitter throughout his career.

Which brings up the question, can the Phillies’ offense survive if Ruiz’s blazing starts cools off and returns to the types of performances reminiscent of recent seasons?

The Phillies’ offense took major strides in May following an opening month of the regular season that saw the team’s run production and RBI total rank in the lower half of the National League.

A major reason for such offensive improvements could be the surge that Ruiz had from April to May.

After batting .313 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in April, Ruiz’s bat got even hotter in May, as he batted .418 with five home runs, 21 RBIs and an OBP that was more than twice as high as the one he posted in the previous month.

Ruiz not only leads in batting average among National League catchers with at least 100 plate appearances, but his .371 mark puts him in the top-5 in the major leagues among players, regardless of position, with at least 100 at-bats.

He’s also created a great deal of separation in terms of batting average between himself and the NL catcher with the second-highest average, Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ruiz ranks either first or second in nearly every major offensive category among NL catchers.

According to fangraphs.com, Ruiz’s 2.6 WAR value is currently the highest among major league catchers with at least 100 plate appearances.

But it’s where his offense currently ranks for the Phillies that has seemingly kept the team afloat after a slow start to the season.

Among Phillies players who have played in at least 40 games this season, only Juan Pierre currently has a batting average over .300.  Pierre has also only started in 33 games.

After Ruiz and Pierre, the next-highest average belongs to Placido Polanco, who is batting .275, with a .208 mark against left-handers.

More importantly, Ruiz is batting .342 with runners in scoring position, and has driven in 23 runs.  Only Shane Victorino has driven in more than 15 runs while batting over .300 with runners in scoring position.

Without Ruiz’s 31 RBIs on the season, the Phils’ RBI total as a team would take them from their current ranking of fifth in the NL down to 13th.

Furthermore, Ruiz’s surge at the cleanup spot has allowed Pence to move into the three spot in the lineup.  Since the move, Pence has seen his average increase from .254 to .262 in a seven-game span.

With Howard and Utley out, the Phils have had to rely on players such as Ruiz, Rollins, Victorino, Pence and John Mayberry, Jr., as returning players who were expected to dictate the level of success of the team’s offense.

So far, Ruiz seems to have easily passed the test.

	2011 AVG.	Current AVG.
Carlos Ruiz	.283	.371
Jimmy Rollins	.268	.239
Shane Victorino	.279	.250
Hunter Pence	.314	.262
John Mayberry, Jr.	.273	.244

Although these players have time to improve their averages, their early drop-offs have not helped the Phils climb out of the bottom of the NL East.

The Phillies’ lineup has begun heating up recently, but the improved numbers must continue for the team to reach the top of the NL East and separate themselves within the National League.

The Phils have players capable of keeping the team competitive until reinforcements in the form of Howard and Utley return, but no player has stepped up their performances in the meantime quite like Ruiz.

Ruiz’s blazing start could cool off and his offense could still be considered one of the best in the major leagues to start the season.  However, a drastic decrease in production could put the Phillies further back in the National League, with less time to rebound.

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What Philadelphia Phillies Should Do with Dave Bush Following Halladay’s Injury

Roy Halladay’s injury has taken the Philadelphia Phillies from a team whose starting rotation was the one constant in a season full of ups and downs, to an area in which depth is now an issue.

At least for the next six to eight weeks.

The Phils entered the season with their starting rotation intact and with a spot-starter in Kyle Kendrick available from the bullpen.

However, for the next six to eight weeks while Halladay recovers from soreness in his shoulder, the team’s spot-starter must turn into a consistent starter.  Meanwhile, the Phils must also determine who is the best available candidate for filling a spot in the rotation should yet another injury arise.

Which leads to another decision the team must soon make.

Current minor league pitcher Dave Bush has not only pitched well at Triple-A this season, but the 32-year-old also has an opt-out clause in his contract that he can exercise beginning on Friday, June 1st.

In 10 starts this season in Triple-A, Bush has gone 4-3 with 34 strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA.  In 58.2 innings, Bush has walked just eight batters and has also pitched a complete game shutout for the team.

Bush has also held left-handed batters to a .225 batting average so far this season.

After finishing the month of April with a 3.05 ERA and 10 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .284 batting average, Bush has posted a 2.37 ERA while striking out more than twice as many batters and holding opponents to a .247 average.

Bush made three starts for the Texas Rangers last season, and has 56 wins in 187 career major league starts to go with 767 strikeouts.

Bush also pitched for the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate last season, going 1-2 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts.

Although Bush’s last major league stint eventually led to his release by the Rangers, the right-hander has seemingly pitched his way into a position to receive a major league call-up once again.

But for which team?

The Phillies have had a cushion for their starting rotation so far this season with Kendrick being available to pitch in place of both Cliff Lee and, currently, Vance Worley.  Although Kendrick began the season 0-4, his most recent performance may have been one of the best of his major league career.  The former starter-turned-reliever needed just 94 pitches in a complete game shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals as he earned his first victory of the season.

But with Kendrick’s spot in the rotation seemingly cemented for the near future, pitchers such as Bush, Scott Elarton and even Tyler Cloyd may be called up at some point should another Phils’ starter suffer an injury.

If Bush is the player the Phillies have their eye on under such a circumstance, the team may have to make a decision relatively soon before Bush potentially opts out of his current contract.

Bush’s 2.61 minor league ERA this season could make him an attractive option for another team in need of a fifth starter for their rotation, or even a spot-starter who can also pitch out of the bullpen.

In his major league career, Bush has made 23 relief appearances.

Would the Phillies call up Bush to become the long-relief option out of their bullpen?  Bush could also become the team’s spot-starter while Kendrick occupies a place in the rotation.

If Bush continued his success from Triple-A, he could even swap roles with Kendrick and remain in the rotation until Halladay returns.

Whether as a spot-starter or bullpen option, Bush could find a role in the Phils’ pitching staff.

Of course, that’s if he receives a call-up in the near future.

The Phillies could decide to call-up Elarton or Cloyd, or hope that Worley returns in time so that no call-up is immediately needed.  Both Elarton and Cloyd have enjoyed success at various levels of the team’s minor league system this season and could also fill some type of need at the major league level.

But it’s Bush’s future with the team that may need a decision soon.

The Phils may have a need that Bush can fill over the next few weeks.

He is not, however, the only option for filling such a need.

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