A couple notes on our reliever search.
As it stands, our bullpen currently stacks up like this after we non-tendered Clay Condrey and have yet to re-sign Chan Ho Park or Scott Eyre…
Locks:
CL – Brad Lidge
SU – Ryan Madson
LHP – J.C. Romero
RHP – Chad Durbin
Options:
LHP – Antonio Bastardo
RHP – Scott Mathieson
LHP – Sergio Escalona
LHP – Mike Zagurski
RHP – Scott Herndon (Rule 5 draft pick)
We will likely keep 7 pitchers in the bullpen, so if the season started right now, Bastardo, Mathieson and Escalona would be the guys. But the season doesn’t start right now, unfortunately, so only 1 or 2 of them will likely be in the bullpen in April.
The 2 names getting the most play right now for the Phillies are Fernando Rodney and Matt MacDougal. Rodney is reportedly seeking a 3 year, $30 million contract, which is one of the dumbest ideas I’ve ever seen. Buster Olney reports that we are interested in him at a 2 year, $12 million deal. The Angels are probably the leader for his services at this point.
A cheaper option (or maybe an option in addition to Rodney) is Mike MacDougal, who saved 20 games for the Nats last year with a 3.60 ERA. MacDougal, like Rodney, walks a lot of batters, but unlike Rodney, doesn’t strike out too many. But he got the job done for the Nats last year regardless, and could come on the cheap.
My guess is that the Phillies have contacted pretty much every reliever on the market, but these are the only two that have leaked out. Look for Ruben to add at least 1, maybe 2 pitchers to the roster by Spring Training.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Is Rheal Cormier available?
I would like to just re-sign Chan Ho.
Does anyone have ESPN insider and can summarize this article in any way that does not violate ESPN rules?
adam -
essentially, FanGraphs’ main stat is WAR (Wins Above Replacement) but they also assign a dollar value to each player based on what they are “worth.” Many times these dollar values are ridiculous (i.e. Chase Utley was worth $34 million last year, 4th in baseball).
The story was simply taking how much money players were “worth” since 2005 (not the decade) and subtracting what they were actually paid, to see who was the best “value”, not best player…
Top 5 were… (sorry for formatting)
Top Value Since 2005
updates from J Stark make it seem like neither pitcher is likely for the Phils.
Sounds like we are trying to get a good deal on someone, and if no one bites, we’ll just go with our guys. Though that would make you wonder why they let Condrey walk.
Prediction: Of the Phils spend a single red cent for anyone, we’ll hear ad naseum about how that money could have/should have been spent on Cliff Lee. Not that they won’t have a point, but I just see it coming, and am already tired of it.
I see that comcast is saying that the phils have a reliever signed, but won’t make it known till the first week in January, pending a physical.
it is thought to be Danys Baez. Baez, 32, was 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 59 games for Baltimore last season. He allowed just 59 hits in 71 2/3 innings. He missed the 2008 season recovering from elbow surgery.
Baez made $5.5 million with the Orioles last season. He broke into the majors with Cleveland when Charlie Manuel managed that club in 2001.