Maybe the off-season won't be as boring as I thought. The Boston Globe is reporting that Derek Lowe has received 2 offers from teams, one of which is the Phillies. If true, this would be a huge off-season development. I have stated several times that Lowe, who I wanted badly when he signed with the Dodgers, would be the one player I would overpay for this off-season because he is a perfect pitcher for our park, is durable, can be dominant, and has loads of post-season pitching … [Read more...]

MLB.com is reporting that Phillies are interested in bringing on Mark Loretta as a utility infielder to help share the load if Chase Utley or Pedro Feliz take longer than expected to recover from surgery. YAWN... Loretta, 37, hit .280 with 38 RBI in a limited role for the Astros last year. He shows good plate discipline and doesn't strike out a whole lot. He also has a solid glove in the field. Loretta would be a solid pick-up... if not for the fact that we have Jason Donald hitting the seams … [Read more...]

In what I would consider a pretty surprising development, both the Daily News and Inquirer today are reporting that the Phillies are showing interest in outfielder Raul Ibanez of the Seattle Mariners. What is surprising about the rumor is that Ibanez is a left-handed batter, and would make our already left-heavy line-up even more so. However, looking at the numbers, Ibanez actually hit better against lefties last year, with a .305 average, so he appears to be more a Chase Utley-type who can hit … [Read more...]

Tonight at midnight, all MLB free agents will be able to speak with and accept contract offers from any team they choose. As of 3:30pm, the Phillies' two main free agents, Jamie Moyer and Pat Burrell, have not re-signed. Burrell is not a surprise, but at this point, Moyer is. I thought that this deal would get done soon after the Scott Eyre signing. I read (I believe in one of the papers) that Moyer is seeking a 2-year deal, and the Phillies were unsure whether to give it to him. As I've … [Read more...]

Not big news, but news nonetheless. The Phillies made their first move as champions today, re-signing left-handed reliever Scott Eyre to a one-year, $2 million dollar deal. Seems like a little much for a situational lefty, but it is much less expensive than the 3-year, $11 million deal he signed with the Cubs prior to this. Eyre was 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in 19 appearances for the Phillies after he was acquired by the Cubs. He also pitched in 5 playoff games, giving up 1 run in 3 IP. I wouldn't … [Read more...]

Nothing big on the rumor mill today, but a lot of small things I've read and heard here and there that are worth discussing. Jermaine Dye - ESPN 1000 in Chicago reported that the Phils might have some interest in trading for Dye. Since the White Sox are pretty much the only team we trade with, it's certainly a possibility. Dye, 34, would more than replace Burrell's production in LF (34 HR, 41 2B, 96 RBI in 2008) with less strike-outs and better fielding. He is signed for $11.5 million in … [Read more...]

Well, Jon Heyman of CNNSI.com is reporting a doozie of a rumor today, stating that the Phillies are "going hard" after Rockies left-fielder Matt Holliday.  This statement is so loaded with so many implications, it's hard to gather my thoughts in an organized fashion, but I will do my best.  My first thought is the argument I made during the Rollins/Holliday MVP race in 2007. Matt Holliday is NOT an all-star player away from Coors Field. If you take his away numbers from last season, and … [Read more...]

With the GM meetings coming to a close, we are officially in the MLB off-season. This is one of my favorite times in the sports year. You've got the NFL, College Football and NBA in full swing, with College Basketball coming up and the MLB rumor mill getting all churned up. It appears as though the first order of business for Phillies GM Ruben Amaro is to re-sign 2 of our free agents, Jamie Moyer and Scott Eyre. It's hard to imagine either of these deals not getting done. Both of these guys … [Read more...]