The Phillies actually have a few homegrown products on their team, with Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Cole Hammels, Brett Myers, and of course, Ryan Howard, all starting on the big league club and all stars in their own right. Unfortuantely, the Phillies’ farm system has kind of shut down in recent years thanks to a combination of bad drafts, trades, and a series of busts that have cost the organization depth. Pat Gillick has, to a certain extent, tried to remedy the losses and help revitalize the system while trading away some lesser players for parts that can win now, but the fact is that the Phillies won’t be able to count of the kids to come in as the calvary if things start to go wrong.
Phillies Top 15
1 – Carlos Carrasco (RHP)
DOB: 3/21/87
Signed: 2003, Venezuela
2008 Club: Reading Phillies (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/180
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A prized free agent signed out of Venezuela in 2003, Carrasco had everything came together in 2006 and has continued to do well so far. Though the Phillies may have been tempted to promote Carrasco, . Moved up to High-A Clearwater to begin the 2007 campaign, Carrasco has continued to succeed.
The Good: Carrasco has a solid repertoire with a sinking fastball that sits in the mid 90’s and has some solid movement through the zone, which he commands masterfully. He’s got a pair of excellent secondary pitches as well, with a great changeup that’s a swing and a miss pitch and a solid curveball.
The Bad: Carrasco's control of his secondary pitches comes and goes. But the bigger problem is that despite the sinker, Carrasco a flyball pitcher, which could be a concern at Citizens Bank Park.
Projection: Average. Carrasco needs to keep improving his control and improving his curve, but he should be commended for having a pair of plus pitches already that can be used to dominate big league hitters.
What He Can Be: A No. 2 starter.
2008 Course Of Action: The club should continue to take it slow with Carrasco, but if Carrasco keeps up his Sherman-esque march through the minors, he may force the Phillies to give him a shot mid-season.
2 – Joe Savery (LHP) DOB: 11/04/85
Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, Rice
2008 Club: Lakewood BlueClaws (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/215
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Savery looked like a future top 10 selection after a dominant freshman season, recording a 2.43 ERA and 129/37 K/BB ratio in 118 2/3 innings for the Owls while winning the National Freshman of the Year Award. However, in 2006, Savery had some issues with his labrum and surgery was required later that summer. He made a quick recovery from the surgery, but the Owls decided to be cautious and limit his pitch counts early in the season, all the while doubling as the Owl’s regular first baseman. Savery signed too late to make a start, but should begin the season next year with the Phillies’ Low A Affiliate.
The Good: Savery’s stuff is actually quite good, as he’s able to work his fastball well in all parts of the zone. His breaking pitches, a solid curveball and a solid changeup, regarded to be one of the best in the draft, are both sharp and break well in the zone. His control is excellent and his mechanics are solid. He’s also very aggressive on the mound and is a solid defender, partly because of his defensive work at first base.
The Bad: Savery’s fastball is rather flat, meaning that he’ll be a bit homer prone in the majors. Also, as with most Rice talent, Savery’s healthy is somewhat questionable.
Projection: Low. Savery has been money since he came back from his injury and was the ace of the Rice staff. There is some concern about how his health will be long term, but I don’t think it’ll be an issue, as the Rice staff had been very good in making sure he wasn’t rushed back.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter
2008 Course Of Action: Provided that he’s healthy and that his stuff is all the way back, Savery should be a very good pickup by the Phils, who need pitching depth in their system, as right now they’re surviving with few home grown products and a lot of imports from other organizations, though I don’t know how you would count Adam Eaton.
3 – Adrian Cardenas (SS)
DOB: 10/10/87
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2006, Florida High School
2008 Club: Clearwater Threashers (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/185
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: The Phillies used their sandwich pick in 2006 on Baseball America's High School Player of the Year, seeing him as a rare, projectable athlete that would move through the system quickly. Whatever the Phillies’ expectations for Cardenas were blown out of the water after he did well in Rookie League Ball and in Low A Ball, making Cardenas one of the fastest risers in the system.
The Good: An excellent hitter with a great bat speed and excellent plate discipline, Cardenas draws a lot of comparisons to Phillies second baseman Chase Utley. Cardenas has good power potential within him, many thinking that he’ll be a 20 homer a year guy in the majors. He’s also got good speed on the bases and excellent base stealing instincts. The Phils love his attitude and work ethic.
The Bad: Many feel that Cardenas won’t stick at shortstop and will wind up moving to either third base or, most likely, second base, making the Utley comparisons even more appropriate.
Projection: High. Cardenas has done nothing but hit since he came in the organization and is rising quicker than expected. However, the bat will play anywhere and he should be able to find a home somewhere in the Phillies’ plans for the future. If not, they have a great trade chip.
What He Can Be: A second baseman that can hit in the 3 hole.
2008 Course Of Action: The Phillies will likely allow Cardenas to head over to High A to begin the season, but Cardenas’ future with the Phillies is uncertain as he’s blocked at both infield positions and would have to likely move over to third if he’s going to remain in the organization. We’ll see where he finishes at the end of the year.
4 – Kyle Drabek (RHP)
DOB: 12/8/87
Drafted: 1st round, 2006, Texas High School
2008 Club: Gulf Coast Phillies (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 6-0/185
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: The son of former Pirate Ace Doug Drabek, Kyle was regarded to be the top prep righthander in the 2006 Draft , but he fell due to makeup concerns, resulting from a DUI and possible substance abuse. He ended up going 18th overall to the Phillies, but his performance was inconsistent until it was finally discovered that Drabek had some elbow issues, which culminated in him undergoing Tommy John Surgery.
The Good: Drabek, who also could have been a high pick as a shortstop, has quality stuff. He throws 94-97 mph, and shows a solid curveball and a hard slider. If that wasn't enough, his changeup also has the potential to be a plus offering.
The Bad: Aside from the makeup concerns, there is some concern if Drabek was genuinely injured all this time or if he just sucked. We’ll see.
Projection: Very high. Drabek has a world of potential ahead of him, but because of his attitude, he's also a very volatile commodity. As a result, he really falls onto both sides of the prospect spectrum in that he’s either going to be a spectacular success or a spectacular failure.
What He Can Be: A major league ace, a la Carlos Zambrano.
2008 Course Of Action: It’s hard to guess exactly where Drabek is or how well he’s doing because of the TJ, but he’ll likely begin back with the Gulf Coast Phillies to begin his rehab.
5 – Travis D'Arnaud (C)
DOB: 2/10/89
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, California High School
The Skinny: Many teams had D’Arnaud as their backup option in the first round, so the Phillies may have gotten a steal by taking him in the sandwich round. D'Arnaud was supposed to join his older brother at Pepperdine this past year, but the Phillies quickly bought him out and assigned him to the Gulf Coast League, where he was okay at best.
The Good: D'Arnaud was considered one of the top prep catchers in the draft thanks to his promise with the bat and his excellent defensive abilities. He looks good behind the plate, has a strong arm and moves well. He also has some raw power potential that could make him a 15-20 Home Run threat in the future.
The Bad: The bat is inconsistent at this point and there have been some criticism over his swing. He also has slow.
Projection: High. D’Arnaud can be a sold starting catcher given time. The bat is usually the last thing to develop on catchers, but the good news is that his defense is already top notch and won’t need much work.
What He Can Be: A average major league regular
2008 Course Of Action: D’Arnaud will likely be heading to Williamsport when the Short Season Leagues begin, after some work in extended on his hitting skills.
6 – Jason Donald (SS)
DOB: 9/04/84
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2006, University of Arizona
2008 Club: Reading Phillies (Double A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/193
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A 3rd rounder out of the University of Arizona, Donald was regarded to be an underachiever in college, but has begun to blossom into a prospect, much to the surprise and delight of the Phillies. .
The Good: A sound player, Donald has no real weaknesses in his offense, as he can hit for average with gap power and draw a walk. He’s a solid, steady defender, though he does his business with little pomp and circumstance.
The Bad: Really, Donald is just what he is, a workman type of player that can start for you, but you won’t ever expect superstardom out of.
Projection: Low. Donald is rising quickly and when all of his gifts are taken into account, he’s a solid prospect. He’s also blocked, thanks to the presence of both Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, unless he moves.
What He Can Be: An average starting shortstop
2008 Course Of Action: Donald won’t beat out any of the star-studded infield of Utley and Rollins, unless he moves to third. However, he’s quite attractive to an organization in need of a starting shortstop in the future and will likely be mentioned in some potential trades this off-season, possibly for pitching.
7 – Josh Outman (LHP)
DOB: 9/14/84
Drafted: 10th Round, 2005, Central Missouri State
2008 Club: Reading Phillies (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/180
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: The Phillies do have some solid lefties remaining on the farm aside from Savery and Outman and Happ look to be the best of them. Outman has the highest upside of the pair and could be good in time, though his disappointing time up in Reading didn’t do much to help his cause.
The Good: Outman has excellent velocity for a lefty. He sits in the low 90’s and can touch 94-95 on occasion. He’s got a solid slider and his changeup has shown signs it can be a usable pitch.
The Bad: Outman's command and control come and go, often times forcing him to use the fastball, limiting himself to being a one trick pony. His two secondary pitches still need some work, especially the changeup.
Projection: Average. Southpaw’s with Outman’s velocity aren’t common, but he still needs to work on a lot of things before he can become a reasonable option for the Phillies to use.
What He Can Be: A Middle Of The Rotation Guy
2008 Course Of Action: Outman is likely going back to Reading, where the Phillies are hoping he’ll take a major step forward.
The Skinny: .Another young projectable athlete in the system, Myers posted some very impressive numbers in limited action with Williamsport, with only a terrible Juiy marring what was a very solid campaign.
The Good: A solid athlete, Myers has proven that he’s got decent baseball instincts and isn’t quite as raw as expected. His hitting skills have begun to manifest themselves and his power potential is expected to be through the roof. He’s got very fast speed already and he’s got a decent arm in center as well.
The Bad: Myers is still quite raw and needs time to develop his baseball skills somemore. He’s also a free swinger that needs to learn some hint of plate discipline. As he gets older, he’s likely going to have to move over to one of the corner outfield spots.
Projection: High. Myers is a personal favorite of mine and should he keep it up, he should be one of the more exciting prospects to watch in the Phillies’ system.
What He Can Be: A starting corner outfielder that can hit for power
2008 Course Of Action: Myers needs another year of seasoning in the short season leagues before I can feel up to assigning him to a Full Season club, as he needs work on many facets of his game. That’s not a knock on him, I just feel that he needs a little more time than most.
9 – J.A. Happ (LHP)
DOB: 10/19/82
Drafted: 3rd round, 2004, Northwestern
2008 Club: Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-6/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: This big lefty has risen steadily through the system and has gotten results for the most part until this year, where he was rather poor with Triple A Ottawa and was worse during an emergency start this year.
The Good: Happ has gotten a lot of results throughout the years thanks to his solid command and control that allows him to spot his stuff well. His arsenal consists of a high 80’s fastball, a solid slider and a changeup that is said to be the best in the system. He mixes in well to keep hitters off balance.
The Bad: Happ’s stuff is just fringy average and many wonder what will his future role will be for the Phillies.
Projection: Low. Happ is what he is, a finesse lefty that gets by on marginal stuff. Then again, the same can be said of Jamie Moyer and he’s had some success. I think he’d be better than Adam Eaton, but more likely he’ll be talked about as trade bait.
What He Can Be: A 5th Starter
2008 Course Of Action: Happ will likely join Lehigh’s first ever starting rotation, but could be called up to take an emergency start if necessary.
10– Jason Jaramillio (C)
DOB: 10/9/82
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2004, Oklahoma State
2008 Club: Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-0/200
Bats/Throws: S/R
The Skinny: The son of Rangers’ hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, Jason had some decent stats in Triple A before going off to compete with Team USA.
The Good: A switch hitter that hits for solid contact, he has the ability to hit for average on both sides of the plate. He’s got some pop and is an above average receiver behind the dish.
The Bad: As afar as home run power is concerned, Jaramillio doesn’t have much. He’s likely going to be the eventual backup to Carlos Ruiz in the future.
Projection: Low. Unless Jaramillio has some sort of power potential that he hasn’t tapped into, he’s ready to start with the big league club as soon as spring training is over.
What He Can Be: A fringe starter/above average backup.
2008 Course Of Action: I think Jaramillio will likely be breaking camp with the big league club, as he’s pretty much ready and would be a solid pairing with Ruiz in terms of a backstop combination.
11 – Scott Mathieson (RHP)
DOB: 2/27/84
Drafted: 17th Round, 2002, Canada High School
2008 Club: Rehab
Height/Weight: 6-3/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Mathieson has gone from one of the best pure power arms in the system to one that is currently on the mend. Tommy John surgery cost him much of the year and when he did return in August, he was horrible.
The Good: One of the few pure power pitchers in the system, Mathieson's fastball sits at 92-94 mph and touches 97. He compliments it with a slider and a changeup, with boht pitches having the chance to be quality pitches.
The Bad: His command and control will need to be rebuilt thanks to TJ and it like ly sets him back a year.
Projection: Average. Mathieson would have made the starting rotation this year had he remained healthy. Now, all that matters is getting him back to where he was.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Mathieson will likely spend time in extended working with pitching instructors to get his command and control back. I expect for him to likely join Reading sometime in May or early June at the latest.
12 – Greg Golson (CF)
DOB: 9/17/85
Drafted: 1st Round, 2004, Texas High School
2008 Club: Reading Phillies (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: The Phillies had such high hopes for Golson, but frankly, those hopes are beginning to fade as Golson has quite simply been bad and is bordering on becoming a bust after he crapped out in Double A and was poor in the Arizona Fall League. Keith Law described Golson, in no uncertain terms, as “a mess.”
The Good: The best pure athlete in the system, Golson has excellent speed and is a capable defender. He’s an excellent runner on the basepaths and at the plate, he’s got solid bat speed and enough power potential to make you dream of a young Mike Cameron.
The Bad: Golson's swing is a mess and he has no plate discipline at all. He swings at everything and from what I’ve read, his baseball instincts leave a lot to be desired. He’s got a huge problem hitting breaking stuff, which limit shis success.
Projection: Average. There’s still some hope that Golson can be a solid regular, but he’s beginning to look a lot like a bust, which is not what the Phillies were hoping for this season, as it would have given them some addition depth from which to draw from.
What He Can Be: A solid regular
2008 Course Of Action: Golson will likely head back to Reading in what is a make or break season for him.
13 – Fabio Castro (LHP)
DOB: 1/20/85
Signed: 2001, Dominican Republic (White Sox)
2008 Club: Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
Height/Weight: 5-7/185
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Obtained from the Rangers after they drafted him in the Rule 5 draft, Philly acquired him after the Rangers had no choice but to trade him when the Designated him For Assignment. Castro finished the year well, but problems derailed his sophmore effort.
The Good: Castro is a filthy young lefty that should excell as a setup man. Castro is short, but he’s got a fastball that usually sits at 91-93 mph, plus a changeup with splitter action and a tight curveball.
The Bad: His height doesn’t lend itlsef to durability long term. He also needs to work on his control issues.
Projection: Low. Castro is near ready and if he can get his stuff together, he should be one of the better pieces of a suspect Philly pen.
What He Can Be: A capable setup man
2008 Course Of Action: I expect Castro to leave with the Phillies after Spring Training, where he should get a fair shake in the pen and should be one of their better pieces to build around.
14 – Joe Bisenius (RHP)
DOB: 9/18/82
Drafted: 12th Round, 2004, Oklahoma City University
2008 Club: Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/205
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After a breakout season last year, Binsenius was promoted to Ottawa, where it was hoped that he would be able to join the big league pen at some point during the season. However, Bisenius was awful, though he did work two scoreless innings in a brief big league call up.
The Good: Bisenius brings mid 90’s heat regular and compliments it with a slider that is a solid out pitch.
The Bad: Bisenius got a lot more hittable and his command deserted him, resulting in his ugly campaign with the Lynx.
Projection: Low. Bisenius should be near ready and there isn’t much left on him to improve on, other than rediscovering his command.
What He Can Be: A capable setup man, spot closer.
2008 Course Of Action: Bisenius should return to Triple A this year, but should be an option in the middle of the season when the Phillies need the inevitable bullpen re-enforcement.
15 – Jesus Sanchez (C)
DOB: 9/24/87
Signed: 2004, Venezuela (Yankees)
2008 Club: Gulf Coast Phillies (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 5-11/160
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Acquired from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu deal, Sanchez was signed out of Venezulea by the Yankees and made his US debut last season, hitting for a decent average. He hit a wall this season, hitting just.208/.315/.250, but keeping in mind how old he is, this is only a minor setback.
The Good: Quite athletic for a catcher, Sanchez is a very polished defender that has a soldi glove, and a very strong and accurate arm, making him a possible pitching prospect if this catching thing doesn’t work out for him. He should hit for a decent batting average in time.
The Bad: His biggest drawback is a lack of power, but an even bigger issue is that he’s very inconsistent with the bat, which needs to be worked on.
Projection: High. I think several outlets have judged Sanchez harshly, but keep in mind that he is only 18 and still has a long way to go in terms of development. I still think he can be useful and that he needs to be given time to get himself worked out.
What He Can Be: A capable starter
2008 Course Of Action: People are already labeling Sanchez as a bust, but keep in mind he’s only 18 years old and likely, if he was eligible for the draft, would have been a second or third round pick on the basis of his glove alone. Patience is advised with him.
Final Thoughts
The Phillies system is pretty awful and has been for quite some time. While there are some minor players near ready, they are role players/occasional starters at best and much of the higher talent is farther down in the system and not ready to make any immediate contribution unless it’s as trade bait. Thus, if the Phillies are to supplement their promising infield core, it’s going to have to be out of the Rule 5 Draft (which yielded Shane Victorino) or through free agency by taking chances on some players coming back from injury. Help is definitely not on the way and won’t be for at least another two years, by which time, the Phillies’ window may have closed.
Coming up on Friday Morning Closer...Brett Myers As A Closer, Matt Murton Could Be Gone, 2006 Free Agent Relievers, And The State Of Japanese Baseball.
Myers As A Closer? It Could Work
I know that the Phillies didn't give Brett Myers a three-year, $25.75 million contract this winter because they viewed him as a set-up man., but quite frankly, this is a deal that could possible work.
Myers has been awful thus far as a starter and it's possible that his new bullpen role would allow for him to be able to work out the kinks in his delivery and get back into the swing of things.
Plus, Myers could spell Tom Gordon and could emerge as a All-Star Closer.
This wasn't the plan. I know. The Phillies were hoping Freddy Garcia would slot in well enough to make Jon Lieber expendable, and Lieber would be flipped for a solid bullpen guy.
But it didn't happen and unfortunately, Myers had to be moved into the bullpen, as he's the only one who's got the stuff to throw for strikes.
But, who knows, Myers could blossom into the next great closer in the National League.
It could happen.
2006 Free Agency – Middle Relievers/Setup Men
The middle relief market figures to heat up this season, as the Orioles kind of set the market last season with all the money they splurged on fixing their bullpen. Unfortunately, there really isn’t all that many names here in terms of players that have a set track record of success. Hence, this market is going to be more of a #### shoot than this last off-season’s was.
Scott Linebrink (Padres) – Linebrink will be hitting the market at a time where middle relief is held to a premium. As a result, people are going to go gaga over Linebrink, who’s a solid setup man, much like Justin Speier was when he entered the market, and are going to overpay for him by a lot.
Naoyuki Shimizu (Chiba Lotte Marines) – [If He Comes Over]. Shimizu has always wanted to come over and has requested to be posted off-season after off-season, but has never been. He’s going to be a free agent and is almost certainly going to cross over. Shimizu is an average closer, but he’s rather effective as a long reliever and could be a valuable part of someone’s bullpen.
Kerry Wood (Cubs) – Currently in extended Spring Training, no one knows what the hell to expect from Mr. Wood. I think the Cubs are finally ready to cut bait and won’t bring him back, in spite of how much he loves the Cubbies. So, anyone that is willing to give him a shot had better hope that he can stay healthy (good luck). I’d classify him as a closer, but he has no track record as one and will have to earn his way to that role.
Armando Benitez (Giants) – Ick, not much you can say. Benitez’s days as a closer are likely done, but he could make for a average setup man in the right system. Hmmm, the Cardinals could come calling.
Jorge Julio (Marlins) – Julio is long regarded to have closers stuff, but he’s never gotten it together and at this point, may never get it together. As a result, Julio is kind of caught in that purgatory of the spot closer.
Brett Tomko (Dodgers) – [If $4.5Million Mutual Option Declined]. Tomko is a middle reliever that tries to pass himself off as a starter, mostly because people continue to give him a shot as one. However, he’s an effective long reliever and setup man and could extend his career if he chooses to embrace the role, which he did for a brief shining moment last year.
Japanese Baseball Needs To Change…Fast
Japanese baseball is already in full swing, but already the game seems more and more empty.
The losses of many of the best players in the game has hurt the sport in more ways than one.
An exodus that begun with Nomo and has continued most recently with Igawa, Matsuzaka and Iwamura’s move has confirmed the latest talent drain from the sport.
Under Japanese baseball rules, a player cannot become a free agent until after playing nine seasons of professional baseball. But the posting system, which allows teams to send players over before they become free agents, has hurt the sport in more ways than it has helped, thanks to teams seeking to cash in on their talent, but has hurt the overall game. The Seibu Lions, a team that was under immense financial debt, pocketed $51.1 million from the Red Sox for the negotiating rights to Matsuzaka, much as the Orix BlueWave did when they posted star Ichiro Suzuki years ago.
But the quick cash hasn’t done much to help the clubs. Orix eventually had to merge with the Kintetsu Buffaloes to stay in business, in spite of the Ichiro Posting Fee, and the overall talent drain has started to hurt ratings as well as hurt attendance in stadiums all around the league. Even the Yomimuri Giants, the former club of Hideki Matsui, has begun to feel the pain of the talent drain and has changed their sink or swim approach to the rest of the league and now wants to help stop the drain before it affects them.
Some owners have suggested putting limits on the system, and indeed, after the Matsuzaka fiasco, it looks like the posting system will be changed to stop the clubs from flooding the market with talent in order to cash in.
But that’s not the only problem.
The draft process is a sham, and has resulted in the best players heading towards the richer teams, as well as the recent scandal involving the Lions making illicit payments to amateur players around the country has resulted in questions regarding the entire process.
The Union also needs reform and is probably the weakest union in pro sports, even weaker than that of the mighty NFL. Plus, with the potential that the majors could be preparing an international draft, as well as major league academies opening up in the Far East poses a major threat to the Japanese League as we know it.
In that regard, changes need to happen for the Japanese League to survive. Limits on the posting process need to be made, as well as there being a concretive effort to keep the talent home instead of risking all of it going abroad.
Another decision that also could be made is for both American and Japanese Leagues to also develop a sort of trading system, as a way for major league clubs in Japan to be able to trade prospects with those in America. While this could result in a culture clash of unknown proportions, it would also allow both sides of the pacific to get a taste of both worlds.
There is too much to be done in order to fix Japanese Baseball, but in the long run, it would be better off, for both leagues, to ensure it’s survival. The Japanese Leagues have been around for over 50 years and have their own legends and traditions that go on. It would be a shame to see them disappear.
Matt Murton Could Be Available
With Felix Pie now in Chi-Town, there is rumors that he could be there to stay, where his defense would allow Alfonso Soriano to slide over to right field as soon as he's ready to.
However, who's playing time will this come at an expense to. Many point to Jacque Jones, who's playing awful at the moment. The Cubbies would also love to lose his salary and gain something in return for him, maybe a prospect or a solid reliever.
However, on ESPN Radio on Tuesday, Keith Law actually reported that it would be Matt Murton that would be dealt, not Jones, if the Cubbies decide to keep Pie in the majors.
The move has some logic. Let's look at the facts.
Law's rationale was that Murton does not fit the Lou Pinellai type of player, in that he's a quiet guy, respectable and that he keeps to himself. Also, Pinella wanted to stick with Jones for the season and when it came down to which corner would lose time to Cliff Floyd, Murton was automatically given the boot.
I got better reasons why.
Murton Is Productive. Murton is the type of player that could average about .290, 15, 80 in the majors while playing a solid left field, as he doesn't have the range for center nor does he have the arm for right.
Salary. The Reason why the Cubbies would keep Murton is the same reason why they want to get rid of Jones. Murton is still under the coveted 0-3 service time label and isn't eligable for arbitration until after next season.
Upside. Murton has great value in that he's the type of player you want farther back in the order and that he's going to only get better. Jones, meanwhile, is going to be appraoching his declien phase soon and no one is really interested in a declining semi-slugger that has a high price tag on him.
Return Package. Murton would also result in the higher return on the investment for the Cubs. In exchange for Jones, the Cubbies would still have to pay his salary in order to get anything of consequence out of their trade partner. As for Murton, the Cubs could get a nice prospect or a promising piece of a bullpen or bench player that could help the club now.
So, there you have it. If anyone is interested, please call the Cubbies before they come to their senses.
I'm a long time Texas Rangers fan who has come to love baseball as a whole. I recently began this blog as a way for me to showcase my opinions, provide some analysis, and hopefully entertain those who happen to stumble upon my little soapbox online. I'll toss in an NFL, College, or NBA nugget every now and then. Enjoy the posts everyone, and yes, getting a little love in a Deadspin post was probably the highlight of the year, blogwise.
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