So?
That means the Phillies will receive two top draft picks if Rowand signs with another team. Because he is classified as a Type A free agent, the team that signs Rowand would forfeit a top pick for him. Depending on how that team finished in 2007, that could be a first- or second-round pick. The Phillies also would receive a "sandwich" pick between the first and second rounds.
The decision was a no-brainer. Rowand is likely to sign elsewhere and if he does the Phillies get two top draft picks for him. Nice. But if he accepts arbitration before the Dec. 7 deadline, he becomes signed with the Phillies for 2008. Also nice. Like I've said, in contract negotiations with Rowand's agent, the Phillies have trouble with the length of contract more than anything else. But the Phillies would have absolutely no problem paying Rowand for one season, regardless of price. Do I think that will happen? No, I don't. I think Rowand will reject arbitration and sign elsewhere (the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to be the popular choice).
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Jim Salisbury breaks down the winter meetings, which begin tomorrow in Nashville. Salisbury and I will be there.
So let's hope something happens.
Please.
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Also check out Salisbury's Extra Bases.
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Randy Wolf agreed to a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, so that means the Phillies will have to find somebody else to bring in to help the rotation.
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Comments (19)
Those commercials were incredible.
Posted by meech.one | December 2, 2007 11:57 AM
Posted on December 2, 2007 11:57
Randy Wolf would have been a gamble at best, in light of his injury record. If there's one thing the Phils can't afford, it's another "iffy" starter to complement excessive age, excessive youth, and Eaton in their rotation. Either bring in a good, proven commodity (i.e. re-sign Lohse) for a short time, or go with a prospect from their own system. What they must stop doing is trading top prospects for "rentals".
Message to Dave Montgomery: open up your wallet and re-sign Rowand. That move will be more than worth the investment in ticket sales as well as wins. Rowand (certainly as well as Utley, Howard, and Hammels) is a player fans come out to see even if the seasen isn't going well!
Posted by Harry | December 2, 2007 1:29 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 13:29
So much for bringing Wolf back to Philadelphia. I really hope the Winter Meetings will be fruitful for the Phillies. I know it's still early in the offseason, but I just wish the Phillies would be more aggressive. Reading all the MLB rumors and such, it feels as if the Phillies are barely making any ripples. I know the free agent pool is shallow but, the are silent. The people they have reportedly been going after either are signed or are pretty much signed somewhere else (i.e. Hiroki Kuroda, Randy Wolf, etc.) Why dont' they jump in to the mix for people like Dan Haren in Oakland or Erik Bedard from Baltimore? The both would be welcome upgrades in the rotation over Eaton.
All I want for Christmas is for the Phillies to be a little more aggressive...
Posted by Ryan | December 2, 2007 1:39 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 13:39
Todd, you are the King of YouTube Phillies nostalgia.
"You're in, baby, you're in! YES!"
Posted by David | December 2, 2007 2:15 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 14:15
Livan Hernandez
8 straight seasons 32 or more starts--
last Season 11 Wins 4.93 ERA
VS Mets in 07 1-0 13IP 4 ER
This guy is the answer for what is left
Posted by Randy | December 2, 2007 3:58 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 15:58
Harry--Lohse is a sure thing? Wolf commanded ONE YEAR, Lohse is looking for 4 at least. Get real. In 6 months, we'd be lamenting signing Lohse as much as we have been lamenting the Eaton signing.
Ryan--The reason you don't hear the Phillies in talks for Bedard or Haren is because they have no prospects. At all. To get either of them, think giving up Utley or Hamels. If you packaged Cardenas, Carrasco, and Savery, the Phillies supposed top three prospects, they still couldn't get either of those guys.
Posted by Grizzle | December 2, 2007 5:03 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 17:03
I agree on Livan Hernandez. Look, if Kendrick holds up, we're really shopping for a No. 4 starter here, or someone who can jump to 3.
Hamels-Myers-Kendrick-Hernandez-Moyer.
In the 'pen: Madson-Gordon-Romero-Lidge.
Eaton can sell cheesesteaks out in Ashburn Alley.
If Lidge flips his lid (repeatedly), give Gordon another shot. (If that doesn't work, we have a problem.) Also, there's a strong chance Hamels-Myers-Moyer will be on the DL at some point. But perhaps Carrasco is ready by then, for at least a few weeks.
Posted by Eman | December 2, 2007 9:59 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 21:59
Thanks for the old commercials... What a blast from the past. So many players I had long since forgotten about. I had to look up the roster. I found it here:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1986.shtml
Where was Steve Jeltz in the promos? He may be one of the Phillies all time whipping boys. Also, look at the list of pitchers with more wins than Steve Carlton that year (Kevin Gross, Charles Hudson, Shane Rawley, Bruce Ruffin)
Those were some tough years, but this was a winning season?
For bonus points... how many of the companies that sponsored give aways no longer exist?
Posted by Josh | December 2, 2007 11:30 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 23:30
Was that Howard Eskin in the second commercial?
Posted by Anonymous | December 2, 2007 11:34 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 23:34
Wolf in Citizen Park doesn't work.
Wolf is a flyballer:
2004: 1.32 HR/G (10.5% HR/FB)
2005: 1.55 (14.6)
2006: 1.94 (20.4)
2007 (Dodger Stadium): 0.94 (8.5)
We need a groundballer for example Carlos Silva colud be a good fit, 25-27/3 is the real price but probably he wants 40/4.
Don't sign Rowand only 2 carrier years an ovveratted player.
Posted by Mario | December 3, 2007 5:46 AM
Posted on December 3, 2007 05:46
The real solution is to get a new trainer/conditioning coach for the pitchers. The number of injuries to the pitching staff was excessive. It was either bad luck or bad conditioning for the rigors of major league pitching.
Posted by dude | December 3, 2007 7:42 AM
Posted on December 3, 2007 07:42
Dude - i couldn't agree with you more. there were an inordinate amount of injuries last year, not just in the pitching dept either. Some, like Bourn & Utley, were freak accidents. But overall the muscle strain-type injuries seemed excessive to me.
Posted by KM | December 3, 2007 10:40 AM
Posted on December 3, 2007 10:40
I've been wondering why we haven't heard anything about the possibility of the conditioning or trainer(s) or training routine being looked at. I'd like to see the injury numbers compared to all of the other teams and then see the training routine of all teams compared. Then, model the Phillies training routine after the team with the least injuries to it's pitching staff. Its not rocket science.
Posted by dude | December 3, 2007 2:02 PM
Posted on December 3, 2007 14:02
A couple of points: 1) I don't want to hear about Rowand being upset that Utley got a seven year deal. Utley has one thing Rowand doesn't- a ton of talent! I like Rowand and would like to see him return, but not for a bucket of $. Muckers and grinders don't get superstar money. 2) Randy Wolf- Good Riddance. We don't need another soft throwing pitcher. Plus, did he ever strike you as tough. He and Wes Helms are the same, nice guys. We need a tough guy who's gonna bear down and get some hitters out. Randy's still on the lookout for the girl from the subway! I'm glad he went to San Diego, weaken their team a little.
Posted by BW | December 4, 2007 6:00 AM
Posted on December 4, 2007 06:00
Atleast they'll get the draft pick WHEN he signs somewhere else.
Posted by dude | December 4, 2007 9:47 AM
Posted on December 4, 2007 09:47
Maybe that was Wolfies plot to help the Phils, sign with another team and make them weaker, instead of signing here and making us weaker...... mmmmm
Posted by clinton, nj | December 4, 2007 10:30 AM
Posted on December 4, 2007 10:30
What about going after Gagne? I'll bet he can be had for cheap after that showing in Boston. What if you get him for cheap and he returns to his old form? I know, I know, what if he pitches like he did in Boston. I'd have the medical people look at him (yes, the same ones that gave the red light to Borowski and green light to Garcia) and see if might be usable. Its atleast worth looking into.
Posted by dude | December 4, 2007 11:01 AM
Posted on December 4, 2007 11:01
big mistake trading michael bourn. ton of talent. great speed and d. now there looking for outfield help. wade picked their pocket.
Posted by frank fanelli | December 20, 2007 9:31 PM
Posted on December 20, 2007 21:31
big mistake trading michael bourn. ton of talent. great speed and d. now there looking for outfield help. wade picked their pocket.
Posted by frank fanelli | December 20, 2007 9:32 PM
Posted on December 20, 2007 21:32