Should Phils Market Myers As A Reliever?
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, June 26, 2008 11:55 AM
Talk here has shifted to Brett Myers’ trade value, especially as a reliever. Many posters here at the Nation have been discussing Myers as a trade chip, and if teams would like him as a closer/setup man.
If the Phils market Myers as a closer/setup type he would be worth more, but how much? Remember, Myers is worth about another $9M after this season, which is on the higher side for setup men and closers, but certaintly not tops. Bottom line is teams would be interested in Myers as a closer, but the Phils would need to pop some prospects on top of him to make it a friendly deal.
My problem with marketing Myers as a relief pitcher is how long it’ll take to get him back into that mode. It’s not the easiest transition going from starter to closer, especially when you’ve done it once already. Would the Phils switch Myers to the bullpen to show him off before a trade? To me that’s a risky move that could damage your pen more than you think.
There’s also the issue of Tom Gordon, who is seemingly more injured than we’re being told. In fact, I wouldn’t doubt if Gordon sees considerable time on the DL very soon. That will reconfigure the bullpen, and it’s not cut and dry that Myers can drop into a setup role and contribute immediately. It’s more likely Myers would get phased into the front of the bullpen while Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson become more responsible for the later innings with JC Romero.
But that’s a recipe for potential disaster. If the Phils can market Myers without moving him to the ‘pen, that’s one thing. It’s another thing to “experiment” once more during a playoff run. Obviously the Phillies need another starting pitcher, but they’ll need ready relief help, as well. For now it should come from the farm system while getting Myers back on track as a pitcher first.

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June 26th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Would you trade Condrey for Carrasco, Bastardo, or Happ? I would thats basically the deal you’d be making if Myers moved to the pen.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
myers needs to stay in the rotation and work things out. that’s the only option as far as i’m concerned. i seem to be one of the only people in the philly area to think that he has the ability to fix things and pitch well in the second half. he’s shown flashes of it. including in his last start. i still think he can be as good a #2 as anybody in the league.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
This new Gameday 3D, or “GD3D” as MLB.com puts it, is such a joke. It runs terribly rigid, and looks like MLBPA ‘92 for the Sega Genesis. This kind of feature needs to be simple and fast, not 3D and slow.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I do agree ryan. As painful as it has been the first couple months, he has just been coming around and showing signs of improvement. It may just be that adjusting to starting has taken quite a bit longer than anyone thought it would.
I don’t have a problem with them bringing up one of those guys and going to a 6 man rotation until the break just to see how they perform. It could work out. And plus, it could give Cole some additional rest.
If they did that though, I hope they would stick with Bastardo or Happ to prevent Carrasco from losing any potential trade value if he flops.
June 26th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
It is time to move him.
Years have gone by waiting for him to reach his “potential”.
Myers is what he is.
Time to get some value for him before he breaks down…which due to happen.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:27 am
What a disappointment!?!? Myers is such a letdown right now it’s hard to stomach. I really thought his last start was a sign that he was coming around. Man was I ever wrong?! I can’t even watch this team right now. It’s downright painful.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Myers is done. Ever since he got caught beating his wife, it’s been all down hill since then. He might be ok as a reliever after he gives up runs in the 1st inning he’s in. And we all know he will. I’d dump him and his $9 MIL salary. They dumped Freddy Garcia after that stupid trade with the White Sox when they lost Gavin Floyd. If they would have left him reach HIS potential we wouldn’t have the mess we have now with the wife beater, would we??????????????? Stupid front office.