Phillies Nation

68 Responses to “Breaking News: Phillies Release Jenkins, Contact Sheffield”

1. Phil Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 2:52 pm

   I really hope they don’t get Sheffield. That would leave us with 3 outfielders and I guess Bruntlett and Dobbs sometimes. Stairs and Sheffield really can’t play the OF anymore. Sheffield is also a cancer. Just let Cairo take the bench spot.

2. Justin Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 2:54 pm

   And as i predicted Jenkins out, Stairs in. Sheffield won’t be signed, hopefully. If they’re looking for that power right handed bat hopefully it’s John Mayberry Jr.

3. T Marty Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 2:55 pm

   Phil, i hear ya, “Sheffield is a cancer”. Don’t want him to ruin the team’s chemistry, though it would be cool if they signed him just until he hit that one homer.

4. Matt Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 2:56 pm

   I’m surprised they didn’t cut Stairs, just for the fact that he’s older and Jenkis makes more and therefore would have been harder to just release. I’d rather see them bring Mayberry up than take a chance on Sheffield, but I have to think that Ruben and the rest of the FO know what they’re doing.

5. Justin Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 2:57 pm

   Yea that would be good pub, don’t get me wrong i really like Jenkins and he’s a very classy guy i just knew if it meant having him or stairs in a roster spot that they’d choose Stairs for his power, if they just needed a hit that’s what Dobbs is for and i guess that’s what they see in Dobbs that Jenkins is a similar player but of course Dobbs isn’t going anywhere.

6. Don M Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 2:58 pm

   I guess they are OK with Bruntlett playing corner OF spots?

   Stairs can I guess still play RF, but not as well as jenkins..

   Sheffield is the most dangerous RH hitter out there.. a threat to go long, but hits for .292 career avg.. .307 vs. LHP

   Basically exactly what the Phillies were looking for.. for $400,000 , he’s definitely worth the risk to bring him here

7. CT Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 2:59 pm

   “Sheffield was hitting .178 (8-for-45) with three homers and five RBIs this spring. He walked 13 times for a .387 on-base percentage, but had a .378 slugging percentage. He also hit .225 with 19 homers and 57 RBIs in 418 at-bats last season, when he played just six games in the outfield.”

   I don’t know about this.

8. Phil Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 2:59 pm

   I’d rather them have Cairo in than Mayberry. Cairo can steal and our pinch running is kind of thin outside of Bruntlett. Cairo can also play every position besides catcher and pitcher. He is also a RH bat.

9. ryan Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 2:59 pm

   meh. whatever. he stinks anyway. but i will always remember him for leading off the second half of game 5 with a huge double in the gap and how excited he was when he got to second base.

   and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE no Gary Sheffield. He is the absolute worst. a roided up arrogant pompous team killer.

10. Manny Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:00 pm

    Sheffield is the type of guy you get late in the season to bolster your bench/lineup… I do not want to see him with the Phils for a full season… I prefer Jenkins over him, despite his lefty bat, cause Jenkins can at least play some defense… I do not want to see Matt Stairs or Sheffield fielding. We are taking a pretty decent risk with Ibañez on the field already.

    Sure, we could have him for 400,000 or so, but this is the type of move that will come back and bite us in the a**.

11. mike Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    Why would you not want gary sheffield? This would IMMEDIATELY become the most feared offense in the NL. Who do you think an opposing team wants to face off the bench… Gary Sheffield or Miguel Cairo? I understand he’s an asshole, but the argument that he would be a cancer is quite irrelevant.

12. Don M Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:04 pm

    You would have Dobbs, Sheffield, Stairs all as HR threats off the bench.. along with Brutlett and Coste.. and maybe Cairo too if they carry 6 for a while.

    Mayberry should not be a bench guy cause that would ruin any chance of him ever becoming an everyday player

13. CT Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    mike, one of the reasons why our team was so good last year was team chemistry. do you think Sheff would add to that or make it worse?

14. Fuhs Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    Wow. Think of all the money the team is paying for people to play elsewhere. Over 17 million?

15. CT Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    i could see this opening up the roster for Happ… would this be a crazy 25 man roster projection?

    Ruiz, Coste
    Howard, Utley, Rollins, Feliz, Bruntlett, Dobbs, Cairo
    Ibanez, Victorino, Werth, Stairs
    Hamels, Myers, Moyer, Blanton, Happ, Park,
    Condrey, Durbin, Eyre, Taschner, Madson, Lidge

16. Don M Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    Everyone thought that Blanton, Eyre, and every other move last year was a bad one..

    If the Phillies Front Office wants to get Sheffield, they’ev obviously thought the good would outweigh the bad.. I’m all for it..

    If they decide not to get him, they’ve decided the bad would outweigh the good.. lets wait and see..

    anytime you can upgrade your bench, you should.. and Gary Sheffield is an upgrade to almost every bench in baseball

17. PhillyGirlinMichigan Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    Living in Tiger country, I do not recommend getting Sheffield. As everyone knows, he likes to speak his mind on all sorts of topics that are really none of his business and just stirs things up.

    He was pretty good when he first come to Detroit, but I don’t think he’s struck fear into anyone lately excpt maybe the team’s PR dept.

    I like Cairo better. As the Tigers now know, big names don’t always equate to big results.

18. Ryan Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    I actually think sheffield is a good idea…The fact of him being a cancer definitely is irrelevant because he has been released…so We would have to pay him nothing to play here….HE wont be an everyday player…so He can’t “contaminate”….He was just released so hopefully he realizes that he needs to step his game up and since he is a grizzled veteran….he should come to realize this…and this will also hopefully take away some of his ‘tude…He is a cheap low risk/high reward option…Why not take shot with him…worst come to worst…we release him early on for barely a penalty..

19. Phil Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    I don’t think Sheffield is going to sign anywhere that he’s just going to be a bench player at. He’ll want to play everyday.

20. sawaob12 Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    so how much did the phillies pay Geoff for that leadoff double last year?

21. Manny Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    mike, he’s no longer the Gary Sheffield we were used to. His BA has been dropping considerably since 2006 (.225 in 2008) AND that was getting 114 games. He will NOT get nearly as many games with the Phils, primarily because he’s 40 (FORTY) and you don’t want him on the field under any circumstance… he would be a pinch hitter almost 100% of the time, getting very few ABs with the Phils, and his stats will probably reflect that and keep going down.

    I much rather have Mayberry instead of him. What if one of our OFs gets injured? Who will play now? Jenkins has been released. Do you seriously want to see Sheffield and/or Stairs out there? NOT ME.

    I say: Let’s forget the lust and appeal that comes with the Gary Sheffield name and his 499 homers, and go with the guy who should be next in line if Werth, Vic, Ibañez get injured.

22. Don M Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    CT..

    Do Majewski or Taschner have minor league options?

    I think you are right at this point.. though I read that Happ might be sent to the minors to get starts-in because he wouldn’t pitch until April 20th anyway??

    I freakin love baseball season… talking about possible roster moves.. is actually fun

23. Matt Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    Don M.-That’s my point, but with Sheffield, it’s more of who are you getting? Is it the guy who has something to prove and will have no problem coming off of the bench? Or will it be the Sheffield that fought with teammates, managers, etc., the guy who will bitch about playing time, the distraction? That’s why I don’t want him, becuase every move a team makes is taking a risk, but he’s just too big of a risk to deal with while trying ti repeat.

24. NJ Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    Wow the Phils are just eating salary and with the amount of minor league deals the team dished out going into ST I think the book is being slammed shut on reaching on 2nd tier free agents. You look at the core of the secondary players on this team; Werth, Feliz, Durbin, Romero, Moyer, Bruntlett, Dobbs, Coste, Eyre, Condrey… So much of this team is made up with guys picked up at costs.

    Am very surprised the Phils aren’t rolling the dice with Jenkins this year but hey less is more and I’m not going to say no to Sheffy or a RHB with pop like Frank Thomas at costs. I believe in the strength of this team now and I don’t believe a guy on the bench playing for his legacy can hurt the team unless they are expected to be a bigger part of the team

25. Ben Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    The guy couldn’t even handle being on the Yankee’s bench, what makes you think he’ll handle being on ANY bench. Thats what happens when you are an a-hole. Once the talent is gone, the interest is gone. Plus exactly what PhillyGirlInMichigan said…..he just opens his mouth to hear the sound of his voice. How well would him saying a controversial statement in Philly go? Can’t imagine that it wouldn’t be at least some distraction. This team should go into the season with what they have and figure out during the season if they need any extra parts to complete the puzzle. The team is pretty good as I see it and I see nothing but downside with a guy like Sheffield.

26. CT Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:15 pm

    Don, i have no idea where to find info on player options

27. Don M Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:15 pm

    I think they released Jenkins because him and Stairs are basically the same player..

    But I never thought Jenkins would be the one of those two that got released.

    You are paying him anyway… he’s better all-around the Stairs.. so there has to be another move in the works..

    My money is on Sheff..

28. NJ Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    Don M- Majewski surely doesn’t have any options left but can be sent to Leigh Valley because of his deal. There’s no way Taschner has options, a guy who’s been with the Giants organisation for more than 3 years in never going to have options considering their prospects go up and down like a pornstar.

29. Justin Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:17 pm

    Majewski was signed to a minor league contract so he can be optioned to the minors, Taschner i’m still unsure of because no one has said one way or another. My crazy prediction for the 25 man roster is :

    blanton, condrey, durbin, eyre, hamels, lidge, madson, mosebach, moyer, myers, park, taschner, coste, ruiz, bruntlett, cairo, dobbs, feliz, howard, rollins, utley, ibanez, stairs, victorino, and werth.

    I have Mosebach making the team mainly because he’s a Rule V and from what i hear the Phils are high on his stuff to be a reliever in this league and if they offer him up to the Angels they’d snatch him back. But he could be replaced with Majewski or another outfielder if they wanted to carry 11 pitchers instead of 12.

30. Don M Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:17 pm

    I wasn’t sure because Relievers usually get crazy contracts.. Majewski should be sent to LHV then and show them he can step up if someone goes on the DL later in the year.

    Taschner will only be around until JC gets back anyway

31. Ari Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    Sheffield has spent the last 6 months doing nothing but trying to hit HRs. While the longball is great, he got out way too much. His average this spring was .178 and his average last year was .228. Who needs him? I would much rather see Jenkins or one of the young guys given a spot.

32. Matt Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    I think philly.com said Taschner had a minor league option left, otherwise I couldn’t imagine the Phillies making that trade knowing Romero is coming back.

33. blough Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    i dont want sheff…but all this talk about team chemistry is horse sh*t. baseball is a bunch of individuals who get their turn at pitching and hitting and then go stand to the side.

34. Geoff Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    NICE! they are NOT screwing around…eaton & jenkins both gone! thats the smart move too, let the guy get a new start and dont keep him in purgatory. this lets them either bring mayberry back up or go out and bring in a guy liek josh willingham or sheffield.

35. CT Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    blough, you really think that’s what a baseball team is like? you don’t believe in camaraderie, friendship, team chemistry, etc? you’re crazy.

36. NJ Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    ^Don M- The reason Jenkins got the boot was exactly because he and Stairs aren’t the same player. Jenkins is a former every day guy who can play the field, hit over the course of a season and come up with some consistent pop. Stairs with his much smaller skillset and age has stayed around in this league because of his ability to hit off the bench and spell in the outfield.

    Stairs was expendable because of his low salary but his role is defined, I guess the Phils realised Jenkins wasn’t going to be able to re-mould himself to a part-time player who could be a force pinch-hitting so stomaching the cost of releasing knowing we’ll at least have him picked up by someone on a minor league deal gives a real chance to get that elusive rh bench bat or go into the season with a bullpen as strong as the yankees bank balance.

37. dan Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    room to start with a six-man rotation?

38. BurrGundy Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:27 pm

    Scheffield will co-host the Howard Eskin show and it will be called the Mouthy Ass Show. It should be fun listening. Both guys need socks stuck in their pie holes.

39. CT Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    dan, that’s what i was proposing with my projected roster. i think it could work for the short term until we see that we absolutely need a big time righty power hitter off the bench.

40. NJ Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    Dan that’s funny, going into the season as a contendor with a 6 man rotation would be like like Manny giving up his legacy to go play cricket for real.

41. Geoff Phan Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:30 pm

    I liked jenkins he was a team player…. I never really took a good look at him til I wachted the phillies season dvd n saw everything he did he won us like 6 games n was always on the top step congrating every1 when they came back in the dugout…. He brought energy into the team when they looked like they needed it. That hit in game 5 was unreal I was there I never heard or felt the stadium roar like ever before…. I will always be a jenkins fan where ever he signs.. Good luck geoff wherever u go and thank you

42. NJ Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    Just thinking Pat Gillick should write a book called ‘how I pulled a championship out my ass’, his deals look like a long list of hangovers yet he was incremental in putting together a championship team jus the way he did in Toronto. For all we spent on Eaton and Jenkins we have to look at what was saved on the guys brough in to play for a virtually nothing.

43. blough Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    CT- i do believe in those things…but with baseball i think it has very little to do with the final product.

44. Geoff Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    Jenkins was a great team first guy, but 8M is too much…

45. Phighter in NYC Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    Geoff Phan, agreed. I always enjoyed seeing how psyched the guy for his team despite having a tough year. For his spirit and for that epic double, he’ll never have to buy a drink in Philly again.

46. CT Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    PARK NAMED 5TH STARTER ACCORDING TO ZOLECKI:

    http://zozone.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/03/park_wins_fifth_job_phils_cont.html

47. Geoff Phan Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    I just wished we had in in the outfield for his whole career one smart move milwalkee did was keep him for as long as they did… He will end up somewhere I just hope its not in the NL EAST

48. nick Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    Thanks Geoff for hitting that double off the wall in game five and why not take a shot on Sheff……….he will come cheap if he does not pan out cut him and then bring up Mayberry……………we will talk about this and more on the first Father and Son philly sports talk show check us out at http://wifi1460am.com and click on listen live tonight 7 to 9 pm

49. Ed Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    Id rather have Jenkins than Sheff anyday of the week. Sheff is a scum bag and a me first guy. Maybe Amaro things guys like JRoll and Utley can keep him at bay but I doubt it. Good for Park, hopefully he makes the most of it. Can we just give the bullpen jobs to Majewski and Taschner and be done with it?

50. Chuck P Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    Jenkins wasn’t a great fit here… I’ll never forget Jenkins fist-pumping on second base to open game 5, part 2. The move made little sense to us at the time. Everyone in the stadium was thinking, “Why are they going with Jenkins?” Of course, he proved us all wrong with one memorable swing.

    Hopefully, someone will take a flyer on him and eat a little bit of that salary. One thing is for sure, we have done a poor job picking big name veteran role players: Jenkins, Eaton, Garcia… I’ll pass on Sheffield, the big name veteran role player.

51. Joe A. Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    cairo is not going very good. all of us phils fans will be able to see shef hit his 500th career hr!

52. Ed Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    For every bad veteran role player I can think of atleast one good one. Romero, Eyre, Werth(he was signed as a role player). Not saying we have excellent success in this area but the Phillies or more correctly, Gillick was probably on par with everyone else. Afterall, we did win the world series last year. Seems like the guys we paid a lot for all sucked but the guys we throw pennies at, they all do well.

53. Manny Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    We lost 2 of our biggest cheerleaders in the dugout: Jenkins and Pat. I’m not too happy about this, the two moves together kinda change the whole vibe.

54. mike Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    these owners are doing things they wouldn’t have done three years ago. Someone is doing a great job talking them into these moves.

55. Don M Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    I could care less about seeing him hit his 500th.. but the fact that he has that many shows he’s a power hitter.. and the fact that his career avg. is .292 shows he can hit more than just HRs.

    He was injured the past seasons in Detroit, and I think they wanted to get younger.. guys like him, Pudge, Polanco, Magglio, Guillen.. they weren’t young.

    Gillick is still an advisor with the team, and Amaro talks to him before making moves.. they wouldn’t have released Jenkins if they didn’t have something else in the works.

    Maybe that move is Cairo?… But the fact that they’ve said they contacted Sheffield lets you know that is the guy they want.. and they want everyone to know how bad they want him, hoping that will sway him their way (not down by the bay, or in the hay)

56. Gary B Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    Poor Geoff Jenkins, I liked the guy, he didn’t put up the numbers that evrybody was used to him putting up but I think that hit in the world series made him feel a part of the team. Oh well not anymore.

    Happy trails to you…thanks for the game five smoke to the warning track!

57. From Section 113 Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    Ughhhh, I am not a Sheffield fan at all. I wouldn’t like that move. I’d sooner have Jenkins or Mayberry off the bench than Sheff.

    Happy for Park though.

58. Manny Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 4:39 pm

    I’m with you Gary B. re releasing Jenkins. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I realize how shocked I am by this move. We gave him the same treatment as Adam Eaton! Ah! Disgusting. Seriously, we’re giving up on a guy who had a below-average year, but who can still play good baseball. We gave a guy like Eaton (a d-bag) way too many chances –and THEN we release him—, but we give up on Jenkins (a clubhouse guy, a good player overall who brings a positive attitude) before the 2009 season even starts. Wow.

59. blough Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    ****news break****

    phils release jenkins. announce the signing of brett farve.

60. Matthew Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 4:51 pm

    I can see it now. 5 nights before he blasts his 500th homer in Philly, he opens his mouth to the media saying something that stirs the pot AND becomes in the only player in baseball history to be BOO-ed in his home ballpark after he hits his 500th homerun and has his ball thrown back onto the field by the home team fans…

61. The Dipsy Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    Signing Sheffield is a NO LOSE proposition. You can start him in LF and RF and can play 3rd in a pinch. You can start him twice a week. You don’t have to pay him. If he turns out to be a cancer you let him go. Whats the problem? You don’t like 17hrs and 47rbis in 300 abs?

    The Dipsy

62. TJ Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    I would entertain the idea of Sheffield if I were the FO too. Listen, Gary is old and declining and its time he should realize this. If we’re his only interest right now, then why not take it? He would have a shot at number 500 in a hitters park. It should come quick, even pinch hitting. Plus, we’re a contender. A legit contender. Would he rather play for a lowly team and get the chance to tire out playing the field or enjoy one of his last years in the majors pinch hitting for a team that will be in it? Time to mature, Gary.

63. Jeff Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    To T Marty

    Shame on you for giving credibility to all 499 of his roided up homeruns. His 500th doesn’t mean squat. Keep him away from this fine team.

64. JeffR Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    Willy Mo Pena might be a better option at this point than Sheffield for what we’re looking for in a right-handed bat with some pop off the bench and occasional in the outfield.

65. Jeff Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    I am on the fence with Shef,
    I am sad for Jenkins, but he was paid a lot of money to be the regular RF and he is not and was not able to be a great role player. Yes he was a great clubhouse guy, but we need specific roles now. I understand keeping Stairs over him. Stairs is your power off the bench for a lefty, we have none for a righty. Dobbs is your complete bench player, Bruntlett is your defensive specialist with average to below average hitting.( had a great spring though) Coste is your backup catcher, Shef would be a nice fit in there, If an everyday player goes down in the outfield you bring up Mayberry to play.

    I think the clubhouse is tight and has plenty of strong personalities like Rollins, Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Moyer, Myers, Lidge. We are fine there Sheff is probably a win- win if he doesn’t pan out you chuck him to the curb and bring someone up.

66. nick Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    ha, matthew very true, I could also see that and wouldn’t be surprised at all. I wouldn’t mind getting sheff at all, but only if they don’t give him like 2 mil when he’s only worth 400k.

67. Don M Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 7:26 pm

    Buster Olney was just on ESPN 950… asked where he think Sheffield will end up, he said with…. THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES..

68. Keith Says:
    April 1st, 2009 at 8:25 am

    BOOO!!! At least when the Marlins took apart a WS winer they got some young talent in return. Phils are throwing money out the window like “we” have it!

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