Phillies Nation

26 Responses to “Cheap Free Agent Help Still Available”

1. BDPhils Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 3:14 pm

   I wouldn’t mind seeing Hill come here. Inexpensive option, could be the lefty to replace Moyer if he starts off on the right foot and seeks advice (should Moyer need to be replaced).

2. Havoc Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 3:25 pm

   I wouldn’t expect the Phils to do much beyond sigining one more reliever. If the Phils are able to get one of the high risk starters to sign a cheap one year deal maybe you do that and cross your fingers that Moyer, Kendrick, Bastardo, Escalona, & Mathieson can handle the relief role with Moyer/Kendrick ready to step in as 5th starter if one of the remaining injury risks were to explode.

   I’d love to see Sheets come in, but seems like the Phils will have to wait and see if a few of the prices drop. Was thinking that Wang might be a possible pickup on the cheap since he’s hurt and coming off a bad year.

3. bfo_33 Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 3:43 pm

   After a closer, I’m not a fan of spending much on the bullpen. Year to year, they are an inconsistent bunch, completely unpredictable (if they were that good, they’d either be closing or starting). I think we stick with what we have, go with one of the high risk starters who can also relieve as insurance (Hendrickson, any of the starters listed above), then fill out the rest with the young guys and cheap casts offs, see how they pan out.

4. bebopdeluxe Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 3:55 pm

   Option A for me would definitely be Smoltz – the only problem is, unless you are going to make him the 5th starter, what kind of role can you give him that is meaty enough to stoke his competative juices? I don’t think he’s gonna be happy as a 7th inning guy.

5. Philly Geoff Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 5:11 pm

   I would love to see Smoltz in Philly and a little disappointed to see they only offered Eyre a minor league deal… injury or not he deserves more for his contributions the last two years.

6. George Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 5:13 pm

   Sheets is asking way too much. I’ll agree the Phils need another option at fifth starter with the uncertainty of Moyer, but Sheets is asking way too much, and I doubt that Mulder or Smoltz will be in the Phils’ price range. The bullpen is probably set now with Baez, with Bastardo, Escalona or that rule five pick or maybe Mathieson to fill the other spots. Eyre, coming off arm surgery, will only be an option if he signs a split minor/major league contract with incentives. Same with Condrey. Same with another starter.

   Right now, the team will be concerned mostly with arbitration numbers. I don’t look for any more real activity until a few spring training games have been played, and only then if some “counted on” players struggle. The front office will want to keep some money around–if there’s any left after paying arbitration dollars–in case a July 31 deadline deal is needed.

7. Ed R. Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 7:19 pm

   Good write up Pat.

   Also saw this on Zolecki’s page.

   http://zozone.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/01/amaros_next_move.html

8. ALPHONSE DATTOLO Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 9:08 pm

   IT DOESN’T MATTER WHOM THE PHILLIES CHOOSE-THEY WILL BE THE 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!! I AM ENTERING MY 50TH YEAR AS A PHILLIES FAN!!!!!!!

9. schwalmy Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 9:08 pm

   Bedard …..he isn’t signed

10. Brian Sr. of CO Says:
    January 5th, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    I am trying to figure out why Smoltz would be a better option that Moyer? If Moyer isnt good enough, how is Smoltz? His ERA with the Red Sox was 8.33 (thats almost DOUBLED Moyer) and 4.26 with the Cards, however, if you look at Smoltz game by game stats, I dont see any improvement at all. I will not argue at all that Smoltz is without a doubt a future HOF’er, and Moyer probably will not be, but we should be concerned about picking up “Future HOF’ers” if they are pretty much washed up. Smoltz looked like a new man in his first two starts with the Cards, but then after than, he didnt look any better than Moyer at all. In 2009, I cant find any start on either the Red Sox or the Card where he went passed 6 innings. not even 6.1 innings. in the short time in 2008 he pitched passed 6 innings once. Smoltz seems to average about 4.2 IP per start, with a max of 6 IP in 09, and mostly 4-5 IP. So if Moyer averages about 4 runs a game (slightly below 5 per 9 IP) and pitches an average of about 6 IP, and Smoltz averages about 4 runs per game, and he pitches an average of 5 IP per game, Im not sure how he is an “upgrade”. To me he puts more pressure on the bullpen, which was already one of the weakest links (the Bench was the weakest link on the team) from 09, and thats sad, because Moyer put enough pressure on the BullPen.

11. Brian Sr. of CO Says:
    January 5th, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    That shoould be “we should NOT be concerned about picking up “Future HOF’ers”

12. Phrontiersman Says:
    January 5th, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    Arredondo had Tommy John surgery, and is expected to miss the 2010 season. Cross him off your post-holiday shopping list.

13. Greg Says:
    January 5th, 2010 at 10:11 pm

    Rich Hill would be a nice pick up.I always liked Ron Villone for that
    Lefty coming out of the BP.
    Livan Hernandez would be a cheap back up for the 5th starter.

14. Pat Gallen Says:
    January 5th, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    Didn’t realize Arredondo would be out the entire season.

15. j reed Says:
    January 6th, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    What about Pinero. GB pitchers are music to my ears with the dimensions of our ball park.

16. George Says:
    January 7th, 2010 at 11:15 am

    Piniero wants way to much. Last I read, he was trying for Randy Wolf type numbers, which were a little high even for Randy Wolf.

    Someone will sign Livan Hernandez, but I hope it isn’t the Phils. He eats innings, yes, but he’s not doing it as much as he used to, and those innings he eats don’t go down very well considering the opposition runs they contain.

    Wang will have almost any offer matched by the Yankees. Mulder is still too high of an injury risk. Smoltz is probably done.

    I’m thinking the year starts with Kyle Kendrick at number five until Moyer recovers fully from surgery, or until mid July, when some AAA pitcher will come up or a trade will be made.

17. Philadelphia Phillies Jewelry – Make a fashions statement the … | Philadelphia Phillies MLB Announcer Says:
    January 7th, 2010 at 12:45 pm

    [...] Cheap Free Agent Help Still Available | Phillies Nation [...]

18. Philadelphia Phillies sign Danys Baez to 2 year contract | MLB Secrets | Philadelphia Phillies MLB Announcer Says:
    January 7th, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    [...] Cheap Free Agent Help Still Available | Phillies Nation [...]

19. TonyIsDynamic Says:
    January 8th, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    Seriously, WHY is no one looking at Kiko Calero?

20. NickM Says:
    January 8th, 2010 at 9:41 pm

    I think DJ Carrasco would be a perfect fit. Good reliever the last 2 years who could also start….and cheap. Only made 440K last year.

21. Dylan Says:
    January 9th, 2010 at 10:54 am

    Tony,
    Completely agree. Phils should try and get Kiko. They could then have Romero (when back), Bastardo, Madson, Kiko, Baez, Durbin, and Lidge in the BP. Not too shabby there. I would not be upset with a 2 year deal for Kikio, since it seems like Amaro likes giving those out. Would have liked to have Park again, tho.

    Plus, if all goes well near the middle-end of this year and DEF. next year, we can add in Mathieson and Aumount to the BP and the following (2012) have one of them or Madson as the closer.

22. Craig Says:
    January 9th, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    Of the choices that are out there…leave them. We have a solid starting 4 of Halladay, Hamels, Blanton and Happ. The 5th starters role can and should be filled from within the organization (Moyer, Kendrick, Bastardo, Mathieson, etc.) and the last I heard, the bullpen had 5 of the 7 spots already filled with Baez, Durbin, Romero, Madson, Lidge and the other two should also be filled from within. What I would rather do with the remaining budget is have Amaro sign J.Gomes and R.Church for the bench. I like the Gload signing and have also liked G.Dobbs but there is not much else on the bench…Schneider, Castro & Francisco? Gomes will give them a legit RH bat off the bench that had 20 HR’s last year and who can also give Ibanez the occasional day off and. Church is a solid LH bat off the bench who can also play the field, batted in the .270’s and had 40 rbi’s. I also think it will be hard to sign Werth after this year and both Gomes (age 29) and Church (31) will give us options should Werth leave.

23. beebers Says:
    January 9th, 2010 at 1:42 pm

    I would really like to see them get Hill or Hendrickson. As lefties, they could start or maybe be the type of guy who can come out of the pen and be a specialist to get left-handed hitters out. They both at times have shown flashes of greatness, and the Phils have proven that they know how to get players to max their potential. I just like the versatility that those 2 bring to the table as a left hander who can start or come out of the pen.

24. Frank Says:
    January 9th, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    I dont care who they get as long as Moyer is forced to retire! He is done please, please, please Phils dont give him a chance to come back.

25. Lisa Says:
    January 14th, 2010 at 4:45 pm

    To Tony: I agree with you. Kiko Calero is an excellent choice for bullpen help. His ERA is very low and he is very consistent. For whatever reason he is falling beneath the radar screen.

26. zeke Says:
    January 17th, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    i’ve always liked Ronnie belliard clutch hitter, gritty, why aren’t the phillies interested in him? I also think that moyer is done also, He’s 48 yrs old and coming off 3 surgeries. Just realease him its a no brainer.

Leave a Reply