The Calm Before the Storm?

by David S. Cohen on Dec 1, 2006 5:17 PM EST in News

Or just the quiet before . . . well, more quiet?

The GM winter meetings start this weekend in Orlando. Will Pat Gillick do anything to try to improve the Phils? Or will he sit back and let other teams do the wheeling and dealing?

We know he won't be after starting pitching, after acquiring Adam Eaton earlier this week. But, will he go after a big bat to fill Bobby Abreu's shoes? Or will he go for the punchless outfield of Conine, Rowand, and Victorino by trading Pat Burrell? Or how about the bullpen? Are more Proven Veteran Middle Relievers (TM) on our way? (Please NO!)

There's lots to watch. I just hope my pessimism about Gillick's ability to acquire good talent is proven wrong.

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holy cripes

The Phils offered Soriano 7 years, $114 per Marcus Hayes. Wow.

Oh, and David, you don't think Helms and Eaton (and almost Borowski) is a solid splash? Whyever not?

by Alex Falzone on Dec 1, 2006 5:48 PM EST reply actions

Hayes piece

That's depressing; I hadn't seen it. My guess is that what we see is what we'll be getting, at least until the non-tender deadline which I think is in 2-3 weeks.

Then again, after the Padilla and Abreu trades I'm not really sure I want Gillick making any more deals. Though I think both Helms and Eaton are decent adds, overall I've been very, very disappointed with his work since the Thome trade; mea culpa, jonk...

by dajafi on Dec 1, 2006 6:25 PM EST reply actions

This is the real hot stove

The winter meetings is when things really get interesting. I think we all agree that it was a pretty weak free agent market and the Phils clearly didn't get their targets. I can really see Gillick really looking to make a splash in the trade market. In fact, I'd be fairly surprised to not see us come out of the winter meetings without OF help.

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by JasonB on Dec 1, 2006 7:13 PM EST reply actions

Gillick's Winter Meetings Grade = Incomplete

With Moyer and Lieber penciled in as starters, next year, what does it matter what window-dressing OF or RP Gillick acquires during this off-season? Plus Wolf and Dellucci will be missed, and the jury is out re chronic hospital case Eaton; and Helms, though an upgrade, is stop-gap, at best. Coste should have been given the 3B shot, this past season.

by robbybonfire on Dec 2, 2006 8:15 PM EST reply actions

Pessimism warranted

From today's Inky: "The Phils' inability to land a slugger this winter doesn't mean they wouldn't dump Pat Burrell and eat some of his remaining salary ($27 million over two years) if a team wants him.

"The Phils are set in the rotation with four veterans and an exciting youngster in Cole Hamels. They still must upgrade their bullpen and find a good back-end arm to serve as insurance for Tom Gordon, who was troubled by shoulder problems late last season. The only hitch is there isn't much out there beyond Joe Borowski and David Weathers. The Phils were working on a multiyear deal with Borowski when reports on his shoulder gave them pause. A one-year deal could be possible. The Phils could also look to trade for bullpen help, using Aaron Rowand as bait."

by David S. Cohen on Dec 3, 2006 10:34 AM EST reply actions

Geez

Will we have any outfield at all?

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by JasonB on Dec 4, 2006 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

wishful thinking?

I have to think that this is all empty talk (although I'm not sure what purpose it could really serve). are they really be so insane to think that Vic/Rowand/Conine is an acceptable OF? even if you replace Conine with some of the names floating around (Nixon, Mench, etc.), I can't imagine how any reasonable person could think that's workable.

by perfectdepth on Dec 4, 2006 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

don't forget

According to WIP callers circa August, trading Abreu was "addition by subtraction"! Now think of how much we'll have added if we subtract Burrell too! Why, we'll get better even if we play nobody at all in left or right!

by taco pal on Dec 4, 2006 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

Gillick in a mood to deal?

Philly Burbs

Talks are preliminary, but Gillick was working on multiple deals that could pry top starter Freddie Garcia from the Chicago White Sox, plus reliever Derrick Turnbow and slugging outfielder Kevin Mench from the Milwaukee Brewers.

In the rumored deals, the Phils first would nab Garcia for center fielder Aaron Rowand and a pitcher, possibly reliever Ryan Madson or Triple-A starter Gavin Floyd.

If the Phils get Garcia, they'd immediately trade right-hander Jon Lieber, possibly to Milwaukee for Mench, a native of Delaware, and Turnbow, a one-time Phillies farmhand who lost his closer job after being named to the 2006 NL All-Star team.

A two-time All-Star, Garcia was 17-9 with a 4.53 ERA in 2006.

The White Sox would love to reacquire Rowand, who played with them from 2001-05. Asked if he'd be interested in getting back a player he had before who was good in the clubhouse, White Sox GM Kenny Williams said, "You mean a guy like Aaron Rowand? He's somebody else's, but would I be interested in somebody like that? Yeah, I would."

I don't have too big a problem with this. Especially getting Garcia.

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by JasonB on Dec 5, 2006 11:12 AM EST reply actions