The Phils' week of foolish moves
November 13 , 2007
| By Mike Santa Barbara
| 
Discuss
The Phils made two moves this week to help sure up their team heading into the Winter Meetings. Two moves they had to make however two moves that were equally foolish. First, the Phillies traded Michael Bourn; Geoff Geary and third base prospect Mike Costanzo to the Houston Astros for Brad Lidge and utility player Eric Bruntlett. Then, they re-signed J.C Romero to a ridiculous 3-year deal worth 12 Million Dollars. Both moves were not only foolish but also look extremely desperate to anyone who knows anything about baseball.
The Phillies are said to have had interest in Houston pitchers Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler during their first conversation with new GM Ed Wade, but eventually got to Brad Lidge. Some how after all those years of screwing the Phils as GM Ed Wade was able to screw us once again this time as GM of the Astros. The Phils essentially traded away a third base power hitting prospect and a speedy, solid hitting, future lead off hitter for a rental player. Lidge is a free agent at the end of the year. The Astros have already announced they will start Michael Bourn next year. The Phillies said they were able to trade away Bourn because of the pieces they already had in place. Do they mean places in piece in the outfield or what? If they mean outfield what depth chart could they possibly be looking at? They have traded away Bourn and are ready to let Aaron Rowand walk away as a free agent. That leaves you with: Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, Greg Dobbs and I don’t know Chris Roberson? To make matters worse it’s obvious that Lidge is a head case. We all know how players like that do in Philly. Lidge couldn’t get out of his own way in Houston; the pressure was too much in HOUSTON. This is Philadelphia where we booed a former closer when his fastball didn’t clock out at 100mph. How will Lidge fair in tiny Citizens Bank Park? True Minute Maid Park is no Polo Grounds but it had only a short left field porch CBP is full of short porches all around. What happens when he gets in his first jam? Blows his first save? Is it worth it to find out by trading away your future?
Some of you may be saying, “it’s only Michael Bourn he was a nice exciting player that’s all. I said it would be a mistake trading Bourn before last season’s trade deadline and I feel the same way still. I’m standing by my statement and am ready to back it up. Anyone who watched Bourn in the minors and when he got consistent time at the Major League level knows what kind of player Bourn could be. Bourn is a difference maker and everyone saw that during last season while he was filling in for the benched Pat Burrell and then the injured Shane Victorino. He’s a tremendous defensive player and base stealer. Also over-looked is Bourn’s batting. He’s by no means a power hitter but he has a lead off hitter’s approach combined with fantastic bat speed. With more at bats Bourn will just get better and better at the plate.
And, in their more desperate move of the two, the Phils signed reliever J.C Romero to a 3-year 12 Million-dollar contract. After around 36 innings of work after being waived by the eventual World Series Champs the Boston Red Sox the Phils thought Romero was worth 12 Million. Now, I know that players’ salaries are greatly inflated (especially pitchers) but 12 Million is a ridiculous amount to guarantee for an average relief pitcher who happened to play some of his best baseball on basically a second half of the season contract. Don’t be surprised if we look back at this deal and are reminded of last years signing of Adam Eaton.
By making these deals the Phils have hand cuffed themselves yet again. They have too many holes still left to fill and not enough money to fill them adequately. They still need an everyday third basemen, starting pitcher, relief pitcher, backup infielder and outfielder. Bottom line there were better deals to be made to get a solid relief pitcher without alienating your opening day starter turned closer turned starter again; Brett Myers. There are still going to be cheaper options out in the free agent market that could give you the same thing that J.C Romero gives you. The argument as usual is not the Phils lack of moves or lack of spending money, but to whom they give the money and how much they give them that’s the real problem.
Contact Mike Santa Barbara at MikeSBPhillyPurge@yahoo.com
