Phils eyeing Mench, Hairston, Baldelli

Count me as one Phillies fan who's not impressed by those names. Jerry Hairston Jr.? Seriously? Meh.

None of these three players are everyday players. Bruntlett prooved this year that he could be inserted into the lineup to replace an injured player. Rocco Balldelli wouldn't be able to start consecutive games, so that would rule him out of that role. Hairston is another utility infielder (Bruntlett can cover that), and Mench had limited at bats as well. None seem like a "replacement" if Burrell leaves, so that could force the Phillies into making Bruntlett an everyday player.

Show me an available left fielder who will replace Burrell's 25-30 HRs and 90+ RBI's a year. His OBP is in the high 300's consistently. He'll make the routine plays in left field; he'll throw accurately to the right base. Take a look at Matt Holliday's away offensive statistics before you get too excited by him. He's a Coors Field All-Star, an also-ran otherwise. Baldelli has serious health issues; Mench's and Hairston's numbers are far behind Burrell's. He's worth 3 years @ $12M-$14M/year. The Phillies can't realistically replace him with what's now available.

Are you kidding me??? Oh wait I see it will be a three way rotation. I think that if Eric Bruntlett was forced into a full time outfield job, he will surprise people just as Jayson Werth did. Manny Ramirez is a Charlie Manual favorite, but may be too expensive for Philly. I say resign Burrell or give it to Bruntlett and let these three losers go some where else.

How about Greg Dobbs? If given the chance to play every day, his defense would at least match Burrell. His offense would be better than Bruntlett, as well. I think he deserves a shot at it.

I really hope the Phillies keep Pat Burrell. If they don't, where will he go?

American league team as a DH. As for Dobbs I think that the Phillies would be relunctant to move him away as a utility player/pinchhitter as he led the NL in pinchhits.

After all of his years of service with the PHILS I think he deserves the oportunity to finish out his carreer with the team, his bat still has some pop, and at least he is better defensivly than Manny!

Milton Bradley would be a perfect choice. He's a switch hitter, is only 30, has decent power and led the AL in OBP this past season.

Bradley is a cancer, no way. There's a reason he's been with like 11 different teams in 10 years (jut a ballpark). Has he ever been on a winning team? no. never.

Baldelli? No way. I dont want to be mean but his health is a huge concern.

Mench is a GREAT fit being from the area and all. He has a big bat and he's shown burrel-esque opower when surrounded with good hitters. (see 2002 season i ntexas). Plus his head is a size 8.

As with Iverson, no team with Milton Bradley on the roster will ever win a championship. Re-sign Burrell. He didn't last through all the turbulent years for no reason. The entire organization changed and he was the only one to make it through it all. Don't get creative. Sign him.

I have love for Pat and I salute him, but lets face it did you see him run the bases? He looks like Betty White from the Golden Girls. The ownership and management of the Phils need to show that they don't plan on waiting another 28 years for another World Series. They need to spend the money and bring in Manny. Can you imagine how many HR he would hit in CBP? How deadly would that lineup be if you put him in behind Howard and could teach Howard to take some breaking balls. Opposing teams would have to serve up fastballs to Howard and we all know what he can do with those. Not to mention Manny hits for average. Please Ruben, sign bring Manny to Philly!!!

Baldelli???? To me he look like a leprechaun to me.

I love Pat but I don't think we should resign him. I don't see the value as we will pay him more for what I believe won't be sustainable production. Remember this was a contract year for him. I see him slumping next year with a fat new contract.

Stop with the Manny crap. How could management justify signing him for 25 million + per year and go year to year with Howard (maybe not now,though)......I'd like to see Burrell back, but I guess we'll see. Holliday, I'd love to see and who cares about his home/away stats...CBP or the thin air out there, the guy can HIT for power & average....Mench, I'd like to see only if Stairs and/or Jenkins aren't returning....the other two? - please pass

What about a shot at Francoeur? Atlanta probably wouldn't trade him within the division, but he may come relatively reasonable...and how about an outfield with Victorino and Francoeur's arms? Werth could handle left field...he's certainly earned the starter job next year.

What do you mean how could management justify signing Manny? Did you watch the NLCS?? This guy was hitting around .500 and crushing the ball!!! He hit well over .300 for the season. Not to mention that he and Charlie Manual get along. That's plenty of justification

If you cant retain Burrell , you sign Baldelli here and you let him platoon with Jenkins / Dobbs in left and even Bruntlett. Baldelli can hit as he proved throughout the playoffs and in the world series , and would not cost us a ton of money because of his illness. Having his bat in the line up 3 - 4 days a week would be something special. His numbers would spike playing in the Bank too.

SIGN BALDELLI !

Let me break this down for you guys:
Burrell vs. RH (2008): .238 AVG/.351 OBP/.492 SLG
Dobbs vs. RH (2008): .309 AVG/.339 OBP/.507 SLG

Burrell vs. LH (2008): .279 AVG/.406 OBP/.545 SLG
Baldelli vs. LH (2008 only 48 ABs - knock his OBP down 40 pts to get closer to his career avgs): .292 AVG/.382 OBP/.500 SLG
Stairs and Jenkins on the roster gives the Phillies the flexibility to move Dobbs out of his current role. It also gives them the flexibility to occasionally use Dobbs at 3B and Jenkins in LF.
Dobbs and Baldelli are actually an improvement over Burrell in the field. The Phillies brass have said recently that LF is Dobbs best defensive position - sounds like they are laying the ground work. They would no longer need to concern themselves with a late inning defensive replacement.
Bruntlett cannot hit RH pitching - .516 OPS last year. So, he can never be an everyday player. But he can hit LH pitching - .742 OPS. So, he can spot start for Baldelli and fill his utility role.
Bottom line, Burrell would command much more than Dobbs and Baldelli combined. Next years budget is not the concern - 3 years from now is the concern. Can they carry a $160M payroll with Burrell? If no, they need another option that doesn't include increased payroll for Manny or Holliday. They need to save their money for Hamels and Howard.

I don't think that these guys are the answer. Mench and Hairston have been released in the past. There must be a reason why!!!! Baldelli would be the best choice of the three but he would have to platoon with one of the lefties. They need to trade for Holiday and give him a contract. This would solve their problem for many years. They have starting pitching to trade which is what the Rockies want.

I can tell you that Rocco Baldelli is looking around to see what might be offered, but his loyalty is still with the Tampa Bay Rays right now.
People forget they kept him on the roster during his knee and elbow situation two years ago, and he was an inspiration to the team. This year in April, he thought he would never play again and held a press confernece that had us in the sudience more teary eyed than Baldelli for a few moments.

He is a stallion for why he has done on a limited playing field this year. With a few more months of working under the medication, and the advancements of science, you can never rule out a guy like him. Plus, because of the Rays he finally found out that a remedy was in sight for him...........and for that, the Rays might be a discount based on their past loyalty to Baldelli, and a incentive laden contract.

Rays Renegade

http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com

Rays Renegade, you're getting me all misty. Money talks my friend. Jim Thome loved Cleveland. He was very emotional when he signed the Phillies overwhelming contract offer - but he still signed it. The Rays have a budget. They can't put a significant portion of that budget in a guy who had 80 ABs last year. The Phillies can take that risk. If I was Baldelli - I would never sign an incentive laden contract over a guaranteed contract - because of the health concerns. He needs to get every penny he can get.

Many of us have come to respect Pat Burell. But he had some real shortcomings and he is not getting younger, faster and likely not cheaper either.
So, I think, of the three names offered, Jerry Hariston, Jr. is a real possibilty given his price tag and the Phillies payroll demands.
No he won't completely replace Burell, of course, as Hariston is a platoon player.
But one who hit .326 this year !
He also stole 15 bases in 18 attempts. Does he need to be pinchrun for ? Does he need a defensive replacement ?
Keep in mind, So Taguchi is gone and his spot is up for grabs. Hairston is both an infielder and outfielder giving us even more flexibility. Bruntlett, who did admirably well, hit what, .213 ? He can run smart, but can he run fast ? (Sure, he scored two winning runs in the World Series and that is/was great.) And if Rollins goes down again for a month, do we have Bruntlett available for left field ?
Hairston, who the Reds profess to really want back, can easliy replace Taguchi. Then we use one of the three lefty bats we have as the platoon. That guy will get more AB against righty pitching than Hairston will against lefties anyway. And Dobbs can hit, even if he can't field; Stairs can hit the long ball but is he a fulltime answer ? Thus we may come down to Geoff Jenkins, who has hit over 20 homers for a long time in Milwaukee. That platoon, along with Werth's inprovement seems like an equal to Pat's production.
Time will tell but theavailable big guns playing left field are most likely out of our price range without some fantastic trade freeing up some money. And we still could use an experienced pitcher.
Go, Phillies !!!

They don't have starting pitching to trade unless you count KK and Eaton. In fact they have said that starting pitching is their priority in the 2008 of season

I'd much rather see Howard get big money, long-term over a moody Manny

I can't understand how the Phils could part with Victorino, whom I believe to be the heart of the team along with Jimmy Rollins. These talks about including Victorino in a deal for Matt Holliday don't help quell my doubts about the competency of the management of this championship-caliber organization. Pat Gillick had his bad moments, but overall, I think he did great things for the Phillies. He certainly did a much better job than Ed Wade had done, and at least he had the sense not to sign off on the proposed Victorino-Holliday/Sanchez deal at the deadline. Amaro... well, I'm not so sure about him. I also firmly believe that Manuel is the Achilles' heel of this organization, and that the Phillies would have won 100+ games this season were it not for his terrible in-game decision-making. I guess I'm one of the only people who stood by their anti-Manuel approach through the seemingly good times. If Amaro screws up this offseason, the Phils won't repeat.

Barry - check out Hairston's numbers prior to last year - absolutely brutal. .538 OPS in 2007 & .523 OPS in 2006. Only 3 HRs and 10 SBs in 329 ABs over that 2 year period. Looks like he might have dipped into Uncle Lenny's vitamins for a contract year?
Mench is just as bad. If they can't sign a guy like Baldelli, I'd go with a bench/LF combo of Dobbs, Jenkins, Stairs, Golson & Bruntlett next year.

I have great respect for Burell and appreciate all he has done but for what he is asking and for his limits on the bases and on defense which will only continue to decline it amounts to a lot of money for a 6 inning player. He is a DH. Bruntlett is in his role and lacks the power to replace Pat. Manny-head case and his pay creates great problems with Howard and Hamels. The Phils had planned on a RF platoon with Werth/Jenkins. Just move the platoon to left with Jenkins/Stairs/Dobbs and get a RF platoon player (Baldelli is the best of those listed). Of great importance is the locker room. This is a team based on chemistry and whoever they look for must fit the team and not just have the talent--that eliminates Bradley.

Nothing to get overly excited about with these three players. Might as well try to keep Burrell.

Ken -- What's the status of the Phillies' efforts to obtain Matt Holliday?

Please...why would you want nutso Manny...we have a team here...he is a monster that will just cause havoc in the clubhouse…he’s just not worth it. Also, trading Victorino would be absolutely devastating to the team...I don't even like to entertain the thought...not only is he a gold glove winning outfielder, he also brings life and enthusiasm to the clubhouse that no one else can do…it would be a huge mistake to trade him. I know Burrell would love to come back.. I feel bad for him because he would be a fish-out-of-water anywhere else. I don't think they are really going to make an honest attempt to keep him though. Oh...and don't trash Charlie...he handled the pitching staff like a genius this year..the main core never went on the disabled list...that was the whole key to getting to and winning the World Series.

Dave Montgomery has GOT to open his wallet and pay the players the money they deserve - ALL of them. Look how much money he made off the fans this year - 3.5 million in attendance or something like that? How many sellouts did they have? Come on, spend that money on resigning Burrell and giving the arbitration players multi year contracts and big bucks, starting with Howard and Hamels. Keeping this team pretty much in tact, including Burrell, for the next 6-8 years or whatever will net him a TON more money. If they keep this up I'd say probably in 1-3 years Phillies tickets will be really tough to come by because nearly every game will be sold out, there will be revenues from more national games, merchandise sales, and on and on and on. He can afford to raise his budget.
Why try to introduce other players into the mix who could upset the chemistry balance this group of guys has? That's a VERY important ingredient on this team, which I think was instrumental in this Championship. I see Jenkins and Feliz bouncing back offensively AND keeping up their good defense. Even if Feliz never produces offensively, how many runs and games did he save with his glove? Sometimes those potential runs saved can count more than hitting. NO ONE can play the line like he does. But the most important thing I can is PLEASE BRING PAT BACK, DAVE!

Burrell belongs in Philadelphia and length of contract NOT salary will be the deciding factor. The guy would probably take less to stay in Philly and that says a lot considering how the fans have treated him over the years. This guy deserves to stay and Amaro needs to get this into his head.

Oh, one more thing - trading Victorino for ANYBODY, including Holliday, would be a HUGE mistake. I think he is a superstar in the making - he can hit, field, and run, and he's so exciting to watch. He give 200% every day. What more do you want????? Besides that, the Phans LOVE the Flyin' Hawaiian and I just don't think Amaro would ever be forgiven if he trades him. If he weren't in the line up, I am not so sure we would have gotten out of the first round. How many RBIs did he have in the post season? Only more than everyone else! Are you reading these comments Ruben and Dave?????????

OK here's what happens. Dave Mongomery and his crew go out on top. he has dinner with brian and Ralph Roberts who bring a check for 49% of the team, with the option to buy out. Then the serious Comcast coin rolls in and on the same day Cole, Chase, Jimmy, Ryan, Shane AND Manny sign contracts through 2012. any objections?

I agree that we should keep Burrell. Now if we could only trade Sarge.

How about Greg Golson in cener, Victorino in right and werth in left.

VICTORINO! VICTORINO! VICTORINO! VICTORINO! Don't let him go if you know what's good for you. He's only going to get better. For what he's being paid now, he's been the best bargin in baseball. Mat Holiday would be nice, but not worth the enthusiasm you get with Victorino. I'd say we need to sign him for 4-5 years. You won't be sorry. He's part of the core of this team. Manny? I don't think so. We've got a real TEAM here. Don't screw that up. I like Burrell too. I was surprised he was on the team this year. And I asked myself "WHY?" whenever he stood there and took a called third strike. But I'd like to see him back too.

trade sarge??? how about outright release.......bring back larry andersen

BRING PAT BACK! And there's nothing else to say about that..
But if Burrell does sadly leave us, I agree that Golson could be something great in the outfield.

I also don't believe there's any way they can afford to lose Howard, Victorino, and Hamels anytime soon. Victorino is in his prime and can definitely take the Phils as far as they ended up this year. If they let Victorino get away, it's probably the dumbest thing they could ever do. Oh, and Dobbs is the man, he certainly shouldn't be going anywhere!

As for Manny, I could care less.. stay with the Dodgers, or wherever you end up.

Graham73, perhaps you are right about Jerry Hairston, Jr. as he was mentioned on that faulty Mitchell Report. Yet, what he did this season is there on paper. He could always run. And he would be cheaper than almost all these guys. However, due to his superior power, I would concede Baldelli's advantage if he was available and able to platoon and pinch hit on a "regular" basis.

But guys, come on...lusting for Holliday is a great temptation, I agree. But is he worth Victorino when he is a rental for one year ? OMG, don't tell me you think he is ! Do any of you think Scott Boris is going to give him to us ? Boris, who is Ryan Madson's agent is a pain in the *** when it comes to trying to negotiate. As the agent then, we should be booing him, not J.D. Drew all these years. Holliday would be a one year player for a ton of bucks, easily Burrell-like. Then we'd be having this same discusion next year.

Though he may need more time, maybe we should give Golson more credit. He can run, presumable field and he did hit 13 homers in Reading.

Bottom line: it is time to say goodbye to Pat. He won his World Series here and we are all happy for him. He is not the answer for next year. Fans had to say goodbye to guys like Chuck Klein, Del Ennis, Dick Allen and Greg Lusinski in the past and each were superior players to Pat.
It's baseball.

I'm a Yanks fan, everyone is getting on the Phils for being attracted to less popular/cheaper players. Phils just won the world series, what has to change??? Do they need a big important popular expensive guy on their team?? These are little named guys who are productive/cheap/ and do whatever the team wants...aka baseball players.

I would hate to see Burrell go too but, if he wants to get $14M or more per year, after knocking in only 86 runs, I think he is dreaming. For that kind of money, I would expect at least 120 RBIs. I would like to see Dobbs and Jenkins take left field over, basically sharing the playing time to almost around 50% each. I am not real familiar with Jenkins but, I have seen what Dobbs does and I think that, if he played on a regular basis, he could do pretty well and maybe have a real good year. I think that he deserves a shot. With the money freed up from Burrell leaving, it would make it that much easier to come up with decent figures for all of the players eligible for arbitration, rewarding their efforts. I would like to see Moyer and Eyre stay also.

Now that Pat has had a complete healthy season, give him the opportunity to maybe be willing to stay here for the rest of his career (2-3 yrs) and see if he wants less to stay. Besides the numbers that have been consistent even in injury prone seasons, you wouldn't want to opt out of 100+ RBI's, 30+ HR's, and a perennial league leader in walks. Look at it this way, what other MLB team gets ELVIS as a throw in with any of its players?
Thanx Pat for years of excitement and finally, YOU ARE A CHAMPION!
R. Angelini
Atlantic City

First off all this Manny talk STOP IT he won't come to Philly he hits better than Pat yes but runs like Pat fields sub par compared to Pat n yet Pat is a team player and doesn't get his period 3 times a month like MANNY so I rather give Pat 25 mil a yr over Manny. Second Pat is a great guy I ment him when he played in READING but with all these arbitration hearing I don't see how unless he takes a pay cut if he would be willing to do that if the Phillies took care of him with a long term deal to retire him as a Philly than that is a sign of a player who loves the game not the cash and loves the team and fans! If not Thanks for the memories Pat best lick where ever you land (hopefully not with Mets,haha) and go from there. I hope they can keep this core together they play the game the right way maybe try to trade EATON for like a Living room set or Pizza for a month or like a 2 day getaway we still be winning out his contract this year is like $9 mil almost to do what?!? Hamel I worry he only made $500k last year god only knows what he might want now? And in regards to the 3 players listed in title eh, good off the bench but nothing to wow me. Milton Bradley? Eh He be traded come July hes like a C- Version of Manny would give some pop and some headaches

I luv Burrell as much as the next guy. In fact, I'll even go so far as to say without him, we may not have even made the playoffs this past year. Remember in the beginning of the season when everyone was terrible and he was the only guy(along with Utley) who was hitting...He had like 4 walk offs in the first month alone.

However, we can definitely save a lot of money that we can spend on pitching and still get quality production at that position by even just letting Dobbs (9 homers in less than 250 abs) take over. He hits for average, has some pop, and can run!!! His time has come much like when we let Rowand go so Victorino could take over full time.

Possibly trade a young pitcher or two for Holliday (definitely not Victorino though), sign Moyer and Schilling for 1 yr a piece, and we have a team that's better next year than it was this year. Let's start a f'n dynasty!!! Go Phils.

SIGN SCHILLING??? This is not 2001. He is done, old, a player hated by all his teammates- exactly what the Phillies don't need. Golson- have you actually seen him play? He is no better, and probably worse, than Bourn at bat- throw him anything other than a minor league fastball belt high and he strikes out. The real answer is to trade Howard to the Yankees, get Austin Jackson and Phil Hughes, move Utley to 1B, bring up Jason Donald for 2b, and use the money you would waste on "Mr. Strikeout can't hit a curveball" on Manny and spend some money to get either Derek Lowe or Ryan Dempster. Or trade Donald, Carrasco and Michael Taylor to the Rockies for Holliday and sign Texiera for 1b, a much better player long-term than Howard.

so are we now the current florida marlins. the fire sale seems the way to go. is this the way management rewards success. i have been a phillies fan for too many years to count and if these potential trades go through, then all the (joys) of the montgomery era are just too golden.

Of all of those "no names" who is going to bat behind Howard and protect him? Remember Jenkins was brought here from the Brewers to essentially replace Rowand and Werth was his caddy and he could not hit a lick, Lost all of his Playing time to Weth who excelled, thankfully! Stairs, memorable home run but had four hits during the year, he will make Pat look like a ten time gold glove outfielder. Was Pat dropping balls? His arm was certaintly decent if not good, Did he run doubles into singles? Perhaps there may have been a couple of triples that were doubles, perhaps? This trio talk is all about money and the usuall way of doing business. I was as thrilled about winning as anybody as I have had seats since 76', but the series is over and Monte & Company are old, cheap and short sighted. They are all wealthy and do not need to receive a cash distribution and profit and be taxed @ 40-50% fed/state for those of you who think the over $250M pay little or no taxes. They should put out the necessary salaries to win now with this nucleus creating a winning tradition.The value of the franchise would go up several hundred million. Then they could sell for 7-9 hundred million and pay the lower capital gain rate and move on. Gee the bought the franchise for 34 million, its worth around 500 million now, enough with the money crying each year, its so sickening. The payday for sports owners is when the sell. Thats basically a 500 million profit. The capital gain tax rate today is only 15% until Mr. Obama changes it. So they could keep 85%! Stop the WHINNING about the salaries. It does not appear that other than Montgomery any of these so called silent partners are "sportsmen" and just view their investment interest in the Phillies as they would in any other business. Like having a signifcant number of shares in home depot. That is why we have not won in the past and may not again. Thats why we still need a guy like Croce who wants to win, not look in his change purse. We are not going to win anything with a trio of scrubs O.M.G.

I would like to thank Pat Burrell for the excitement and interest he has brought to the Phillie organization. He is a true Phillie through and through. I don't think the three the team is interested in signing could do any better than Burrell. I would like to see him retained with the team and given a chance in 2 or 3 years to retire as a Phil. Thank you, Pat Burrell.

lol you can tell who the loyal long term follow the team Philly phans are and the ones who just watch it in a bar and like to fight with Mets fans are....anyone who is a Phillies Phan would never want a virus like Manny on this team I'd take J D Drew over him and we all hate him I'm only 25 but have loved the Phillies since I was a baby but if they were to bring someone like that here (which with there "Oh we have no money" payroll") they wouldn't be able to sign Manny and this is a work together team not a this is the Philadelphia Mannies cause whoever he plays for it goes him than team.

Burrell could be a good outfield replacement for somebody or DH hitter for an AL team if he doesn't get resigned with the Phils.