There were a number of thoughts cruising through my head after the Phillies began the fire sale by trading David Bell to the Milwaukee Brewers after the July 29 game against the Florida Marlins. Although I've been wrong about other players, I was certain that Bell was going to move because his contract was up after this season and the club had no plans to retain him.
The Bobby Abreu trade to the New York Yankees was a stunner, but not because the Phillies traded him. The biggest factors in moving Abreu were the sizable chunk of salary still remaining on his deal and Abreu's veto rights. The Yankees were one of the teams that could afford to take on the remainder of the outfielder's contract. Also, I always felt that he would prefer to stay in Philadelphia, but I knew that if he agreed to one team, it probably was going to be the Yankees.
The two things that flabbergasted me last week were that pitcher Cory Lidle was thrown in — at the Yankees' insistence — and that the Phillies got only four minor-league players in return. Granted, the salary dump was probably necessary — and Pat Burrell is widely believed to be playing his last season in red pinstripes for the same reason — but I was personally disappointed that general manager Pat Gillick basically threw in the towel for this season.
His logic was sound. Everything does depend on the pitching, and the Phillies always seem to come up short. Jon Lieber has been a disappointment this season, but he and Brett Myers were the mainstays of this staff. I always felt that both hurlers gave the team its best chance to win.
The future, however, is going to be entrusted to an inexperienced Cole Hamels, who will go through growing pains like Myers — and before Myers, left-hander Randy Wolf. At this point, it looks as if Myers, Hamels and Scott Mathieson will anchor the rotation next season. Lieber still has a year remaining on his contract, but he is still a candidate for the trading block.
Wolf is on the last year of his contract. I'm guessing that his status for next year will be his call. If the Phillies don't re-sign him, Wolf will test the free-agent waters and see what's out there. One certainty is that he won't make the same numbers that he's drawing this year ($9 million).
Manager Charlie Manuel seems to like Ryan Madson in the bullpen. Unless he's involved in a trade, either during or after the season, Madson probably won't get many more starts with the Phillies, barring an injury. Gavin Floyd, at this point, remains a mystery. After failing twice to cut it as a big-league starter, chances are that his future opportunities in Philadelphia will be limited unless there are injuries.
Having said all that, are there any certainties in the position players? Only in the infield. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are set at first base, second and shortstop. Abraham Nunez, who was signed for two years by Gillick, could very well end up being the everyday third baseman next year, but I could definitely live without his anemic .156 average (through Monday's game).
Center fielder Aaron Rowand and the Phillies both have options for 2007, so it's likely that Rowand will return. I'm thinking that Burrell will be moved eventually and that Shane Victorino figures heavily in the Phillies' plans for the outfield. The question mark is David Dellucci.
Unless Burrell is traded, Dellucci is gone. He wants to play every day, and if the Phillies don't have an everyday job for him, he's going to walk. He's been playing more since the Abreu trade, but his contract is also up at the end of the year.
Carlos Ruiz will be the catcher next year. Mike Lieberthal's contract is also finished, and a change of scenery might be welcome. It's not likely that the team will bring him back to play behind Ruiz.
Gillick likes to say that he's retooling and not rebuilding. With gaping holes at third base, behind the plate and in the outfield, what kind of offense or defense can the retooling Phillies provide for an inexperienced pitching staff?
And how much longer will we have to wait for a team good enough to make it into the playoffs?
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