Still no immediate need in Philadelphia with Jimmy Rollins signed for 2010 and the Phils holding a 2011 team option for $8.5 million that I would expect them to pick up.
Lehigh Valley
Miguel Cairo, Age 35, Acquired by the Phils as a free agent prior to the 2009 season. .287/.325/.392 in 296 AB’s. 5 HR and 33 RBI’s. 8 SB. .261 with RISP. 7 errors (.974). Also played one game at 1B, 7 at 2B and 6 at 3B. Cairo probably did not think he was going to spend most of this season as the starting SS for Lehigh Valley, but that is exactly what happened, with his demotion and the injury and trade of Jason Donald. Cairo did a very good job for Lehigh Valley, coming up with many big hits and doing a solid job in the field. Cairo believes he can still play in the majors, and I am not sure the Phils feel the same over the course of a whole season. I would be surprised to see Cairo back next year.
Jorge Velandia, Age 35, Acquired as a free agent prior to the 2009 season. Played in just 10 games hitting .182 for the ‘Pigs this year, spending most of the year on the DL with a “shin contusion”. Velandia will likely retire, and remain in the organization as a coach.
Reading
Ozzie Chavez, Age 26, Signed as a free agent prior to 2009 season. .259/.317/.314 in 363 AB’s. 1 HR and 34 RBI’s. 7 SB. .289 with RISP. 13 errors (.966). Also played 15 games at 2B. A decent year for Chavez whose return is dependant upon what the Phils decide to do in Lehigh Valley. Galvis will be the starting SS in Reading.
Carlos Leon, Age 30, Signed as a free agent prior to ’09 season. In Reading: .214/.321/.278 in 187 AB’s. 1 HR and 12 RBI’s. 4 SB’s . 5 errors (.966). Also played 17 games at 3B and 16 games at 2B. In Lehigh Valley: .250 in 28 at bats. Leon is simply an organizational guy that shuffles throughout the organization, wherever he is needed.
Freddy Galvis, WIll be 20 in November. Signed as a free agent in 2006. Galvis started the season in Clearwater where he went .247/.280/.307 with 1 HR and 15 RBI in 277 AB’s. He also stole 6 bases for the Threshers. An injury sidelined him for a good length of time and shortly after his return from the DL, he was called up to Reading going .197/.222/.246 in 67AB’s. Again, he had a very good season defensively. The Phils can afford to take their time with Galvis who should be in Reading all year next year.
Clearwater
Jesus Villegas Andino, Age 23, Signed by the Phils as a free agent in 2006. For Lakewood: .358/.434/.433 with 1 HR and 14 RBI in 67 AB’s. For Clearwater, .236/.287/.333 with 4 HR and 23 RBI in 225 AB’s. 9 SB’s. .317 with RISP. Combined: 264/.322/..356 with 5 HR and 37 RBI’s in 292 AB’s. 23 errors (.922). Not much to speak of with Villegas…an average year at best at the plate, and a horrible year in the field. I would be a bit surprised to see Villegas back next year.
Lakewood
Troy Hanzawa, Age 24, Phils 16th round pick in 2008 draft. .267/.325/..350 with 2HR and 47 RBI’s in 423 AB’s. 9 SB (11 CS). .305 with RISP. 17 errors (.964). Hanzawa had a decent year but is not showing enough. His numbers at Low A are average numbers, especially for a player at his advanced age. Next year: Starting SS at CLearwater.
Williamsport
Jeremy Barnes, Age 22, Phils 11th round pick in 2009 draft. .287/..359/.464 in 209 AB’s. 4 HR 27 RBI, 3 SB (4 CS); .158 vs LHP; .316 vs. RHP; .286 with RISP. 15 errors (.930). Barnes made the NYPL ALL Star team in 2009, his first year in pro baseball. His hitting was very solid, however his fielding needs work. A move up to Lakewood is likely. Note: Barnes missed the last 3 weeks of the season on the DL.
GCL Phils
Jonathan Villar, Age 18, Signed as a free agent in 2008. FOR GCL: .277/.364/.372 in 94 AB’s. 0 HR 14 RBI, 11 SB. For Williamsport, .231/.302/..308 in 39 AB’s. 0 HR 5 RBI, 6 SB. Combined: .263/.346/./.353 with 0 HR and 19 RBI in 133 AB’s. 17 SB. 9 errors (.932). A very pleasant surprise. VIllar was called up to Williamsport at seasons end. Solid offensive production, good speed, and like most 18 year olds, his defense needs work. Next year: Williamsport
Edgar Duran, Will be 19 in February, Signed as a free agent in 2007. .221/.274/.279 in 86 AB’s. 0 HR and 7 RBI. 5 SB. .148 vs. LHP. .300 with RISP. 3 errors (.968). Not much out of Duran in his 32 games. Extended Spring Training followed by the GCL in 2010.
Phuture Phillies 
Again, nothing in the system that will equal what the get from Rollins, who I expect they will try to resign for a few more years. Galvis offers some hope as a potential utility infielder with his defensive abilities but he’s going to have to hit much better to become an everyday player.
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Our farm system is in terrible shape when it comes to infielders. We all know this, but did anyone else read the above article about the giant South Texas witch bird? It was fascinating.
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I saw a Reading game in New Britain. Galvis was up and playing short. He is smooth as silk in the field. I’m just hoping there is a bat there.. somewhere. Ozzie was playing 2nd. With Flande and Concepcion on the mound for most of game. When the pitching coach or Roadcap went to the mound, Chavez was in the huddle. I’m wondering if Chavez was interpreting for the coaches? He was talking in the huddle but I couldn’t tell if he was the middle man.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if Freddy repeated, and there is nothing wrong with that. It wouldn’t diminish his status in any way in my mind.
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Ace –
The Witch Bird really isn’t a prospect. He’s a bit old for the Texas League, has trouble with breaking pitches and is only an average fielder.
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There is some hope at SS with Galvis and Villar.
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they have really high hopes for hanzawa but i dont think he is quite living up to them so it would suprise me if he makes it past AA unless he breaks out this season
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How good would Galvis have to be with the glove to compensate what’s he is doing with his bat? I don’t think the second coming of Ozzie Smith would compensate there.
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If Galvis can show enough to project to hit .250, with 3-5 HRs, take a good share of walks to up his OBP, learn how to bunt really well and keep getting stronger every off seaon, he has a chance.
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God I hope Rollins doesn’t suffer a serious injury. Seriously though Galvis still needs more seasoning offensively and we all know that. I just feel that the era of defensive-only SS like Rey Ordonez may be over. Teams are fielding offensive minded guys at every position these days, even catcher.
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We will know if Troy Hanzawa is a prospect or not playing in the AFL in a couple of weeks. Up to this point it is hard to tell. He is four years and two months older but played two levels lower at the end of this season than did Freddy Galvis who will turn only 20 in the middle of November. But with Galvis, Hanzawa and Villars the Phils seem to be developing depth at SS in the system.
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LV Matt-
with the recent surge in availibility of better stats to evaluate defense than fielding percentage, clubs are putting more stock back into defense than they did in the 80s and 90s. I mean, the tigers are putting adam evertte out there every day for a reason, and it sure isn’t his bat.
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The Phillies should really load up on Infield prospects and pitchers next year. I know the scouting staff loves toolsy outfielders but maybe they can hold off on those for 1 draft.
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You have a point, but I’m not sure the pendulum has swung back yet. I will say that the way the ML club is made up, Utley and Vic take up positions that are typically weaker offensively. So they could get away with a Galvis type. They just can’t get away with Galvis and Chooch and an over the hill Feliz all in the same lineup.
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Agreed – we need some “toolsy” middle infielders. The team is going to be awash with power-hitting outfielders, which is a good “problem” to have, but, at last count, a team can only have 3 starting outfielders (although a good outfielder can also usually be converted to first base). I expect more trades of minor league talent (the Golson for Mayberry trade may not have been a particularly big deal, but I like the general approach – there’s no reason you can swap minor leaguers). If done properly, those trades can be very helpful for each trade partner.
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I believe Galvis is important next year barring a trade.Afterall he will be one pulled muscle away form the bigs. He can field but he needs to perfect “small ball” and getting on base anway possible.
As a last goodbye note to Happ the prospect. If the world was fair he should start the first game of the postseason.
Like that will happen!
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Galvis is a long ways from the bigs, pulled muscle or not. That is why teams sign veteran AAAA players like Cairo…
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What about hanzawa i hope he has a breakout this season in clearwater he make the majors? idk he is an ok player but with rollins ok isnt enough his future obviously isn’t in phillie perhaps they can trade him for someone good
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Phils don’t need a shortstop until 2019. Jimmy owns that position.
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Rollins is a great SS. He could be around for a bunch more years. But… his plate production has dropped significantly the last 2 years. If he has another year like this, leadoff has to be changed.
We look at the prospects by position but we never look at the batting order. Taylor and Brown could hit anywhere from 3 to 7 in the order. Gose might be a great leadoff guy or 2 but he’s several years away and has to improve his eye at the plate and the ability to bunt. The middle infielders we’ve discussed don’t look like leadoff guys except possibly Garcia but he’s got to show he can make it at higher levels in the organization. Are any of our “toolsy” outfielders looking like leadoff candidates down the road?
From our group of prospects, who’s going to leadoff in the near and far future? We can go outside the organization and get that but if we’re only looking within the organization, who would you put there?
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im saying if he gets hurt who backs him up galvis is a long way away from the majors
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Two words Larry Bowa
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Poor roundup with nary a might-be star among them.
They’d better resign J-Roll for some more years…and in meantime, do an early drafting of several eligible shortstops…beginning in next season’s draft.
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I don’t think Bowa is much of a prospect.
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please stop with these nobodies galvis, the social experiment hewitt, etc. we have noone at ss or 3rd with any mlb potential except barnes.
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I hate to see Velandia retiring, always thought he had bigleague tools, but somehow no one else did (even himself, so it looks!). Now I can better understand the saying “you may have the talent, but … that`s not enough”
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