Monthly Archives: November 2013

Something to Dream On: The 2017 Phillies

Other Stuff

Last week I started exploring the future of the Phillies with a luck at what could be in 2016.  The series continues with 2017 as some more money comes off the books and a couple more guys arrive in the majors. Just as before here are the starting assumptions.

  • The Phillies are not trading away any players
  • Minor Leaguers will progress as “normal” and will not have any career ending injuries.
  • The Phillies will be rational about resigning players
  • I am not accounting for FA acquisitions and Draft Picks, however I will have a salary total that can be used to dream on FA acquisitions that could fill in the holes
  • Arbitration figures for salaries are taken from similar players

Catcher: Tommy Joseph and Andrew Knapp

This isn’t going to be a great defensive pair but it should provide plenty of offense.  In this scenario Knapp is likely in a back-up position given his inexperience, but he could overtake Joseph depending on how his hitting progresses.  More than anything else this pair should be really cheap. Salary: $1 million Continue reading Something to Dream On: The 2017 Phillies →

General Discussion – Week of 11-25-2013

Weekly Discussion

Did anyone else get this is the mail today?

Thanksgiving

Discuss.

Phillies Add Joseph, Dugan, Altherr, and Rasmussen to 40 Man Roster

Transactions

Not a lot of in depth analysis here, the three position players were must-adds due to their upside.  The Phillies acquired Rasmussen for Michael Young and saw enough to add him.  Rasmussen in a starting role is more of a #5 starter, but out of the bullpen the stuff could tick up more.

More on the Rule V and who could be in danger when we get closer to the Winter Meetings.

Something to Dream On: The 2016 Phillies

Other Stuff

For Phillies fans this offseason really has been a continuation of what has been a rough 2 years.  The amount of hope left dwindles by the day, and the confidence that tomorrow will be better than today.  If you have hope, the year to target is 2016, it is when the contracts start to fall off and the first wave of prospects starts to arrive.  On the suggestions of John Stolnis (@FelskeFiles) and Corinne (@Ut26), rather than just start with 2016 or look at the end result in 2018, this is the first part of a step by step transition of a rebuilding team.

In working on this activity here are the starting assumptions:

  • The Phillies are not trading away any players
  • Minor Leaguers will progress as “normal” and will not have any career ending injuries.
  • The Phillies will be rational about resigning players
  • I am not accounting for FA acquisitions and Draft Picks, however I will have a salary total that can be used to dream on FA acquisitions that could fill in the holes
  • Arbitration figures for salaries are taken from similar players

Obviously these are a lot of assumptions that will not hold true because prospects are unpredictable, draft picks especially the 2014 #7 overall pick could have large influences, and the front office will not be static for the next two years. Continue reading Something to Dream On: The 2016 Phillies →

Scout.com Phillies Top 20

Prospect Rankings

Kiley McDaniel is the Minor League analyst for scout.com and he has just released his Phillies Top Prospect list.  Given that is usually behind a paywall that many of us venture beyond it hasn’t always been a well covered list.  But this year the list is free http://sbb.scout.com/2/1348329.html and so we will take a look at it.  A note he has left off players with significant MLB or professional time like MAG, Cesar, Asche, De Fratus, Pettibone, Aumont, Savery, and Galvis

  1. Maikel Franco
  2. J.P. Crawford
  3. Jesse Biddle
  4. Ethan Martin
  5. Aaron Altherr Continue reading Scout.com Phillies Top 20 →

General Discussion – Week of 11-18-2013

Weekly Discussion

Last week I tried to predict/propose something and it totally backfired and like the opposite thing happened. This week’s prediction? Ryan Howard and Jonathan Papelbon will both not be traded.

Discuss.

Phils Sign Clete Thomas

Transactions

The Phillies announced that they signed 30 year old OF Clete Thomas to a minor league deal today with an invite to major league Spring Training.  Thomas was originally a 6th round pick of the Tigers in the 2005 draft and has spent parts of four seasons in the majors, most recently in 2013 with the Twins where he hit .214 with 4HR and 13RBI in 290 AB’s.  He spent part of last season with AAA Rochester where he hit .296 with 9HR and 25RBI in 125 AB’s. 

It’s looking like a crowded Lehigh Valley outfield as is typical this time of year.  Pitchers and catchers report February 12th (89 days…not like I am counting).

40 Man Roster Decisions – Part 3 – Position Players

Rule 5 Draft

So we reach the end of our journey through the 40 man roster decisions, with position players.  If you missed it I already discussed the players on the roster and the pitchers eligible.  The position prospect list is actually quite small due to the Pence trade (Jonathan Singleton), Kyrell Hudson and Gauntlett Eldemire no longer being with the org, and Cameron Rupp‘s recent addition to the roster.

Tommy Joseph – C – Acquired from San Francisco for Hunter Pence

A year ago Joseph was the centerpiece of Hunter Pence’s trade to the Giants and a no doubt Top 10 prospect in the system.  In the spring he looked like the catcher of the future showing huge raw power and an electric arm behind the plate.  Joseph’s season got off to a rough start in AAA, but it ended up being only a 20 game sample size as his third concussion essentially ended his season.  There are some doubts whether Joseph will be able to catch longer term, but he is back behind the plate in the Dominican right now with an eye on a comeback.  If he can’t stay behind the plate he is not a prospect, but if he can stay behind the plate he has value at very least as a backup and that upside makes him a must protect this offseason. MPW: Keep Phillies: Keep Continue reading 40 Man Roster Decisions – Part 3 – Position Players →

Jiwan James’s Agent Spotlights Minor League Free Agency and Minor League Life

Other Stuff

In an article today on Baseball Prospectus Jiwan James’s Agent Joshua Kusnick laid out the offseason for a minor league free agent from his agent’s perspective.  He uses James’s offseason as his example, and it forms a really interesting narrative and rare look behind the curtain at minor league life.  The article is free so you have no excuse not to read it.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22236

Phils Sign Sean Camp

Transactions

The Phillies are making their annual forray into the over 35 year old minor league pitcher market with todays signing of soon to be 38 year old Sean Camp.  Camp began last year pitching for the Cubs after signing a one year/1.35M deal but was designated for assignment mid season after his ERA rose above 7 in 26 appearances.  Camp finished the season in Reno, pitching well for the Diamondbacks AAA affiliate, going 0-0 with a 2.42 ERA in 17 games.  If he sticks, I see this as simply minor league depth.