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Would you like to buy an ‘O’?
By egrissom | January 3, 2008
The Phillies traded Chris Roberson to the Orioles for cash. Roberson hit 232/254/261 in 69 at-bats with the Phillies between 2006 and 2007. He turns 29 in August. I’d be kind of surprised if it turns out to be a lot of cash. Probably more than a nickel, though. Shhh.
This mailbag from the Phillies’ web site says that the Phillies’ interest in Kris Benson has cooled and suggests adding Chad Durbin was an alternative to Benson. If the Phillies’ search for a fifth starter is truly over, that’s bad news.
Pete Laforest will be invited to spring training. The Phils don’t have a lot of depth at catcher, but I’d be surprised if Jaramillo didn’t get the first shot behind Ruiz and Coste this year. Laforest may appeal as a left-handed bat off the bench, but the Phils don’t appear to have any space for him. I don’t think you’re likely to see a 25-man roster for the Phillies in which Laforest is the second-best defensive catcher.
This article lists the Lidge trade as one of the most lopsided of the off-season (in the Phillies favor). I don’t agree. The pen is still a problem for the Phils. Lidge is obviously an improvement over Geary, but trading away useful middle relievers creates new problems.
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January 3rd, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Love your blog.
Geary really aside from one good stretch 2 years ago was replacement level or below.
What we did get in Lidge is not improvement in the Bullpen, we got the second best starter after Haren this off-season with Myers going to the rotation.
The bullpen does need at least one more good signing.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Thanks, SirAlden. Hope you’re right and the Phils are just one signing away in the pen. I think things are a little more dire than that.
Geary was pretty miserable last season, far worse than his ERA would have you believe. He did come up big down the stretch for the Phils, though. Before getting knocked around his last two times out he had put together a real solid 16 game stretch in August and September where he threw to a 1.54 ERA in 16 appearances, allowing just four runs in 23 1/3 innings while throwing to a 1.03 ratio. Romero was clearly the star of the stretch run for the Phils out of the pen, but Geary played a part too along with Myers and Gordon.
January 4th, 2008 at 8:24 am
You gotta “love” the Mets fans. Signed…Philly fan in New York.