Trades

The big news out of the Phils camp is that they jut swung a trade for Freddy Garcia. Since they struck out in the big hitters market they seem to be intent on improving the starting rotation. In the last few weeks we’ve added Garcia and Eaton, vastly improving the rotation.
Garcia, who went 17-9 with a 4.53 ERA, will step in as one of the top starters and will take some of the pressure off of Hamels and Myers. Those three guys are all capable of being a one starter for many teams, if they can overcome Citizen’s Bank Park. Garcia’s numbers shouldn’t drop too much since he’ll get a boost moving at NL but playing in this park should hurt a little. So for the time being we’ll say it’ll cancel out.

Now we come to the interesting part, since all we had to lose to get Garcia was Gavin Floyd and a prospect and he was suppose to start in AAA anyhow, we now have a surplus of pitchers. It looks like they are going to try to move Jon Lieber.

I don’t know if it’s possible but they should seriously look into trading for Vernon Wells, since he is the only heavy hitter that really makes sense for the Phillies. They are already trying to Aaron Rowand and its possible packing him with some of the better prospects and maybe Lieber that it could be enough to get Vernon. I know that’s a long shot but it worth at least giving it a shot.

There is another option providing that they get someone outside the organization to protect Howard. They could bat Rollins in the five-hole, he is much better suited to bat fifth anyhow. He’s much more of a free swinger and he is developing a power stroke. Last year he hit .277 with 25 homers and 83 RBI out of the leadoff spot, not to shabby. His OBP of .334 is lower then one would want from their leadoff hitter, so the only thing that suits him to leadoff is his speed.