Philadelphia Phillies Offseason Tracker: Hottest Free Agency News, Trade Rumors
The Philadelphia Phillies' aging roster isn't making things easy for the front office, so it's not clear how active the team will be this offseason.
Philadelphia was expected to be one of the most active teams at the trade deadline back in July. Instead, the team did nothing. That may be because they didn't get any offers that they felt were fair. Many of the team's veteran players have some type of no-trade clause in their contracts. That makes completing deals that much tougher.
With Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon, the team has some attractive trade chips. It's just not clear as to how eager the team is to move any of those star players. The club may be more willing to deal some players more than others, but then the finances complicate matters.
The Phillies already have a lot of money committed to the 2015 payroll, and with an aging roster that is less competitive than it was when the big contracts were handed out, the team is in a tough spot right now.
Stay tuned throughout November to see what is going on with the Phillies.
*All stats are via MLB.com
Done Deals
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Done Deals
Oct. 23: Re-signed OF Grady Sizemore to a one-year, $2 million option
Oct. 30: Declined $6 million option on RHP Mike Adams
Nov. 3: RHP A.J. Burnett declined $12.75 million option
Nov. 13: Signed OF Jeff Francoeur to a minor-league deal with invite to big-league spring training
Nov. 13: Signed LHP Elvis Araujo
Nov. 14: RHP A.J. Burnett signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Dec. 19: Traded SS Jimmy Rollins and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for RHP Zach Eflin and LHP Tom Windle
Dec. 31: Traded OF Marlon Byrd to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for RHP Ben Lively
Rule 5 Draft
Dec. 11: Selected INF David Herrera from the Texas Rangers
Dec. 11: Selected LHP Andrew Oliver from the Pittsburgh Pirates
Dec. 31: Phillies Trade Marlon Byrd to Reds
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The Philadelphia Phillies have traded outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right-handed pitcher, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
Byrd signed with the Phillies last winter and although some of his numbers dropped a bit, he played well this past season. The 37-year-old hit .264 with 25 home runs, 28 doubles and 85 RBI. That comes just one year after he hit .291 with 24 home runs and 35 doubles.
The outfielder will make $8 million in 2015 and has a vesting $8 million for the 2016 season. With that salary due, Rosenthal expects Philadelphia to include quite a bit of money in the deal.
In Lively, the Phillies got a highly touted pitching prospect. The 22-year-old went 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA in 26 starts between High-A and Double-A in 2014.
Dec. 19: Phillies Trade Jimmy Rollins to Dodgers
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The Philadelphia Phillies have traded Jimmy Rollins and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for right-hander Zach Eflin and left-hander Tom Windle.
The 35-year-old shortstop had spent his entire 15-year career in Philadelphia, which meant he had 10-and-5 rights. Although it didn't appear that he was too eager to waive his no-trade clause, he ended up approving a deal to the Dodgers.
Rollins leaves as the Phillies' all-time leader in hits (2,306) and doubles (479). He also scored the third most runs in team history.
Rollins has one year and $11 million left on his current contract. Trading him allowed the Phillies to continue the rebuilding process.
Eflin, 20, was a first-round pick in the 2012 draft. He went 10-7 with a 3.80 ERA in 24 starts this season in High-A. He has a 3.41 ERA in 50 games (49 starts) through the first three seasons of his professional career.
Windle, 22, went 12-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) in High-A this year. He posted a a 2.68 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) in Single-A in 2013. He was the Dodgers' second-round pick in 2013.
Rollins' career is winding down, and with the Phillies building for the future, trading him was best for both sides. The team got to add some young arms for the future, and Rollins will get to go to a contender.
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Dec. 10: Phillies Trade LHP Antonio Bastardo to Pirates
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The Philadelphia Phillies have traded left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo to the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Phillies will receive left-handed pitcher Joely Rodriguez in return.
Bastardo went 5-7 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.203 WHIP in 2014. The southpaw has a career 3.72 ERA and a 1.212 WHIP in 275 appearances during his six-year career with the Phillies.
Bastardo is eligible for arbitration for the third time this offseason.
In return, the Phillies received a young left-handed pitcher.
Rodriguez pitched in Double-A last season, going 6-11 with a 4.84 ERA in 30 games (21 starts). The 23-year-old has a 4.02 career ERA in six seasons in the minors.
Chase Utley: Potential Trade Candidate
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Per Yahoo Sports' Tim Brown, the Dodgers and the Phillies discussed Chase Utley while negotiating for Jimmy Rollins. Los Angeles has since acquired Rollins and traded second baseman Dee Gordon.
Utley hit .270 with 11 home runs and 36 doubles in 2014. He made the NL All-Star team for the sixth time in his career this year.
The 35-year-old was finally able to stay healthy this year. He played in 155 games this year, the most he had played in since 2009.
He was once good for 30 home runs per season, but injuries have diminished his power. He has hit just 11 home runs in three of the past four seasons and hasn't hit more than 18 since the 2009 season.
Utley will make $10 million in 2015 and has $15 million vesting options for each of the three following seasons, which will vest if he reaches 500 plate appearances in the year before. The veteran second baseman has played his entire 12-year career in Philadelphia, so he has 10-and-5 rights.
Cole Hamels: Potential Trade Target
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Update: Monday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers have now shown interest in acquiring Hamels, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports.
The Dodgers do have the money, so this could be a serious landing spot.
--End of Update--
Update: Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. ET
The Toronto Sun's Bob Elliott reported that the Toronto Blue Jays have called the Phillies about several players, including Cole Hamels. The Blue Jays also inquired about second baseman Chase Utley and lefty reliever Antonio Bastardo.
--End of Update--
Update: Sunday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. ET
As expected, the price for Cole Hamels is pretty steep.
According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, the Phillies are seeking three top prospects for Hamels. The club reportedly wants two prospects who can play right away and another who is close to making an impact in the majors.
--End of Update--
Update: Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 2:30 p.m. ET
The Chicago Cubs have some money available to spend this offseason and have some young talent in their system. Given those two factors, the Cubs are interested in Cole Hamels, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
--End of Update--
The Philadelphia Phillies have a valuable trade chip in Cole Hamels, should they decide to put him on the trade block this offseason.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the Phillies may make Hamels available, but they'd have a "steep" asking price. The southpaw has a no-trade clause that allows him to block a trade to 20 teams. His list has to be submitted by Nov. 1.
Hamels went 9-9 with a 2.46 ERA in 30 starts this season. He missed some time with a bicep injury, but was classic Hamels once he returned.
The three-time All-Star has a career 3.27 ERA and a 1.142 WHIP in 275 career games (274 starts). He has won at least 14 games in a season four times in his career, although given his earned run average throughout his career, his win total should be much higher.
Hamels still has four years and $96 million left on his contract. That hefty sum will rule out a few teams around the league, and his no-trade clause could eliminate even more teams.
If the Phillies are able to find a team that will match their asking price, trading Hamels would help speed up the rebuilding process.
Nov. 14: A.J. Burnett Signs 1-Year Deal with Pittsburgh Pirates
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A.J. Burnett has signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to the Pirates' Twitter account. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported that the deal is worth $8.5 million.
The veteran declined his $12.75 million player option for 2015 with the Phillies early in the offseason, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweeted that Burnett is expected to pitch next season and wants to do so for a contender.
The 37-year-old made 34 starts this past season, which elevated his player option for next season up to $12.75 million. He will have until five days after the World Series ends to exercise that player option.
Burnett went 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA in 2014. Numbers like those certainly aren't what the Phillies had hoped for, and stats like that probably aren't what the veteran pitcher would like to end his career on.
The right-hander has pitched 16 seasons in the majors, pitching for five different teams in his career.
Phillies Are Reportedly Trying to Trade Ryan Howard
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Update: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 p.m. ET
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the Kansas City Royals would be interested in trading for Ryan Howard if the Phillies ate most of the remaining money on his contract.
--End of Update--
According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Phillies are trying to trade first baseman Ryan Howard.
The team may want to do so as it looks to rebuild, but trading the veteran will be a tall task. Between his salary, recent injury history and the fact that Howard is now 34 years old, there won't be many teams interested in trading for him.
There is still plenty of pop left in his bat. Although he hit just .223, thanks to a league-leading 190 strikeouts, Howard hit 23 home runs with 95 RBI in 2014. He put those numbers up following two injury-plagued seasons.
Howard played a total of 151 games from 2012-13 but rebounded to play in 153 games this year.
Not do his age and health make him tough to trade, but his hefty contract will likely make it impossible to deal him. Howard is due $60 million over the next two seasons, making $25 million in each season—and a $10 million buyout on his 2017 option.
Philadelphia may want to trade Howard, but there are so many factors that will prevent it from trading the 2006 NL MVP.
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