Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Worst-Case Scenarios This Winter

An October that couldn’t finish soon enough for baseball in Philadelphia has mercifully come to an end. In winning the World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals have reopened the wounds of Phillies fans still tending to broken hearts, but also given the Philly faithful a reason to emotionally reinvest in their team.

Following a thrilling Fall Classic that they played themselves out of, the Phillies now face a string of decisions that will shape both their chance for redemption next season and the direction of the franchise over the next decade. Crucial calls on team personnel and free-agents acquisitions now fall on the shoulders of GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and the front office as the league closes the book on the 2011 season.

While the City of Brotherly Love has confidence in their bold general manager, there is no consensus on which moves will make Philadelphia’s club a stronger threat when 2012 Opening Day rolls around. Only by pulling the right strings in negotiations with returning players and free agents can Amaro Jr. produce a product that will be as feared as last year’s edition of the team.

Having already declined the options on Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge, the front office turns its focus to shortstop Jimmy Rollins and closer Ryan Madson. The two homegrown stars have become mainstays of the organization and fan favorites during their long tenures in the red pinstripes.

As skilled as Amaro Jr. appears to have been over the past few seasons, a wrong decision could steer Philadelphia away from their World Series aspirations, wasting the championship window their pitching staff has opened.

There are many choices that the Phillies can make that would improve their baseball team, but here are five things that could prove to be disastrous for Philadelphia this winter:

Rollins Walks

Jimmy Rollins has been the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Phillies for the past decade. His willingness to be the outspoken figurehead and combat the losing ways of the city through clutch play has placed him among the most influential players to ever wear a Phillies uniform.

However, the veteran shortstop has reached that twilight of his career and is asking to be paid as if he were coming off his 2007 MVP season. It remains to be seen if Amaro Jr. will open up his wallet out of loyalty to J-Roll, but signs would point to a drawn out process with offers from both sides.

Though many fans see this as a possible opportunity for a changing of the guard, the crowds at Citizens Bank Park would be devastated if Rollins chased a larger payday on the West Coast. Rumors are swirling about his desire to play by the Bay in California, representing a homecoming for the 11-year pro.

Team chemistry has played an undeniably important part in Philadelphia’s resurgence over the past five years. One has to wonder how removing the clubhouse captain from the mix would make the 2012 Phillies better when the first pitch is thrown.

Galvis Needs More Time

Whether Rollins leaves via free agency or not, it appears that 21-year-old shortstop Freddy Galvis is the heir to the throne on the left side of the infield. After surprising many within the organization by batting .278 at the minor league level between Double-A and Triple-A in 2011, Galvis has positioned himself to earn an opportunity in the big leagues.

However, there is a grim possibility Rollins departs and Galvis is deemed unfit to start the season in the Phillies’ clubhouse. Should this gap be created, Philadelphia would seem to be forced to either use a replacement from their current bench unit or sign a short-term replacement.

Talk about a worst-case scenario: the Phillies trot onto the diamond led by a glorified bench player at shortstop to start a 2012 campaign for redemption. Not only would the Phillies be losing a voice in the clubhouse with the departure of Rollins, but leaving Galvis in the minors for polishing would delay his involvement in a colorful clubhouse.

If one thing is clear as Philadelphia approaches negotiations with their aging middle infielder, it’s the realization that they need to avoid a gap between the old and the new. A temporary replacement would limit the team’s offensive potential and likely cause them to overpay to outbid the competition. 

The Bench Returns

It's no secret that the Phillies experienced a lack of production for a very streaky bench. Needing consistency that they could rely on down the stretch, the team placed its faith in pinch-hitters that simply could not provide the spark when they needed it most.

Heading into the 2012 season, it would be safe to say the team needs a bit of an overhaul when it comes to the guys who enter the game on a part-time basis. Though it seems insignificant when you look at the team on a per game basis, the at-bats by Phillies bench players add up over the course of the season.

The team was able to plug holes left by injury for a while last season, but eventually fell flat when the fill-ins were relegated to coming off the bench. Adding a left-handed bat to replace an ailing Ross Gload is the first step, but adding a dependable infield bat with fielding versatility would also go a long way toward boosting the bench.

The Phillies will have a new face to the infield with or without bench players getting the start in place of a departed Rollins because of a lingering question at first base. That brings us to our next point...

Mishandling First Base

By now, the memories of Ryan Howard frantically floundering up the line after tearing his Achilles tendon are starting to be replaced by questions about how the team will cope with his absence. Amaro Jr. needs to find the right solution; the Phillies' early-season success could depend on it.

When trying to replace Howard for at least the first month of the season, the team will either need to find an in-house substitute or sign a free agent stand-in. If the front office places faith within the organization, John Mayberry Jr. would likely be the man that must answer the call.

The free-agent market does have some potential impact players that can help on a more temporary basis. Philadelphia could bring back Greg Dobbs for a second stint after he returned to form as a starter for the Marlins. The former Phillies' utility man could come off the bench after Howard finally returns to the lineup.

Should Amaro Jr. look for a bigger bat to add to the offense, he could take a look at the Twins' Michael Cuddyer, a first basement and right fielder. Not only would Cuddyer have an impact during Howard's leave, but the veteran could platoon in the outfield if needed.

So what worst-case scenario comes out of this decision? The Phillies either end up saddled with a large contract that pays a man on the bench or missing out on a free agent that dooms them to living with a hole in the lineup.

If either situation comes to fruition, the team could be looking at a long first half.

Left Field Blues

After shedding Raul Ibanez's much-maligned contract and freeing up space in left field, Amaro Jr. has a big decision to make regarding the future of his prized prospects. Whether he makes a move to bring in Cuddyer for support or relies on question marks within the organization remains to be seen.

His call on Domonic Brown could define the present and the future for this ballclub.

The front office has been patient with the budding outfielder, but the time for his talents to fully bloom may be running out. If they stick with Brown out of spring training and he falters like he has in the past, the offense could look a lot like it did before acquiring Hunter Pence: hopeless. 

If Philadelphia does not seek help this winter and Brown cannot fill the void, players like John Mayberry Jr. would be called upon to bring consistency to the lineup. But what if he is needed at first base while Howard is on the mend from his devastating injury well into the 2012 season?

Fans could be looking at rows of zeros, putting pressure on their staff of aces to hold the opposition at bay.