Garrett Atkins to Phillies?

Day one at the general managers meetings in Dana Point, CA is over. The rumors can now commence. 

For months it has been reported that the Rockies would attempt to trade Matt Holliday and/or Garrett Atkins.

Holliday is under contract through next season, but being represented by super agent Scott Boras presents a problem for the small market Rox to sign him to a long-term deal.

Reports have suggested that the Rockies would be willing to offer Holliday something in the range of $100 million over five years.  That is dwarfed by the $150 million that Boras is reportedly asking for.

Holliday has said that he loves playing in Colorado, and would potentially take a hometown discount, but he would want a no-trade clause, which the Rockies have balked at. 

The Rockies have been hesitant to sign long-term deals that involve no-trade clauses because of their recent inability to move Todd Helton, who has dealt with health issues over the last three years.

Atkins is in a slightly different situation.  The Rockies have him under their control for the next two seasons.  With the emergence of 2004 top pick Ian Stewart ready to take the reins at third base, and a healthy Todd Helton back at first, the time to get the best value for Atkins may be now.

The teams that seem to have the most interest are the Angels and Twins. The Angels' interest hinges on their ability to sign Mark Teixeira, and the Twins have starting pitchers Kevin Slowey or Nick Blackburn to dangle out there. 

Another team mentioned with interest of late is the Cleveland Indians, who could offer Aaron Laffey or Jeremy Sowers.

One team that may have some interest in Atkins would be the Phillies.  The 2008 champions seem to be solid all the way around the field with the one exception being third base.

The position was manned for the Phils by Pedro Feliz and Greg Dobbs with 133 and 52 games, respectively.  Feliz and Dobbs combined to hit .267 with 23 home runs and 98 RBI. 

Atkins, who has a career .298 batting average and 431 RBI in just over four full years in the big leagues, could also benefit from hitting behind both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.  

Atkins stands to make around $6.5 million in arbitration before the season, which is reasonably cheap for a third baseman with his career numbers.  This also makes him affordable for a team coming off a revenue uptick after appearing in the World Series. 

The move would also reunite Atkins and Chase Utley, who played together at UCLA and remain best friends.  Atkins served in Utley's wedding as his best man.  

With Atkins, who at 29 is younger than both Dobbs and Feliz, in the lineup the Phillies would have a bona fide slugger at the hot corner. 

The move would not be made without a price.  In exchange for Atkins, the Rockies are demanding either a front-of-the-rotation starter, or a young, Major League ready prospect.

The Phillies have this in J.A. Happ.  Happ, a 26-year-old south paw, is a top prospect coming through the Phillies system.  He made his debut in '07 and started four games for the world champs in '08. 

In 23 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season, Happ went 8-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 135 innings.  The 6'6" lefty struck out 151 while walking only 48, and this is the kind of control the Rockies are desperate for after a season in which they walked 562 batters, good enough for 10th in the National League.

Control was one aspect of the Rockies moundsmen that led them to the '07 National League pennant.

It may be a difficult proposition for the Phillies to give up Happ, but it would be a necessary evil in order to gain some stability at third base and solidify a lineup that may be losing left fielder Pat Burrell to free agency.