Feeling Chilly? Come Warm Yourselves by the Hot Stove
In an email exchange with the Beerleaguer a week or so ago, I said, "A trade rumor in the phlogosphere is like throwing a chunk of meat in a pirana tank." With that analogy in mind, in this morning's Inquirer, Jim Salisbury throws several pieces of Porterhouse into the water by filling us in on the whereabouts and activities of Phillies GM Pat Gillick...
According to one executive, the Phillies discussed a trade that would have sent rightfielder Bobby Abreu to the Toronto Blue Jays for centerfielder Vernon Wells. The Jays, who are looking for a corner outfielder, turned thumbs down on the proposed deal because Abreu is owed at least $31 million over the next two seasons.
A Wells-for-Abreu deal could still come to fruition if Abreu would waive his no-trade clause and the Phils would eat some of his salary. That deal could help the Phillies on two fronts. It would give them a proven centerfielder and open right field as a possible landing spot for Ryan Howard if they're unable to deal Thome.
This brings up several questions...Does Gillick feel he needs a genuine centerfielder and does not have much confidence in Kenny Lofton (if he returns), Shane Victorino, and Jason Michaels? Or, is he happy with those players only if the Phils centerfielder du jour isn't required to cover a lot of ground between Pat Burrell and Ryan Howard? On the pitching front...
The Phils spoke to [A.J.] Burnett's agent, Darek Braunecker. They could make a play for Burnett, but only if they don't re-sign Wagner, who can begin fielding offers today, and will likely get a significant one from the Mets.
I worry a bit about Burnett, he seems to be the classic case of someone who has a ten million dollar arm and a ten cent head. When the Marlins needed him most this year, he flamed out by allowing runs to score everywhere and anywhere, and then when the season was over proceeded to trash manager Jack McKeon and the rest of the organization. In Gillick's initial swing through the Philadelphia media after he was hired, he talked alot about the mental makeup of a player...does Burnett sound like someone with good makeup? Salisbury also lists the Twins, Mariners, White Sox, Orioles, and Dodgers as places where Jim Thome could be dealt to, but in all likelihood the final destinations of several other available firstbasemen will have to be decided first before teams would be interested in Thome. Gillick attempted to explain the nature of these conversations with Salisbury...
"Right now, it's like fantasy league. Everybody thinks up possibilities. Things will be more realistic down the road."
In my next life, I want to be a GM. Seriously. ----------------- Did you vote for Whitey today?
