The following is a scouting report of sorts from my longtime-reader/brother on players that shook loose. Yesterday was MLB's deadline to offer arbitration to players with less than 6 years service time or release them:
Akinori Otsuka - RP: Get him. Now. He was hurt, but his rehab is going well. If they were to get him and he was healthy, the bullpen would be very strong. Brad Lidge in the 9th, Otsuka in the 8th, Ryan Madson/JC Romero/Tom Gordon in the seventh, the other two plus whoever else in the sixth if needed.
Mark Prior - P: Get him. He is supposed to miss a couple months though. According to me, all that does is eliminate a decent number of teams from the mix and lessen what it would take to get him. Of course, it also limits how helpful he'd be in 2008.
Kiko Calero - P: Had a bad year. Inexpensive.
Matt Wise - P: Good reliever.
Morgan Ensberg - 3B: I still think he's worth a shot
Mark Hendrickson - P: Had a bad year last year, but he's usually about average. And really, that's all the Phillies need.
Kevin Mench - OF: Decent bat. Not as good as Jayson Werth though I think.
Chad Durbin - P: Again, he's average. He seems similar to Kyle Kendrick though. You already know my worries about too many guys like that in the same rotation.
Dallas McPherson - 3B: Might not be ready for the start of the season because of back surgery, but he could have some pop.
Willie Harris - OF: Could fill a role similar to Bourn. He cooled a lot from his hot start though.
Cory Doyne - P: Not really non-tendered, but Baltimore designated him for assignment. Had a great year as a closer in AAA for Baltimore. One really bad appearance against the Yankees gave him horrible numbers in MLB since he only in pitched five games. Not saying he's good, but he could fill out a bullpen. Plus, Doyne is so close to Goyne.
Brad Salmon - RP: Not bad numbers in Cincy
John Parrish - P: Kind of like Romero, only not as effective.
Aaron Miles - INF: If the alternative for a utility guy is Awful Abe.
Jack Cassel - P: Had some success with the Pads.
Jason Lane - OF: minor league invite.
Brendan Donnelly is supposed to miss half the year or I'd have him on there. Brad Eldred is a bankrupt man's Ryan Howard. He should get a look with someone, but he'd have no place with the Phils.
I'd go really hard after Otsuka and Calero with Wise on the radar too, but not if you get the other two. All three are pretty good relievers.
