Prior to the 2007 season, the Phillies were in search of outfield depth. Then-general manager Pat Gillick reached into his mental database and a light-bulb went off above his head. Jayson Werth.
Werth was a very toolsy, athletic draft pick of the Orioles during Gillick's time there as general manager, but his career had been derailed by a hand injury and had been non-tendered by the Dodgers.
The rest is history. When you think of Werth, you think of long at-bats with ugly but often productive swings, home runs in four consecutive at-bats in 2008 and the big red fist he wore at the World Series parade.
The type of acquisition that Werth was would become a calling card of Gillick and the Phillies during his time here, picking up a player with a lot of upside that other teams had lost patience with for whatever reason, but had impressed Gillick in the past.
Given that tendency, and given the fact that current-Phillies GM Ruben Amaro has mentioned he speaks with Gillick frequently as part of his consulting role with the organization, wouldn't it make sense for the Phillies to take a flyer on Rocco Baldelli, formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays?
Baldelli certainly fits the mold. Toolsy? Check. Athletic with high upside? Check. One-time can't miss prospect? Check. Career derailed by no fault of his own? Check. Past history with member of Phillies regime? Check.
The Rays, led by current Phillies assistant GM Chuck Lamar drafted Baldelli and expected him to be another piece of the young core of players they were developing. Unfortunately for them and Baldelli, he was unable to take the field, suffering one season-ruining injury after another. Finally, in the spring of 2008, he was diagnosed with a somewhat treatable mitochondrial disorder, and recently has been re-diagnosed with a much less serious channelopathy. The new diagnosis gives Baldelli a much great chance of getting his career on track.
Still just 27 years-old, the savvy Red Sox and the increasingly savvy (hopefully) Pirates have expressed interest in Baldelli, a free agent. If the Phillies are wise, they'll consider making him an offer as well. If he really does get his career back on track, Baldelli could become one of the best players in baseball, and he can probably be had a greatly reduced rate until he proves he's worth the gamble.
And with a name like Rocco, doesn't he pretty much have to play in Philly?
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Suggested reading:
Recently, I've stumbled across some new sites worth bookmarking. New to me anyway...
...The Shibe Times - A weakness for baseball history and new-age stats. My kinda place.
...Fired for Winning - Philadelphia sports centric [the title comes from a Buddy Ryan quote]and written by a fellow JMU alum [Duuuuuuuuuukes!]
...Phillie Phanatics by Shay Roddy - A rookie looking to make a splash.
...Recliner GM - Very comfortable furniture.
Stop by and tell them I sent you.
