Report: Phils Interested In Garciaparra
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sat, January 10, 2009 12:52 PM | Comments: 31
Posts
Reports linger that the Phillies are interested in infielder Nomar Garciaparra.
Garciaparra, 35, hit .264 with 8 HR and 25 RBI as a bench infielder for the Dodgers in 2008. Somewhat verstaile, he plays first base, shortstop and third base. And he’s a right-handed bat. For his career, Garciaparra is a .314 hitter whose best days came when Veterans Stadium was standing.
There’s no indication yet of Garciaparra showing mutual interest, or if the infielder wants to play baseball in 2009.
Just looking at the roster composition now, adding Garciaparra would really create a logjam in the infield. After your starters, you’d have Greg Dobbs probably entrenched, with Nomar, Eric Bruntlett and Marcus Giles competing with Jason Donald for one spot. Bruntlett could be the fifth outfielder, and you’d need some sort of insurance for Chase Utley, at least early in the season. Thus, making a play to Nomar would signal something greater — maybe the Phils are looking to move Dobbs for value? (Pedro Feliz doesn’t have trade value.) Of course, it would take some time to shake out, and nothing is set in stone, yet. But it’s intriguing, nonetheless.
Posts: 0 KM
You can never have too much depth on the bench.
I could definitely see Bruntlett as the 5th outfielder, but that would mean that Jenkins or Stairs would probably be moved before the season.
Don’t really like the idea of moving Dobbs. His bat off the bench is indispensable, and is probably the first backup at 1B, 3B.
I think Pedro Feliz has more value than u think. He won’t get you a top prospect, but you may be able to get some value in lower a ball, or a solid relief pitcher.
Posted: 01:05 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
You can’t get rid of Pedro Feliz for Nomar Garciaparra.. its just not smart because of Nomah’s injury history.. He is a former AL batting champ though (I think) and at this point in his career he is perfectly suited for a bench-role/spot-starter.. he would be a great fit, watch the mets get interested in him all of a sudden!!
I think you’re going to move one of the OF’s anyway, and because of the contract for Jenkins, I expect Stairs to get moved. Early rumors had the Marlins interested in Coste (but that wouldn’t free-up a spot because we’d need a backup catcher anyway). I dont know enough about Paulino to say if I’d rather him or Coste.
Posted: 01:28 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
Dobbs is here to stay. The Phils would sign Nomar to take Dobbs’ infield spots, and move dobbs to the outfield/pinch hitter.
Posted: 01:54 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Nomar, Ibanez, Moyer, Chan Ho Park…this sounds like my 1997 fantasy squad.
Posted: 02:13 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 scot
This is really bizzare to me. At a time when other teams all around the league are getting younger we are resigning a 46 year old pitcher, giving 3 years to a 37 year old outfielder, and now supposedly targetting Nomar. Strange.
Beyond that, I don’t think I saw a worse at bat this postseason than Nomar’s 1st at bat vs Lidge in the NLCS. It would have been impossible to look more overmatched.
Posted: 02:23 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
I think Stairs or Jenkins may be on the move, MLB Traderumors said in the same article about Garciaparra, that the Phillies are interested in Gabe Kapler as well.
Posted: 02:26 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Paulino is a good catcher who had a power outage last year, when hes hitting hes a good asset to have. the nomar thing is interesting. itd be great to move jenkins contract but thats not easy, so ill bet stairs is gone.
Posted: 02:33 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Brett
I love Nomar, I just don’t see where he fits in. I’d be psyched to see him in red pinstripes though.
Posted: 02:45 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 fred
Bruntlett and Donald are far better than Giles and Nomar. Why is Amaro so keen to get older and waste money ?
Posted: 02:54 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
Scott Boras may be writhing in his expensive leather chair if the reports that the Braves have closed a deal with Kenshin Kawasaki or whatever his last name is. According to MLB Trade Rumors and Dave O’Brien of AJC theres an indication the Braves and Kenshin’s agent have come to an agreement on a contract.
Posted: 02:55 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Garciaparra: I personally think it’s unnecessary.
As far as the Lowe thing goes, I really think we have a legit shot of STILL grabbing him. It would be great if we could get him, but it would only be a smart thing to do if we postpone Happ, Kendrick, Carrasco till midseason, and trade by the deadline either Myers or Blanton even if they’re having good seasons.
The Karawami/Braves news may signal that the Braves won’t be willing to make the offer for Lowe that Boras wants. Perhaps it will be the same as the Mets’ but with one extra year. Then that would be our time to offer 14M for 3 years, a pretty “cheap” offer for a solid No.2 like Lowe.
Posted: 03:14 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
Bad move. If we get him I will just go more insane after the poor off season we are having. NO MORE OLD PLAYERS. We won the championship with people we got at a younger age and developed into good players. Getting older players who are on their way out is a bad idea.
Posted: 03:30 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
How can anyone think that adding a former AL batting champ to your bench is a bad idea???? Bruntlett and Donald are better than Giles (maybe) and NOMAR GARCIAPARRA !!??? some of you guys are on crack..
Garciapparra added to this roster gives us a GREAT RH hitter to come off the bench, paired with the BEST overall pinch hitter in baseball in Greg Dobbs, who happens to hit LH.. this move balances the bench by a lot, especially since Brutnlett and Dobbs are better suited as OF then playing anywhere on the IF.
If they have to pay him $7 M then its a bad move.. if you can add him for $3 M or so.. its a great move
Posted: 04:03 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike B.
Nomar? From what I’ve read, he’s supposed to be somewhat selfish, a poor defensive fielder, and injury-prone. If we can sign him to a cheap minor league contract I’d be less opposed, but there’s no way he will.
Justin, I do like hearing about Kapler, though. I just hope he can recover from the tear in his latissimus dorsi muscle, which affects throwing. I worry that he’ll tear it again. But if we can get him on the cheap, I’d like that.
Posted: 04:22 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Phillies Phan SC
I have always been a believer in Feliz. I know his bat is not great, but he is not in the lineup for his bat, so I do not care. Dobbs also needs to stay and remain the main PH. I think Garciapparra is not the move they need. That being said, I am not against this, I just don’t get it.
Don M – I know he is a betting champ, but that was then and this is now. He is just not what he used to be and I think that is all that is being said…
Posted: 04:23 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Phillies Phan SC
HA BATTING champ – ooops. I tried to fix it, but I was too quick on the submit button
Posted: 04:23 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike B.
Don M, I don’t think Nomar is worse than either Bruntlett or Giles, but he isn’t very good defensively, and a lot of the reason we won is defense. At this point, who knows what he has left at 35 after an injury history that’s twice as long as Randy Wolf’s? Like I said, I’d not be as opposed if we can get him on cheap, but I don’t think we will.
Posted: 04:35 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
yeah he wont cost 7m no way. hell be a 2-3 m a year guy if he wants to even play anymore. this would be a nice addition to the bench. your bench is probably: paulino, jenkins, garciaparra, bruntlett or donald, dobbs. thats a good bench…garciaparra is better than marcus giles, thats for sure.
Posted: 05:14 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 ryan
Nomar is more washed up that a dead whale carcass on the beach in n. Wildwood. he’s more washed up that my balls after the wishy washy. he’s more washed up than my car after leaving marvin harrison’s car wash while dodging the bullets from his custom made belgian gun in north philly
forget about him.
Posted: 06:07 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Kyle
Nomar came up via the Trenton Thunder with Tony Clark – irrelevant but something cool to note.
Posted: 07:08 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
NO CHANCE that Donald is on the Phillies roster as a bench player.. NONE.
Garciaparra isn’t a good fielder anymore, and isn’t the hitter he once was.. but would still be the best RH option off the bench, and either the 1st or 2nd best option from either side of the plate. This move would NOT be to get him for his glove, it would be to add another veteran player, and to give the team more depth.
This move should have nothing to do with Pedro Feliz.. an above average defensive 3b.. Who will start at 3b because of his glove.
I would like to see a bench next year of Dobbs, Jenkins, Bruntlett, Coste, Garciaparra.. all of them are guys that can plug in at various spots in the field, when games get late, and allow for double-switches, etc.. the little things that help teams win games in the National League..
Ryan.. would you rather have Matt Stairs, or Garciaparra on the bench? Keeping in mind that Jenkins is almost definitely going to be here because of his salary… do we need 3 LH hitter that can play corner-OF spots? Stairs doesn’t really play the OF, he’s almost strictly a DH, PH guy.. I understand people wouldn’t be jumping through hoops if we make this deal, but i can’t understand people not thinking its a good idea
Posted: 07:33 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Brooks
I agree with most of what people are saying. Nomar’s best days are behind him. His fielding has always been questionable, worrisome now that he has been relagated to the bench.
He has played in the bigs for 13 years and has played in 150 games only 3 times. You could ask the question how a player who is 165lbs and 6 ft tall can hit 35 hrs in a season? 1998, Nomar was runner up to the AL MVP award to Gonzalez. Hitting .362 and 122 rbi with Boston.
I like Nomar, I thought years ago he was one of the best but there is no room for him on the roster.
Posted: 08:12 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
NOMAR! On the Phils?
Ten years ago, I would have been beyond psyched. I still believe he could do well for the Phils, but it leaves me puzzled. Sure, I’d rather have him coming off the bench than So Tagguchi. But unless the Phils are looking to move Stairs, Jenkins, or Dobbs I kind of do not see Garciapara as a necessity right now. Still, I’d welcome him with open arms to the Bank!
Posted: 08:36 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
Between Nomar and Gabe Kapler i’d prefer Kapler.
Posted: 09:05 PM on January 10, 2009
Posts: 0 OZ
NO
Posted: 01:56 AM on January 11, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D
Does anyone else have the sneaking suspicion that Reuben Amaro has no idea what he is doing?
Posted: 12:10 PM on January 11, 2009
Posts: 0 Matt Kwasiborski
Bring on Nomar, I mean why not? He is not going to be a starter unless we trade Howard. Great off of the bench and brings more Spanish speaking players to the clubhouse.
Posted: 01:07 PM on January 11, 2009
Posts: 0 ryan
considering that Matt Stairs will be a God in this town forever, because that ball he hit in LA is still orbiting the moon at this time, I’ll keep the old bastard
Posted: 07:05 PM on January 11, 2009
Posts: 0 Tyler
Mike D… exactly what I was thinking… I think I could probably do a better job… make it a democracy for the fans… he’s gotta be more aggressive… Lowe’s right where he should want him (3/42ish)… if not… Sheets should come extremely cheap… especially for the defending champs when the astros and rangers are the other teams looking at him
Posted: 07:07 PM on January 11, 2009
Posts: 0 Tyler
Matt… why do we want more Spanish speaking players… what good does that do us
Posted: 07:08 PM on January 11, 2009
Posts: 0 ryan
tyler, certainly hasn’t done the mets any good has it? lol
Posted: 08:19 PM on January 11, 2009