Kendrick Fires Another Gem; Howard to STL?
Posted by Pat Gallen, Sun, March 14, 2010 05:03 PM | Comments: 61
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First things first, Kyle Kendrick was once again spectacular in his third spring outing. He tossed four brilliant innings, allowing just two hits, although he did not strike anyone out, which is cause for some concern. The one number that sticks out is the zero runs allowed thus far. KK is certainly making the coaching staff think twice about inserting Jamie Moyer in the fifth starter spot. And even if Moyer is given that opportunity to begin the season, Kendrick is proving to be a legit fallback option should the elder statesman falter.
The Phillies lost today, 4-3 to the Orioles. Drew Carpenter pitched three strong out of the pen, giving up one run while striking out five. However, Sergio Escalona continues to allow baserunners at an alarming rate. The lefty allowed three earned runs and four hits in one inning or work. Not good for a guy trying to stick as another lefty in the big league bullpen.
Now, onto the fascinating/crazy trade talk provided by ESPN’s Buster Olney. He reported today that the Phillies discussed internally a trade that would send Ryan Howard to St. Louis for Albert Pujols. In no way does this mean a trade was talked about between the two clubs, rather, it seems as though the Phils brass has at least thought about sending an offer to the Cardinals.
Doubtful. There’s no way the Cardinals trade the greatest hitter in baseball and the face of an entire town. Even if they were blown away by an offer that included multiple top prospects, I still don’t think John Mozeliak pulls the trigger. The shockwave would be too much to handle in a city that lives and breathes baseball on an even higher level than Philly. Kind of cool to think about such a blockbuster, but i’d put it at about one in a million.
Posts: 0 Bruce
Whoever (ESPN) started this silly rumor on Howard for Pujols probably had a slow, boring day for reporting and decided to embellish an unfounded source to get a rise out of their viewers and improve their ratings. The young and impressionable who are unable to discern fact from fiction will be gullible for such tabloid-like trash. I certainly agreed with GM Amaro’s comments and have no desire to dignify such trash with any speculation here.
Posted: 10:56 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Bruce
Tim Malcom? Is he the one who made a preseason prediction for 2009 that Jamie Moyer would be totally ineffective and gone before the All-Star break? ;-)
Posted: 11:02 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Don M
Howard won’t get $25 M per season from anyone.. because contracts are starting to come down a little bit, and should continue to do as the economy is down. ..
Look at the deals for Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee
vs.
Matt Holliday and Jason Bay..
which is why I hold out some hope that Werth’s number next year is $13-14 M instead of $15-16 Million..
Likewise, by the time Howard becomes a Free Agent.. a 5 year, $100 M contract will be a fair deal for him… if someone else offers him 5 years, $125 M, he’ll have pressure to take it, but I dont think anyone overbids by that much
Phillies 5 years, $100
Yankees 5 years, $110
Red Sox 5 years, $115
I would imagine he’d stay in Philadelphia if the offers were in that area
Posted: 11:36 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
I would say based on the opinions of the guys he is playing with, and from what I hear he is a great club house guy, which for me does not equate to “only out for himself and a paycheck”
And the point I made before, that is why you sign him to an extension before he becomes a FA. Say he has a year of .280 44 hr 140 ribs and 190 k’s. With some more improvement on the defensive side of the ball and you put down 4-5 years 88-105 million I think he stays, especially if they go deep in the playoffs again. For the sheer fact that the FO has shown they want to win long term and for the most part put the money out there to maintain a quality team. Then it would not matter how much the Sox or Spanks would pay him cause he would never know.
Posted: 12:04 PM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Bob in Bucks
Howard’s value as a DH far exceeds his value as a 1B. I give him credit for working at it but big guys like him eventually have back problems so he can extend his career by going to the AL. It will happen eventually, just don’t know when.
Pujols for Howard – Silly to let it leak but I can see it happen if the Phils throw in another all-star.
Posted: 12:06 PM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
I agree with your DH thing Bob, that is why I think he would take a 4 or 5 year deal in Philly, because then, he would still get pretty decent money for 3 or 4 more years in the AL, But I do not think he will be ready to be a DH in 3 or 4 years. Saying that if they do not extend him and he goes out on the open market an AL team will give him 7 or 8 years with the contract front loaded with money so they can move him to DH when it is time. Like 7 years 145 million with 100 of it in the first 4 years and 45 in the last 3. That would be the big reason I would not let him get to FA because an AL team can add more years while the Phillies will not go more that 4 or5 at the most
Posted: 12:14 PM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
those numbers are just an example I am saying someone offer those numbers
Posted: 12:14 PM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 John
So Roy gave up his first run… perhaps we should give his rotation spot to KK!
Posted: 12:36 PM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
Better yet, John…..I say we should trade him for “He Who Shall Not Be Named”…..straight up.
Because….you know…..now that he’s given up a run…..he sucks!!!
Posted: 12:59 PM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Repeat!
cards most likely to go with a 4/5yr 25-30mill per deal….but go back to the Phillies Focus episode from last nite… Rollins looks Bark-man in the eye and says he can’t imagine playing anywhere else. Howard, head down, seemed indifferent to the same thought….. though he did talk about wanting to win as many rings as possible as a Phil…. swap would be the stroke of genius move that the Phillies passed on when they traded away Cliff Lee…. Why not let the Cards and the Redsox bring the bank?? The move would fit in prefectly with the idea of taking advantage of this golden “window open”chance for the next 2-3 yrs mode of thinking…..
Posted: 03:00 PM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Bruce
Ahh..h, baseball fantasy is here. LOL
Posted: 12:30 PM on March 16, 2010