Phillies Look into Padres Ludwick, Bell
Posted by Pat Gallen, Wed, June 22, 2011 09:24 AM | Comments: 46
Posts
Would Ryan Ludwick be an upgrade for the Phillies? (PHOTO: Getty)
According to John Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com, the Phillies, along with the Mariners and Reds, have inquired about the services of 32-year-old outfielder Ryan Ludwick. The Padres slugger has had a down year while calling Petco Park is home, putting up a triple-slash line of .255/.322/.393 with nine home runs in 299 plate appearances.
It was just three years ago that Ludwick put up monster numbers with the St. Louis Cardinals, mashing 37 home runs and knocking in 113. That year looks like the exception to the rule, as he managed just 22 homers in 2009 and only 17 in 2010.
Regardless of his dwindling power numbers, Ludwick is a cheaper alternative to some of the other names being linked to the Phillies. He’s owed roughly $2.2 million for the remainder of 2010. Ludwick would be brought in to hit lefties; he’s batting .271 against them this year in only 65 plate appearances.
Does Ludwick present an upgrade over Raul Ibanez? He’s right-handed, so that’s a start, and has a home run-hitting pedigree, at least within the past two seasons. In the right lineup, he could be of assistance. San Diego is a black hole for offensive players, not only due to the spacious stadium, but because the players they have are below-average.
Earlier this week, myself and Mike Gill from 97.3 ESPN FM in South Jersey discussed some names that the Phillies should/could take a look at. Here is our Monday “Daily Debate” on some bats that could possibly be available, and maybe even look god in red pinstripes.
Ruben Amaro also senses that his bullpen may need some help, which is why he has reportedly asked about Padres closer Heath Bell, as well as set-up man Chad Qualls. Hard to see them making a play for either, but you can’t fault Amaro for asking. While the Phillies bullpen has been a bright spot, you can never have too many arms.
Qualls has a $6 million team option in 2012 with a $1.5 million buyout. If the Phillies were to bring him in, at the minimum he would represent a $2.25 million stopgap with the salary he is owed for this season.
Bell is owed roughly $3.75 million for the remainder of this season and then he can become a free agent. It would be interesting to see Bell to Philly – would he close or set up for Ryan Madson? Either way, the fans would dig him, no doubt about it.
Either way, Ruben Amaro is working the phones early this year. Prepare for a juicy month and a half.
Posts: 103 Bart Shart
Great to hear that Ruben is off his fat ass and finally trying to do something. We need him to get active.
Posted: 09:31 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Shaun
Finally get active? Really? He has done nothing but make moves and acquire players that no other player thought attainable. Everyone loved the Ibanez signing, we inked utley and howard. We traded for Lee, Oswalt, and Halladay then proceeded to sign 2 of them. Amaro has done so much for this team
Posted: 10:02 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
Another thread and more complaining. “Finally trying to do something” ?? Bart, have you been asleep the past few years??
Posted: 10:03 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 1429 Pat Gallen
It’s really wild, I don’t get the complainers. Bart, you can’t really believe that Amaro is sitting on his ass doing nothing. That’s ridiculous.
I feel like some people just want to get a rise out of others.
Posted: 10:10 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 bfpsu
It’s a shame Blanton hasn’t been healthy so far this season . I think he could have been used as a trading chip which could have been used to free up some salary to get another bat.
Posted: 10:49 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 TheDipsy
Ludwick? I’ll take him! What an inprovement he would be.
The Dipsy
Posted: 11:16 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Bart Shart
Tim, just trying to get the blogger juices flowing. Amaro has gotten us some gems in the past. I just wish he would continue getting us gems. Maybe he will. I hope so dAnd I do enjoy my sleep, that’s for sure. But lately I have been kept awake worring about the Phils’ offense.
Posted: 11:30 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Ludwick might be a good deal. Would be better than a diminishing Ibanez his contract isnt bad. The bullpen i dont know we been doing good on that front but i believe RAJ doesnt like putting young talent in high stakes situations come the playoffs. Herndon has been looking good lately so far Stutes has been great as well. I have a feeling something is wrong with Contreras. Who know if Lidge will ever come back an if he does do you trust in any situation.
Posted: 11:36 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Bart Shart
Personally, I would take Ludwick in a minute. I also believe that Lidge may in fact be finished as a professional baseball player. Too many injuries back-to-back. We will never forget 2009.
Also, I have been thinking about the crazy blog where Gallen and Gill talk about getting Carlos Beltran. The more I think about it, the more I like it. The guy can still hit and could cover left field better than Ibanez, and may even have a couple of years left in his switch-hitting potent bat. Not bad.
Posted: 11:42 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H.
Ludwick would be a perfect fit. Its funny you post this because I was watchin the dads / sox game last night and thinking exactly that. this is exactly the type of guy I want to see the Phils add. nothing more. as long as he comes cheap. I’d give up worley and or kendrick for Ludwick
Posted: 11:53 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Hamels78
You would trade Worley really?
Posted: 12:17 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H.
worley is just another JA Happ.
in fact… he’s not even nearly that good. lots of guys look good their first time through the league. Worley clearly doesn’t have the movement or the velocity on his ball to be a real good pitcher over any long period of time in the big leagues.
Posted: 01:19 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Hamels78
Ryan H. I totally agree with this comment, that Worley is overated based on other not having been able to scout him that well. However, I think we could get something better for Worley as we did with Happ last year. I also might be worth holding onto a cheap SP since Oswalt will be walking and we’ll need extra money to lock down Hamels.
Posted: 10:01 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 1429 Pat Gallen
I know if said this before, but I feel bad for Raul. He worked his ASS off this offseason and it really hasn’t translated. When you lose bat speed, you lose it for good usually, especially in this era.
Posted: 11:53 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H.
he’ll come around. we should all know by now how streaky he is. he’ll carry the lineup for two weeks some time this summer and finish with respectable numbers.
Posted: 11:55 AM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Hamels78
The problem with Raul is his defensive stats. His UZR is almost an MLB low and so his now average bat does not make up for his awful defense.
Posted: 12:26 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 413 Publius
He’ll come around as soon as we play the Nats again, and will then proceed to fall off a cliff again.
Posted: 12:29 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 1046 Manny
@Publius
Nats pitching is 10th in baseball. A very solid 3.58.
Stop doing everything imaginable to discredit what Raul can do and/or has done.
I’m with Ryan H. on this: he’s streaky… he’ll come back and tear it up for several weeks. Then slump some. Rinse and repeat.
Posted: 02:54 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 413 Publius
The ERA is misleading. They’re actually 25th in xFIP (4.07), which is a much better stat than ERA. Raul is hitting .253/.306/.424 vs. teams under .500 and a terrible .219/.265/.352 vs. teams over .500.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Raul is feasting on bad pitching and is terrible vs. good.
Posted: 03:00 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Hamels78
I’m not even talking about his bat… his bat is fine is oWar is 0 this year… so he’s about at replacement level. However, his defense is killing us. I love Raul, but this is just a fact
Posted: 09:58 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 TheDipsy
Pat. He makes 11m a year. Why would you feel bad for him? Did you see “A Bronx Tale”? You think Mickey Mantle gives a sh7t if you have a bad day? Raul should wear a mask every Friday when he picks up his paycheck.
Just kiddin. Hey, that the way it goes. He had a good run. He has a fine career to look back on.
The Dipsy
Posted: 12:21 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Just a random thought let say Bastardo becomes a superstar closer. Would anyone want to walk around with a BASTARDo Jersey??????????????
Posted: 12:25 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 3450 Lefty
Sure, “Glorius Bastardo” with a big Phillies P- Start the presses, they’ll sell like hot cakes.
Posted: 12:37 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 3450 Lefty
Doh! “Glorious”
Posted: 12:38 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 413 Publius
I wholeheartedly agree that the Phillies need a bat which can hit LHP. However, Ludwick is NOT that player. He actually has a reverse platoon split this year (.250/.318/.409, 114 sOPS+ vs. RHP compared to .271/.338/.339, 85 sOPS+ vs. LHP). Pat should know better than to assume that right handed bat = automatically good vs. lefties, because Ludwick is not that way. Raul actually hits lefties better than Ludwick does (.240/.275/.440, sOPS+ 120).
That all being said if Ludwick is available I would take him, I just wouldn’t trade the farm (i.e. one of Cosart/May/Valle/Singleton) for him, but Worley+ an org arm (Mathieson?) should be enough.
Posted: 12:29 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
How does his career split vs LHP look . . . that would be more telling than using just this season
Posted: 12:54 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 413 Publius
Good point. .279/.346/.484 vs. righties, .235 /.312/.431 vs. lefties in his career. Raul Ibanez has a career .268/.322/.433 vs. lefties.
Ludwick is simply gonna be another bat that can be stymied by a strong left-handed reliever in the close-and-late games of the playoffs. No thanks.
Posted: 01:00 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
yea without looking at all the numbers . . . I was the biggest fan of Cuddyer . . . then probably Willingham, but he’s nothing special vs. RHP, I dont think
Willingham is the type of addition the 2005 Phillies would have made at the deadline
Posted: 01:03 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 413 Publius
Just for comparison sake vs. lefties:
Cuddyer (2011): .388/.481/.731 (!)
Cuddyer (Career): .293/.381/.492
$10mil 2011 salary
Willingham (2011): .211/.291/.465
Willingham(Career): .261/.378/.493
$6mil 2011 salary
Also, let’s just throw in Ryan Spilborghs
Spilborghs (2011): .250/.322/.404
Spilborghs(Career): .280/.366/.453
$1.95mil 2011 salary, arb eligible for 2012
Posted: 01:12 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Chuck
Spilborghs is an interesting thought…
Posted: 01:46 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
For the difference of $2 M for the remainder of the season… I’d rather have Cuddyer over “J.Will” or whatever creative name Sarge would give him
I think Cuddyer also plugs into the 5th spot in the lineup, maybe 6th … whereas the other two, I’d probably rather leave Polanco there
…
I was just about to write a lineup with Rollins leadoff, and for the first time, stopped…because I think it might be time that Vic finally takes that from him…espc with Rollins lack of power batting RH this year
Vic, Polly, Utley, Howard, Cuddyer, Rollins, Brown, Ruiz, Pitcher
vs. RHP:
Rollins, Vic, Utley, Howard, Polly, Ibanez, Brown, Ruiz, Pitcher
Posted: 01:25 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Bob in Bucks
For all of those concerned with Ibanez I think you have it wrong. IF we get a RH bat the guy who is going to go is Francisco. AND the RH bat is going to take more time from Brown than from Ibanez.
Look at the numbers. Ibanez is more productive than Brown. Yes, he is a defensive liability but that is not the problem right now. Ibanez actually does OK vs LH pitchers, Brown is totally lost at this point.
Cuddyer is obviously the guy to get but it will likely push the Phils over the luxury tax total besides they will have to give up something.
Spilburghs is great but Phils will have to give prospects to get him (Singleton +).
Posted: 01:58 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 413 Publius
Brown has 32 PA in his CAREER vs. LHP. That’s a bit too small of a sample size to come to any conclusions about. Besides, not playing him vs. lefties won’t help him get better against lefties.
Posted: 02:23 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Me
You’re in idiot
Posted: 02:12 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
if you’re counting on Brown to be a starter in RF …(or LF?) next year… you need to give the kid regular playing time . . . and if you’re doing that while batting him 7th, you can afford to have him struggle a little at the bottom of the lineup right now if it will help him solve LHP sooner
Posted: 02:27 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
Absolutely Brown needs playing time against righties AND lefties. A platoon will do him no good at this point in his career.
Posted: 02:34 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 1429 Pat Gallen
I’m with everyone on Brown. Although it did work out in the end, Charlie should have left Brown in against the lefty last night instead of pulling him for Ben Fran. Gotta see what this kid is made of. Play him every day, every at bat.
Posted: 03:23 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 104 Dropped Strike Three
Does Spilborghs really require a top prospect in return? If so, I’m out, but he’s on the top of my short list right now.
Posted: 03:32 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
Is Worley and Rizotti too much to give up for Cuddyer (and maybe a young prospect from the Twins)?
Posted: 04:26 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Jeff
I would love to get Cuddyer but Ludwick would be a great move. I think in our ballpark he can hit some homers. add some protection behind ryan. ryan has nobody batting behind him. poly is a second hole hitter. he is struggling at 5. jr will make the right move. hey its not his fault howard is not earning that new deal.
Posted: 04:42 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 413 Publius
oooh, a “protection” comment. I just can’t pass that up. Protection, put simply, does not exist. The whole concept of protection is one of those holdovers which, while it makes logical sense, does not stand up to scrutiny.
That all being said, a righty bat with pop batting behind Ryan does sound ideal. Ludwick may very well hit more dingers at CBP, but his bad line vs. lefties means that all a manager has to do to limit the damage from the heart of our lineup is bring in a LOOGY.
Also, it is definitely Rube’s fault that he overpaid Howard in the first place, when his decline was foreseen by so many people, just not Rube himself.
Finally, would it kill you to capitalize? Yeesh.
Posted: 04:57 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
you definitely get pitched to differently if you have a legit hitter behind you, instead of a Replacement player …
same thing can be said about guys in front of you that get on base . ..
I dont think its all a myth
Posted: 05:27 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 Don M
weird… a Howard contract comment
$20 M this season, and he’s 3rd in MLB with 59 RBI …. Not sure what other guys he can drive-in ….and that’s the reason he got his contract, because he’s always a league leader in RBI ,as it turns out, even when the rest of the team isn’t hitting, he still drives them in
Posted: 04:46 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
My day is finally complete with the daily anti-Ryan Howard comment on PhilliesNation.
Posted: 05:03 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 0 TheDipsy
Cuddyer flat out mauls lefties. Not hit. Maul. Somebody suggested that Francisco would have the time taken from him and not Raul. Wow, thats smart. If we got Cuddyer they would probably just let Ibanez go. Look…its not my money, but for an extra 2 mill……?????? Cmon.
The Dipsy
Posted: 04:49 PM on June 22, 2011
Posts: 440 Bruce
At the end of the day, Rauu..ul is still a member of the Phillies and playing regularly while the gripers will go on and on like a broken record (chuckles).
Posted: 05:47 PM on June 22, 2011