Phillies Nation

Jim Salisbury of CSN is reporting that Michael Schwimer, originally scheduled to pitch today for the Phils, has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for 1B Art Charles. Schwimer, 27, had a 4.62 ERA in 47 games for the Phillies across 2011 and 2012. Schwimer averages over a strikeout per inning in Major League action and helped stabilize the bullpen as the Phillies made a second-half charge in 2012. Charles, 22, is a 6’6″ first baseman out of Bakersfield College, originally drafted in the 20th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Charles has a career .239/.358/.482 Minor League triple-slash in three seasons. Charles has power and the ability to get on base but is not projected by many to reach the Majors.

Analysis: This one is a tricky one to figure out. Schwimer likely fell out of favor with management when he sought a second opinion for his injury last August but was pitching well enough to stay with the club regardless. Schwimer was thought to have an outside shot to make the club out of camp and almost guaranteed to see at least some time with the club during the season if someone went down with injury. His absence will improve the odds of Phillippe Aumont and Justin De Fratus making the team.

As a side note, Schwimer was the first player I ever interviewed. He was a gracious guy, never turned down an interview, and a friend of the site. We at Phillies Nation wish him the best of luck in Toronto.

Juan Cruz, 34, was the odds on favorite among the non-roster invitee relievers to make the club out of Spring Training. Today, Todd Zolecki reported that Cruz and the Phillies have decided to part ways. Zolecki indicates that the signing of Chad Durbin made Cruz believe his window to make the club was increasingly narrow. Cruz was the only pitcher to not report to camp on time yesterday.

Cruz is now a free agent and can sign with any team.

Tolbert adds considerable infield versatility to the Phils minor league depth chart. Photo: ESPN

According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, the Phillies have signed left-handed pitcher David Newmann and shortstop Matt Tolbert to minor league contracts.

Newmann, 27, was cut loose by the Rays on November 12. He was primarily a starter in their organization before transitioning to the bullpen in 2011 in Double-A. Newmann has battled injuries through his college and pro career, missing all of 2008 with a knee injury and most of 2011 and all of 2012 with a torn rotator cuff. Newmann was expected to miss 14 months after his 2012 rotator cuff injury. It is unknown whether he will be ready for 2013 or what level he will pitch at.

Tolbert, 30, spent 2008-2011 as a utility infielder for the Twins. A career .230/.288/.319 Major League hitter, Tobert’s defensive versatility kept him in the Majors. Tolbert spent last year with Triple-A Iowa of the Cubs organization, where he hit .240/.313/.304.

The Phillies had 13 players suit up and play a non-catching infield position last year, a stark contrast to nine in 2011, 12 in 2010, ten in 2009, and nine in 2009. With the average number of infielders needed by the Phillies at just over ten and a half and the Phillies currently with only seven infielders on their 40-man roster, there is a very good chance more than one of these players will see extended time at an infield spot for the Phillies, particularly considering the health concerns of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley and the ages of Jimmy Rollins and Michael Young.

Three-in-a-Row for Sneaky Pete?

Pete Orr

Much to my surprise in 2011, Pete Orr began the year with the Phillies on their Opening Day roster. Last year? Orr didn’t catch me off guard. Orr filled in well in 57 PA last year, hitting .315/.327/.444, is still among the fastest players in the Phillies organization, and still plays, at worst, average defense at all infield positions. Depending on the Phillies’ development plans for Cesar Hernandez, Orr is likely the first option to come up from Lehigh Valley should there be an injury.

Like Steven Lerud yesterday, a lot of Orr’s value comes in the fact that he’s just valuable enough to have on a roster but not so valuable that another team would select him off waivers. With limited roster space, that is a plus for Orr. Another advantage for Orr? He will be able to showcase himself as the starting second baseman for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Chances of Making Phils out of Spring Training: D+. Kevin Frandsen and Freddy Galvis complicate Orr’s chances of starting the year with the team, but if Young, Rollins, or Utley aren’t ready, or even Frandsen or Galvis, Orr is probably the first infielder up.

Chances of Seeing Time with Phils in 2013: C. Not as likely as last year, but a reasonable 50/50 shot to be on the roster at some point in 2013 unless Hernandez or one of the others greatly outplays him.

Continue reading 2013 Non-Roster Invitee Preview: Infielders

In order to make room on the 40-man roster for the returning Chad Durbin, J.C. Ramirez was designated for assignment. Ramirez, acquired in the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle in December 2009, turned 24 this past August. After his K/9 IP fell below seven (5.6) for the first time in his career at Double-A Reading in 2011, Ramirez’s K totals bounced back in a relief role at Reading and Lehigh Valley in 2012 (7 K/9 IP).

In 2012, Ramirez pitched 45 innings in relief, lowering his hits/9 IP and HR/9 IP, while increasing his K-rate but saw his BB/9 IP increase by .7. Ramirez seemed to have found a niche as a reliever last season, with his successes coming on his low 90′s fastball and his bread-and-butter curve. Now, with a bullpen full of young players and veterans alike, Ramirez is without a role and the most initially promising prospects the Phillies acquired in the initial Lee trade may soon end up on a new team who is willing to take a flyer.

The Phillies added some depth to their spring roster by signing veteran right-handed reliever Juan Cruz to a minor-league contract, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Championship.

Cruz, 34, had a 2.78 ERA last year but was wild and when he refused to accept a demotion to Triple-A, the Pirates released him.

He’s pitched for seven teams in 12 years. He has a 4.05 career ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and has struck out four more batters than innings pitched. He has a mid-90s fastball, and also uses a cutter, slider and changeup.

Cruz’s best year was 2008 with the Diamondbacks, when he pitched to a 2.61 ERA in 51.2 innings, with 71 strikeouts.

He’s also made 10 postseason appearances and finished two games. When the Phillies were swept in the 2007 NLDS by the Rockies, Cruz — pitching for Arizona — held Colorado hitless with eight strikeouts in four appearances in the next round.

The only other notable thing to add is that Cruz was part of the package the Athletics sent to the Braves in December 2004 for Tim Hudson. It was Cruz, reliever Dan Meyer and outfield Charles Thomas for Hudson. Thomas had upside but never realized it.

Really points out how long Hudson has been with the Braves. Can you believe he’s made 50 more appearances for Atlanta than Oakland?

Mike Adams’ third-year option with the Phillies can be voided if he suffers an elbow or shoulder injury in 2014 that prevents him from starting the 2015 season, according to the Inquirer.

Adams is set to earn $12 million over two seasons from the Phillies. If he makes 65 appearances in 2014 — as he’s done just twice in eight seasons — his $6 million option for 2015 vests. If Adams combines for 120 appearances over 2013 and 2014, the 2015 salary increases to $6.5 million. It means that Adams’ deal can be worth up to $18.5 million over three years.

John Lannan, signed to a one-year, $2.5-million deal, can earn up to $5 million through incentives. Raises of $200,000 a pop kick in at 150, 160, 170, 180 and 190 innings. If Lannan eclipses 200 or 210 innings, he earns separate bonuses of $250,000. He also would earn a quarter of a million dollars for each start from 31-34. If Lannan makes 34 starts and pitches 210 innings, he’d reach the full value of his contract and earn $5 million. His career-highs in starts is 33 (reached twice) and innings is 206 1/3.

Luxury tax calculations aren’t made until the end of the season, once player bonuses are taken into account, and Lannan’s effectiveness will impact the Phils’ payroll. Though if he reaches the full value of his deal, it will mean that he averaged more than six innings per start and didn’t miss any time with injury, in which case the Phillies will be glad to pay out the extra $2.5 million.

Ross has signed a three-year pact with Arizona. Photo: AP

Ross Signs with Arizona

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News is reporting that Cody Ross has agreed to a three-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, further limiting the opportunities for the Phillies to upgrade their outfield production.Ten days ago, our Eric Seidman explained why the price tag for Ross just would not match the upgrade value he would provide in the Phillies outfield. Now, fans no longer have to discuss that question.

Phils Interested in Ibanez Reunion?

Somewhat surprisingly, the Phillies are linked to a reunion with outfielder Raul Ibanez according to George King of the New York Post. In 425 plate appearances for the Yankees in 2012, Ibanez posted .240/.308/.453 line with 19 HRs. Jim Salisbury of CSN quoted Ruben Amaro yesterday, citing a need for a productive, right-handed bat. Ibanez is not right-handed and it can be argued that he is no longer productive, but 2012′s postseason hero could add some value in a bench role for the Phillies in 2013 at age 41. King notes that the Mariners have intensified their pursuit of Ibanez in what would be a reunion in its own right.

Hairston Looking For “Significant” Raise

Buster Olney of ESPN reported today that Scott Hairston is looking for a “significant” raise from last year’s $1.1 million he earned as a Met. Hairston fits the Phillies’ outfield need and was suggested by our Eric Seidman as a cheaper, just-as-productive alternative to Cody Ross. Salisbury reported yesterday that the Phillies have increased interest in Hairston, who turns 33 next year, and posted a .286/.317/.550 line with 11 HRs against lefties last year while playing about league average defense in the corner outfield positions.

Polanco is headed to Miami. Photo: AP

Former Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco agreed to a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Marlins, reported by CBS Sports’ Danny Knobler. Polanco played in just 90 games last season while nursing various back injuries. Polanco hit career-lows .257/.302/.327 for the Phillies but still provided positive fielding value in the field. Polanco, 37, leaves Philadelphia after earning a Gold Glove and All-Star appearance with the club. He is entering his 17th Major League season.

Former Phillies infielder Brian Bocock signed a Minor League deal with the Washington Nationals according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America. Bocock last appeared in the Majors as a member of the Phillies in 2010, seeing time in six games primarily as a defensive replacement. Bocock spent last year with the Blue Jays’ Double-A New Hampshire club and their Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate.

Pitcher Andrew Carpenter has also found a new home according to Eddy. Carpenter is entering his age 28 season and has signed a Minor League deal with the Cubs. Carpenter has pitched in 65 games over parts of five Major League seasons with a 7.56 ERA. No word on what his former Cal-State Long Beach teammate John Bowker is up to these days.

Reliever Nelson Figueroa signed a Minor League deal with the Diamondbacks per Eddy. Figueroa spent 2012 with the Triple-A affiliates of the Red Sox and Yankees. Figueroa saw time with the Phillies in 2010, pitching in 26 games before being traded to the Astros.

Utility infielder Cody Ransom signed a Minor League deal with the San Diego Padres according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. Ransom hit .220/.312/.411 with 11 HRs for Arizona last season, playing all four infield positions. Ransom was a Phillie in 2010 and provided a pair of memorable home runs in 22 games for the club.

2012 Lehigh Valley IronPig Dave Bush has signed a Minor League deal with the Blue Jays, the team that drafted him in 2002, also reported by Eddy. Bush posted a 3.16 ERA in 11 starts last year for the ‘Pigs and also spent part of 2012 pitching in Korea.

The Phils have just enough room to squeeze Ross on to the team, financially and roster-wise. Photo: AP

In the last nine days, or 216 hours, the Phillies have added six players to their 40-man roster and only have subtracted two (Josh Lindblom and Vance Worley). Some snuck quietly under the radar, such as the Rule 5 selection of Ender Inciarte or yesterday’s waiver claim of lefty reliever Mauricio Robles from Seattle, while others, like Michael Young and Ben Revere‘s acquisitions, sparked debate here, here, and here.

The reality of adding a new player every 36 hours for nine days is that your roster gets pretty crowded pretty quickly. The Phillies 40-man roster now sits at 39 players, which does not include Carlos Ruiz and does not currently include a back-up catcher. Can the Phillies afford to add one or more players, such as Cody Ross, who Ken Rosenthal has linked them to, since Chooch will be player #40 once his suspension is up? The simple answer is: yes. Do they have enough money to do so? That gets more complicated. Continue reading Phils Have Enough Money, Space to Land Ross