The Phillies today claimed RHP Tim Lahey off waivers. They also grabbed IF Chris Woodward.
To make room, they outrighted Chris Snelling, Ray Olmedo and JD Durbin to AAA Lehigh Valley. (I suppose Durbin wasn’t waived, or he wasn’t taken by anybody.)
Lahey, 26, wasn’t terrible ascending the ranks to AAA Rochester last year. His K/9 rate diminished considerably each season while in the Twins farm system. He was picked up first in the Rule V draft by the Rays, then sold to the Cubs. This spring with Chicago, he went 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA in 11 innings. He walked eight and struck out seven. He started strong then fizzled, making him vulnerable to the cut.
Lahey is just another righty arm that the Phils hope will make sense early on in the season. With Snelling going to Lehigh Valley, Wes Helms becomes the final hitter (for now), and Lahey joins the bullpen as the 25th man. He’ll likely be given an audition until Francisco Rosario is ready to return.
Woodward, 31, is a veteran who was in camp with the Yankees. He tried to make better on his .199 clip in 2007. Career, he is a .243 hitter with 33 home runs and 186 RBI. He obviously didn’t make the Yankees.
Woodward will probably start the season in Lehigh Valley, as Eric Bruntlett is blocking his path. But he offers an option if Helms gets traded. He also gives Lehigh Valley another passable bat.
The current 25-man roster, as it stands:
Carlos Ruiz
Chris Coste
Ryan Howard
Chase Utley
Pedro Feliz
Jimmy Rollins
Eric Bruntlett
Wes Helms
Greg Dobbs
Pat Burrell
Shane Victorino
Geoff Jenkins
Jayson Werth
So Taguchi
Cole Hamels
Brett Myers
Jamie Moyer
Kyle Kendrick
Adam Eaton
Chad Durbin
Tim Lahey
Clay Condrey
Ryan Madson
JC Romero
Tom Gordon
We’re waiting on where Woodward goes; that will determine Helms’ fate, as well.
To be frank, I don’t understand either of these moves. If anything, we need a good, veteran arm for the bullpen, not this Rule V junk. And Woodward is coming into a position of strength. Infield is not the priority.
Latest Comments