With Ordonez, Risks Outweight Benefits
He does make much more sense than Matt Holliday, who will be a free agent after 2009 and command a Herculean deal. Here are the benefits of Ordonez:
- A lifetime .312 hitter who hit .363 in 2007.
- A guy who strikes out less than 80 times per season.
- A right-handed hitter who can break up Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
- Team control possible in 2010 and 2011.
The downfalls, however, are large:
- A history of knee problems.
- $18 million the Phils would have to pay much of in 2009.
- Potential $15M in those 2010 and 2011 seasons.
According to Bless You Boys, the Tigers are trying to get relief pitching, catching and/or a shortstop. Some names I can immediately throw into the fire: Ryan Madson, Carlos Ruiz, Lou Marson, Jason Donald.
A trade for Ordonez would likely mean taking on most of his salary, plus adding either Marson or Donald. Maybe a smaller, minor league filler player, as well.
So, would eating a potential $30M through three years, plus — let’s say — Lou Marson and Antonio Bastardo be the kind of deal that we’d want?
I don’t know if that’s good. Ordonez is a skilled hitter, but the money is too large, and the Phils would still have to give the Tigers some sort of young bounty. You’re also looking at a potential injury risk with Ordonez playing everyday in left field. Would I be happy with a Rocco Baldelli out in left field? Not necessarily. But I’d be unhappier with the cost of Magglio.
