Odds and Ends: Samuel, Sandberg, Lee

-It is now official: the Phillies have spoken with Juan Samuel’s agent about filling the first base coaching vacancy left by Davy Lopes. Samuel was the Orioles interm manager this season before the team hired Buck Showalter. He’s also on the Phillies Wall of Fame, meaning the transition should be a smooth one from the likable Lopes.

The numbers speak for themselves when you talk about Lopes and what he did for the running game during his tenure. Obviously, whoever gets the job has big shoes to fill.

–According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, Mickey Morandini (don’t tell me you can look at that name and not have Harry Kalas say those words in you’re head) wants to jump back into coaching and the Phillies could bring him in. Salisbury says the two parties have spoken and he could be in line for a job in the farm system in 2011.

MICKEY MORANDINI!

-Also believed to be in consideration is Ryne Sandberg, whom is also being looked as a possibility for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley managerial position. Bringing back Sandberg, who was traded from the Phillies in 1981 to the Cubs, would also help ease the blow of losing such a top-notch first base coach, should they want to put him on the big club.

Yesterday, Jay Floyd touched on Sandberg possibly rejoining the organization in some capacity.

-Cliff Lee is officially being courted by the Yankees. In a recruiting-style trip, Yankees GM Brian Cashman is headed to Arkansas to meet with Lee

and his family in an attempt to fill his house with hundred dollar bills. OK, maybe he’s not going that far, but odds are the Yankees will offer him a considerable amount of money to join. Only the Rangers seem to be as hot on Lee as the Yankees are, although as many as eight teams, including the Phillies, have shown some level of interest in the left-hander.

My personal hope is that he resigns with the Rangers. They have a fine young core and he would be the ace they need going forward. Again, any good player can go to the Yankees and win. Rather, I’d like to see a guy like Lee stick with a team that doesn’t throw money around like Halloween candy to anyone and everyone. Let’s hope that if the Phillies can’t nail him down in Philly again, that the Rangers keep him.