The Winter Meetings have ended, and the Phillies came out making only small moves.
First, the big moves outside of Philadelphia:
CHAPMAN STICKS: The Yankees closed in on a five-year, $86 million deal with reliever Aroldis Chapman. So the Yankees lost him only for a few months, and in return they got some prospects. Not bad, Brian Cashman.
WADE OUT OF THE POOL?: Kansas City reliever Wade Davis was dealt Wednesday to the Cubs for outfielder Jorge Soler. And before you ask: No, Hector Neris wouldn’t have brought back Soler.
MELANCON AND THE INFINITE SAN-NESS: Getting crazy with the puns here. Mark Melancon signed a four year, $62 million deal with the Giants. Melancon was considered the leader of the second tier of relief arms, after Chapman and Kenley Jansen (the Marlins are players for him).
IAN OUT: Ian Desmond signed on with the Rockies to the tune of five years and $70 million. Which seems wild. The Rockies outfield is a little full right now, but they might stick Desmond at first base, or they might move Carlos Gonzalez to first base so Desmond can play corner outfield. Either way, five years and $70 million.
EATON FOR THREE: Finally, the Nationals are betting big on the next two years, sending top prospect Lucas Giolito, plus Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning, to the White Sox for outfielder Adam Eaton. This continues the Sox’s fire sale, which started when they fired (Chris Sale) out to Boston. As for the Nats, the window is closing, and they hope Eaton gives them the thump necessary to win a pennant in 2017.
For the Phillies …
They picked up Joaquin Benoit on a one-year, $7.5 million deal. And while they didn’t draft anyone in the Rule 5, they only lost one player, left-hander Hoby Milner. While a loss nonetheless, seeing only Milner go wasn’t the worst scenario for the Phils. They actually made out fine.
We’ll have more on the Benoit move coming up, along with some ideas about who the Phils could still target to fill holes.
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