As good as your team was the year before, that all becomes irrelevant once the Winter Meetings come along. Every Major League team with the financial means will be looking to improve their roster, and the runners-up in the ‘09 World Series are no different. The Phillies have already been rumored to be going after a quality relief pitcher (particularly Brandon Lyon) and they are dangling Joe Blanton to teams to free up some salary space for presumably another big move.
This is all fine and dandy. After Ruben Amaro Jr.’s moves to bring in Raul Ibanez and Clifton Phifer Lee last season I have total trust that he can do what is necessary to make this team better. But with the Yankees potentially landing Curtis Granderson, it will take more than a bullpen upgrade to reclaim the World Series. The Phillies need to make a bold move to separate themselves from the pack in the National League…
With Polanco in town, where does Shane hit in the Phillies lineup?
The Phillies need to trade either Shane Victorino or Jayson Werth.
Now before you…HEY! STOP LAUGHING! Seriously!
We all learned the hard way against the Evil Empire that good pitching trumps an outstanding lineup 9 out of 10 times once the postseason rolls around. Do you really feel confident with Cole Hamels being the #2 behind Cliff Lee? What if he struggles again? Do you think Joe Blanton can have another strong season like he did in ‘09? He sure wasn’t great in the playoffs. What about J.A. Happ? Will hitters start making adjustments against him now that they’ve seen him for a full season? Don’t even get me started on the currently vacant fifth spot in the rotation: Jamie Moyer is finished, and Kyle Kendrick…ummm…is still Kyle Kendrick.
The Phils clearly need another quality starter, a guy who can take the mound behind Lee in the rotation and shut other teams down. How do you go about shoring up a weakness? By dealing from strength. The Phils outfield is loaded not just on the Big League team, but in the minors as well.
Say you move Shane Victorino for a #2 starter (someone like a Josh Johnson, or dare I say a Roy Halladay?)…Jayson Werth could slide over from right, or you could just plug Ben Francisco in the starting lineup. With Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown waiting in the wings in the Minors, and plenty of names available in free agency (including Rick Ankiel, Coco Crisp, and Mike Cameron, a solid center fielder in his own right who hit 24 homers last season) replacing Shane would not be as tough a task as it may seem. What about Werth? Again Francisco could start if need be, but you could also make a big move in free agency and go after a Jason Bay or a Matt Holliday. Those guys too rich for your blood? Jermaine Dye, Rocco Baldelli, Xavier Nady, and Randy Winn could all split time with Francisco in right. Again, plenty of replacement options if need be.
If you asked me to pick one of the two to move it would be Victorino. With Placido Polanco in town (another #2 hitter) where does Shane hit in the Phillies lineup? He doesn’t have the power to protect the big bats and his skill set would be wasted at the bottom of the lineup. The centerfield free agent crop is also stronger than the corner outfield spots.
Obviously moving either of those two guys is not something Philly fans will love, but when they see a rotation headed by Lee, *insert another dominant pitcher here*, and Hamels leading them back to the World Series they won’t really care. Yes, Shane brings some electrifying speed to the table and Jayson is one of the most patient hitters in baseball, but both can be replaced, and the player(s) we’d get in return could help fill other major holes. Also the Phillies strong outfield prospects are going to need a shot at the Majors eventually; why not deal an asset like Victorino or Werth when their value is at its peak?
I’m not saying any of this is going to happen, but the worst thing you can do as an organization when you are at the top is get complacent. The Phillies need to keep finding ways to improve, even if it requires some unorthodox thinking along the way.
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