Free Agency: Phillies in Desperate Need of Pop at 3rd Base, Protection for Ryan Howard…
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Near the end of last season, Phillies 1st baseman Ryan Howard got nothing to hit. Batting cleanup behind 2nd baseman Chase Utley, pitchers went around Howard. Leftfielder Pat Burrell, despite his 29 homers and 95 RBIs, sporting a .258 batting average provided Howard little protection in the 5th slot to prevent pitchers from working around him. As a result, Howard who had 56 homers at September 8 and had a real shot at hitting over 60, got only 2 more homers and only 11 RBIs through the end of the season. He didn’t homer in the last 9 games while the Phils made their run for the wild card.
But the Phils need more in the way of hitting than just protection for Howard in order to get a leg up on the Mets. They must put a 3rd baseman out there with pop. When they traded David Bell, they had nowhere else to go at 3rd base besides paltry .211 hitting utility fielder Abraham Nunez. To catch and jump over the Mets, they need a 3rd baseman with clout who will augment Ultey and Howard. In short, the optimum would be a 3rd baseman who hits a ton and who will fit into the 5 slot behind Howard.
Brian Michael of Phillies Nation has a couple of recent posts which hit the nail on the head;
3rd Basemen Interview (Commenting on September loss to the Cubs by 11-6):
…The Phils mounted a valiant comeback in the fourth inning, complete with a grand slam by pinch-hitter Jose Hernandez; but that was the only inning they could muster any productive offensive and the Cubs lead was too great. Much of the damage came at the hands of Aramis Ramirez who went 4-5 with seven RBIs and two home runs. Whether he realized it or not, he likely made quite an impression on a team in need of a third baseman with hitting capabilities.
Ramirez has three years remaining on his current contract, but has a clause which would allow him to void the remainder this year and test the free agent market. This should be very intriguing to Pat Gillick and Ruben Amaro, Jr and I suggest they not let Ramirez leave town without a quick conversation with him or his agent Paul Kinzer. The Phils are in desperate need of both a right-handed hitter with pop and an everyday third baseman - Ramirez is both. On the season he is batting .293/.354/.558 with 35 HR and 110 RBI and just 59 strikeouts. These numbers sound a bit like what we all hoped Pat Burrell would produce this season. Defensively, his .943 career fielding percentage is lower than Nunez’s mark of .965 but Ramirez’s numbers at the plate would more than make up for adequate fielding.
Topping the Phillies’ wish list this winter are Alfonso Soriano and Gary Sheffield. Landing Soriano would be a huge steal, but would undoubtedly require a significant amount of cash - cash that would not be available if the Phils are forced pay any of Pat Burrell’s remaining contract. The Phils also have to resign Brett Myers who is coming off a 1-year deal and is eligible for arbitration. Soriano did not like playing left field in DC and as a hottest free agent of the off-season, he will likely have the leverage to demand a return to his old position, second base (despite his poor fielding numbers there). Although Sheff’s Chefs would be a great addition to the litany of Phillies fan groups, the aging, oft-injuried outfielder may not be the solution the Phils are looking for. The Phils need a bat to protect Ryan Howard, that is a fact; now whether it comes in the form of an outfielder, third baseman or catcher is the question. An option for a third base bat could come in the form of Aramis Ramirez, whom we’ve discussed before and has since filed for free agency. The Phillies are also interested in Akinori Iwamura, a 27 year-old Japanese third baseman.
While there is a lot of talk about Washington’s Alfonso Soriano, his cost may be too prohibitive for the Phils to bear. Further, if he doesn’t want to play leftfield, his old position at 2nd base in not something that the Phils can accomodate with Utley a fixture there. But the flip side may be freeing up a trade; a deal including Burrell for a Rolen-type 3rd baseman.
The optimum solution, if the Phils can pull it off, could be the Chicago Cubs’ Aramis Ramirez; a good, late 20s, all-around 3rd baseman with clout and average. The only other possible 3rd base free agent candidate is 35 year old Rich Aurilia of the Cincinnati Reds.
The Phils however appear to be building with young players. At best, Aurilia, off of his 2006 performance of 23 HRs, 70 RBIs and .300 batting average, could be a band-aid until a 3rd baseman is groomed in the farm system.
For a list of all of the players who have filed for Free Agency, click here.
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