Soriano, Ramirez Sign, Re-sign With Cubs, What’s the Phillies Plan to Protect Ryan Howard?
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In following the annual Free Agent machinations, we’ve seen the men of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs re-sign their offensively talented formerly free agent 3rd baseman Aramis Ramirez as well as signing former Washington Nationals power hitting leftfielder Alfonso Soriano to huge multi-year deals, both players were coveted by the Phillies as possible #5 hitters behind Ryan Howard. With their acquistion of additional pitching in the off-season, the Cubs seem destined to go from NL Central Division cellar-dwellers to mounting a serious drive toward the NL Central Division title and beyond in 2007.
But where does this leave the Phillies in their efforts to add power protection for Ryan Howard to their lineup?
With the Ramirez, Soriano signings, the Phils now seem to be focusing on Texas Rangers’ powerful leftfielder and free agent Carlos Lee who hit 37 homers with 116 RBIs and a .300 BA in 2006. But with the humongous contracts signed by Ramirez and Soriano, Lee’s stock is now rising through the roof. Lee’s tag, and the competition to sign him, may push the envelope of the price tag to a figure too steep for the Phils.
But General Manager Pat Gillick claims to have a “backup plan.’ PhillyNews.com reporter Marcus Hayes writes;
General manager Pat Gillick indicated that the Phillies didn’t mind so much Soriano’s $17 million annual price tag - they opened at around $15 million - but they weren’t considering anything like the 8 years the Cubs gave Soriano, 30.
“We were uncomfortable with the length, not the average salary,” Gillick said. “We have a backup plan.”
Gillick has said that other free-agent outfielders could be signed if they lost out on Soriano, though he indicated that Carlos Lee, the last of the big-name, long-term position players on the market, might price himself out of the Phillies’ range, especially since Soriano’s deal likely increased Lee from a $12 million-a-year player to substantially more.
“Sometimes, you have to take small steps. They add up,” Gillick said.
If the Phillies do sign a small-step player - Preston Wilson? Bernie Williams? Gary Matthews Jr.? - they still are expected to try to deal leftfielder Pat Burrell.
An obvious solution would be trading with Toronto for Vernon Wells but the Phillies’ trade cupboard is pretty bare, unless Toronto would be interested in Burrell. Gillick has called a trade for Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez unlikely due to Ramirez’ “headache” of a personality.
For the moment, manager Charlie Manuel is hoping for a hint of a season from Burrell, Aaron Rowand or Wes Helms that, say, righty Jeff Kent had in 2000 and ‘02 hitting behind Barry Bonds.
“A lot of times, you don’t know what’s going to happen with a guy that year,” Manuel said. “It could be Burrell. It could be Rowand. It could be Helms.”
Of the “small-step players” Gillick speaks of, outfielder Matthews Jr. easily had the most impressive 2006 stats in what was for him a break-out year of 19 HRs, 79 RBIs, 194 hits and a .313 batting average. But his career stats are low and up and down throughout his 8 year career.
But the 3 “small-step players” are iffy at best and their stats indicate a lack of productivity, perhaps even beneath the level of Pat Burrell in an off-year.
Hayes makes reference in the article to Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells who shows coonsistency and steady improvement over the last 3 seasons including a 2006 season of 32 HRs, 106 RBIs and .303 BA. Wells looks easily like the best of the lot of “small-step players” at this point.
It’s still early and we’ll see if Pat Gillick has any rabbits to pull out of his hat. In the meantime, as great a slugger as he is, we can only hope that Ryan Howard works hard over the winter on cutting down his strikeouts without adversely effecting his homer, RBI production and his batting average.
Editor’s Note: Subsequent to posting this article, it was learned that the Angels Agree to Terms with Gary Matthews Jr.
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