Phillies in need of a corner outfielder or centerfielder?

[Rickie23Weeks]

Aaron Rowand, CF--Philadelphia Phillies: Padres are in discussions with the Phils to acquire him for a reliever(s) with Scott Linebrink likely being the main target. The White Sox had been interested, but after he was not involved in the Freddy Garcia deal, it became unlikely that he would be dealt.

Last updated: 03:35 PM - Jan 26, 07 by MLB4U.com | Source: Buster Olney

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If this ends up happening, the Phillies will have LF Burrell and Shane Victorino will most likely move to the vacated center field....which leaves right field vacant!!!!!!!!!! Philly still a possible destination for Mench or even Clark???

[TooLiveBrew]

*cough* Jenkins *cough*

[sbrylski]

They have two CFers: Rowand and Victorino. Great defenders, but no better than average bats for a center fielder, much less one of them in right.

 

Was it Mench they had interest in during the Lieber rumors?

[princeginterhallhelms04]

I don't remember who they had interest in during the Lieber trader rumor's but i think it was Mench. All i know is that we need to move one of our OF's!

[sbrylski]

BTW, I think Rowand would be an excellent fit in San Diego.

[UWRyan428]

If Rowand goes to San Diego, does that make Mike Cameron available?

[aracko]

I would imagine Cameron would just move to a corner OF spot. 2005 He played 68 games in RF for the Mets - although he and Jenks make almost identical amounts of money.

[UWRyan428]

I would just imagine Cameron plays a better centerfield than Rowand. Then again, I'm no fan of the gritty foe of fences.

[TooLiveBrew]

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I would imagine Cameron would just move to a corner OF spot. 2005 He played 68 games in RF for the Mets - although he and Jenks make almost identical amounts of money

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Yes please.

 

This trade would thrill me. Cameron does have holes in his offense. There's no question. For instance, he Ks a ton. But he does draw 70-80 BBs per season as well. For the value he provides defensively, I would beg for this deal.

 

Just like the Suppan deal just seemed to have a certain fit when I first heard about it, this proposal gets me the 'Why does this seem ideal' thought running through my head

 

It does seem that we'd have to part with more than just Jenks, or be willing to eat some of his salary, to get this kind of deal done.

[TooLiveBrew]

Also, Cameron's 2007 contract is a team option at $7 mil., with a $500,000 buyout clause.

 

What about agreeing to send the $ for the buyout, have the Pads excercise that, and the Crew renegotiating with Cameron?

 

Something like 2 years, $15 mil -- 2007: $7 mil.... 2008:$8 mil

[UWRyan428]

I was long of the opinion that Mike Cameron would be an ideal fit on our team, outside of his propensity for K's, much like our current CF. However, Cameron has a proven glove in center and is much more apt to take a base, which is something our team needs.

[endaround]

Cameron is 34 so at best he is a one year fill.

[Boy Jeenius]

Interesting comment end. Why only one year? 34 isn't "old" anymore, especially considering Cameron looks like he stays in great shape. It could be argued that that a guys' performance tend to trend downward in their mid 30's, I guess. But it seems more like 36 - 37 - 38 in these days of advanced nutrition and medicine. Like I said interesting comment. Maybe start a new thread on this subject.

[reillymcshane]

Cameron may be 34, but he's still a premier defender, and his numbers would improve in Milwaukee. Yes, he Ks too much. But he's had to play in Petco, Shea and the old Kingdome - all pitcher's parks - for most of his career. I would be thrilled to have him for 2-3 years, even if he is getting up there. He easily becomes our top outfield defender.

 

We'd have to send more than Jenkins or Mench for him.

[UWRyan428]

Well the Padres aren't exactly spilling over with prospects so I think they could be amenable to a prospect+-type deal, especially if they are further depleted by the trade for Rowand. Also, they have some good relievers, which would be one of our more pronounced deficiencies, even if I am still of the opinion that we have surplus relievers (albeit average and unproven at present). Perhaps....

 

Mike Cameron

Scott Linebrink

 

for

 

Gross/Jenks (I would prefer to trade the QB)

CV the Younger/Inman (obviously, I prefer to trade the CVtY but Inman may be what it takes to procure two of their top chips)

 

Nevertheless, we would again be taking on money, while trading away young talent, unless we rid ourselves of GJ. But Linebrink has shown himself to be a dominating set-up man and Cameron, as already mentioned, would give us a lesser (and I DO mean lesser) version of our fave trade target, Andruw Jones (who is also five years younger than Cam). I do have to admit, it is a tall price, but they are giving us the NL Central, if we don't have it already. From World Series Champs to late run to finish in third and hold off the surging Pirates, good days are on the horizon in Beer Goggle-ville.

[Crewin06]

You are not serious about that proposal are you??

 

Linebrink and Cameron are nice but neither is really a huge upgrade over what we already have.

 

We don't really need another Right handed reliever and we dont really need another OFer at this point.

 

Especially old expensive ones while giving up top young pitching.

 

Villanueva could probably start in any other NL Rotation this spring.

 

Inman is probably a top 50 prospect in all of baseball this year.

 

While we are at it why not just give up Prince Fielder for Ken Griffey Jr.

 

I guess I just don't get the point of giving up very good young pitching while not really getting a big upgrade at any position.

[UWRyan428]

Well Cameron would slot in a lot better if Hall were moved back to the hot corner and Clark were to be relegated to centerfield. And to say that Linebrink isn't an upgrade is a bit farfetched as no one over the last two-three years has had an ERA lower than his outside of CoCo. And considering what unproven pitching cost at the deadline for the Reds, I would speculate that proven relief would be at an even higher premium. I'm just not sold on Hall in center, and don't really see how Gross fits into our plans long term, especially if there are no at-bats for him. And while giving up young pitching is always hard, so is trading for a dominator of a set-up man.

[Crewin06]

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Well Cameron would slot in a lot better if Hall were moved back to the hot corner and Clark were to be relegated to centerfield. And to say that Linebrink isn't an upgrade is a bit farfetched as no one over the last two-three years has had an ERA lower than his outside of CoCo. And considering what unproven pitching cost at the deadline for the Reds, I would speculate that proven relief would be at an even higher premium. I'm just not sold on Hall in center, and don't really see how Gross fits into our plans long term, especially if there are no at-bats for him. And while giving up young pitching is always hard, so is trading for a dominator of a set-up man.

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I am not really worried about what a stupid GM gave up at the trade deadline for relief pitching.

 

Just because one GM was really stupid doesn't mean that should be the new market for relief pitching year round.

 

Personally I like our bull pen coming into the season. And with our starting 5 or starting 6 with Villanueva. I don't think our bullpen should be taxed as much as it was last season. There is really no reason why we should start trading cheap pieces of the future for a slight upgrades today.

 

Yeah Linebrink and Cameron could help but at what cost and for how long. I will gladly take the next 6 years of Villanueva over the next 2 years of Cameron and the next year of linebrink.

[UWRyan428]

You have a very narrow view of the ramifications of such a trade. We have more than just CV the Younger waiting in the wings. Also, at some point, we are going to have to trade some piece(s) from the outfield and if I had to ponder a guess, given the values of Mench and Jenks, I would say that Gross is the most likely to go. I only say this because I am more enamored with Corey Hart, and I know that their numbers are quite similar so please don't pose that argument. Corey is and has always figured more prominently in our long term plans. And while I am content with the state of our bullpen, to deny that Linebrink wouldn't be one of the few additions that would further our agenda is without argument. He has a better track record than anyone in front of CoCo. In the end, this argument is wrought with naught as I doubt Rowand will be buying his ticket to Petco, but if it were to come to pass, two upgrades at our biggest questions entering the season (three if you infer that Hall will move back to third) would be worth the youth I would suggest bartering with. Sometime in the near future, the tap to our farm system is going to get clogged with young pitchers, as ZachJack, CV the Younger, and Yo should all be tapping on the knocker at various times throughout the year.

[endaround]

There is no clog. The Brewers can't keep all of Sheets, Bush and Capuano. Hopefully it comes down to one of Bush or Capuano to go. Vargas is short term and likely gone after this season. Suppan will likely be traded after 2008. So in the next two years there will be three openings in the rotation.

[UWRyan428]

And more than likely, by jettisoning those pieces, we will almost assuredly be picking up MORE pitching. One need look no further than our neighbors to the south and how they turned two pitchers into four. Quite the magic trick. Perhaps I am a bit short-sighted in my theoretical pursuit of the Padre fodder, but it is far from fodder. And also, I can't help but shake the idea of a certain spot start against the Cards when a young gun went six shutout innings. Chris Saenz... Good times.

[theavrock]

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'm just not sold on Hall in center, and don't really see how Gross fits into our plans long term, especially if there are no at-bats for him

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given the values of Mench and Jenks, I would say that Gross is the most likely to go.

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Huh?? Jenkins is gone after this year and probably before Spring Training this year so I don't understand how he is more in the long term plans of the Brewers than Gross is. Also if we are talking long term moving Bill Hall back to 3B doesn't make a whole lot of sense, seeing as we have this guy named Braun tearing through the system (unless you are talking about moving BRaun to the outfield). Gross is identical to Jenkins, much cheaper and under our control for more years. Why would a financially handicapped team like the Brewers trade that away, while keeping the guy who will be gone after they year?

 

As end stated Vargas and any other number of our other pitchers besides Sheets could be traded to open spots for the minor league guys if they are really knocking down the door. As much love as we have for guys lke Yo and Inman you never know how they are going to turn out. Yes they are outstanding prospects but thats all they are, prospects. Ben Hendrickson was great in AAA, but I never want to see him pitch another inning at Miller Park or any other ballpark in a Crew jersey.

[UWRyan428]

First and foremost, as I stated, I'm not sold on Hall in center, thus I would believe he will be relegated to a corner outfield spot when, and if, Braun makes it to the Keg this year. But I would truly prefer to see him sit in AAA all year, so that is why I would move Billy back to the hot corner, keeping it warm for Israel's finest. Second, the depth at AAA in the outfield is now two centerfield prospects, Nix and Jr. Gwynny. And finally, we hold an option on Jenks which, if he were to put together a full year mirroring his second half of 2005, would make him a supreme bargain. Farfetched, but there's more proof to that than Braun becoming a steady enough defender at the hot corner to justify his immense bat there and not, as you mentioned, in a corner spot in the OF. Our outfield is already cluttered, and the shiniest nugget to potential suitors would have to be the young Jason Campbell wannabe.

[hauser42]

How can you even judge Hall in CF when he has not been given a chance in CF yet?? Two deep with Nix and Gwynn jr?? Nix I will give a maybe as he has had injuries in the past. If you call a guy that can fly and catch the ball in CF depth than that is Gwynn, he has yet to prove he will hit at the big league level or get on base either.

 

Braun sure has a chance at turning into a decent 3B not a gold glover before Jenks put a WHOLE season together. Jenks is older and showing wear, Braun is young and improving.

[Past Member]

Heck, if we were going to unload Jenkins for relief pitching, I would rather completely eliminate the middle man, go right to the Padres and get Linebrink, heck we could throw in a mid level prospect if the Padres didnt want to trade Jenkins for Linebrink straight up.