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From the Atlanta Braves’ Viewpoint: the Off-season in Review (Phillies)

By Alan Carpenter

Oct 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) jokes around with third baseman Andres Blanco (4) in a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) jokes around with third baseman Andres Blanco (4) in a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 26, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies general manager Matt Klentak answers questions during a press conference introducing him at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies general manager Matt Klentak answers questions during a press conference introducing him at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Finally:  Some Movement in Philadelphia this Off-Season

  • 2015 RESULT: 63-99 (.389), 5TH PLACE.
  • Opening Day Payroll: $146.9 million
  • Final 40-man Payroll: $145.6 million (MLB Rank: 9)
  • Owner: Bill Giles, David Montgomery, et al
  • Manager:  Pete Mackanin
  • Team President:  Andy MacPhail
  • VP and General Manager:  Matt Klentak
  • Assistant General Managers:  Scott Proefrock and Benny Looper
  • Fun Fact:  After a payroll of over $100 million for each of the past 8 seasons (peaking over $180 million in 2014), the Phillies will probably start 2016 with a payroll under $90 million… and that’s while still paying Ryan Howard $25 million.

Off-season transactions:

DECEMBER:
– SIGNED: RHP David Hernandez
– TRADED: RHP Ken Giles to Houston for LHP Brett Oberholtzer, RHP Harold Arauz, RHP Mark Appel, RHP Thomas Eshelman, RHP Vincent Valsquez
– TRADED: RHP David Whitehead to Pittsburgh for RHP Charlie Morton
– SIGNED: C J.P. Arencibia (minor league deal)
– SIGNED: RHP Edward Mujica (minor league deal)
– SIGNED: RHP Andrew Bailey (minor league deal)
– TRADED: RHP Dan Otero to Cleveland for cash considerations (was claimed on waivers from Oakland on 11/3)

NOVEMBER:
– SIGNED: LHP James Russell (minor league deal)
– TRADED: RHP Sam McWilliams to Arizona for RHP Jeremy Hellickson

OCTOBER:
– OUTRIGHTED: RF Dominic Brown to Lehigh Valley (AAA)
– OUTRIGHTED: LF Brian Bogusevic to Lehigh Valley (AAA)
– OUTRIGHTED: Tommy Joseph to Lehigh Valley (AAA)
– OUTRIGHTED: RF Kelly Degan to Lehigh Valley (AAA)

Lost to free agency:
– LHP Cliff Lee
– RF Jeff Francoeur
– RHP Aaron Harang
– RHP Chad Billingsley
– RHP Jerome Williams
– 2B Chase d’Arnaud (neither the ‘Chase’ nor the ‘d’Arnaud’ you’re thinking of)
– RHP Justin De Fratus
– C Erik Kratz

Claimed on Waivers:
– CF Peter Bourjos (STL)
– LHP Daniel Stumpf (KC) via Rule 5 draft
– LF Tyler Goeddel (TB) via Rule 5 draft
– RHP Michael Mariot (KC)

Lost on Waivers:
– Nefi Ogando (Marlins)
– RHP A.J. Achter (Angels); (was claimed on waivers from Minnesota on 11/20)

Lots of activity here – including a couple of players who came in and went out within mere weeks.  I included some minor league signings here because these (and perhaps several others I didn’t list due to sheer volume) do have a real shot of making the club this Spring.  Their 40-man roster is probably written in pencil.  24 pitchers are on it.

After years of waiting to see just when Reuben Amaro, Jr. would finally start selling assets to begin their rebuild, it is now fully underway – without Amaro involved.  After trading ace pitcher Cole Hamels last summer, Amaro is gone and new GM Matt Klentak is trying to find a way to field a team.

Despite being flush with available cash, Klentak is not spending it in the manner of his predecessor.  In fact, you may not recognize many of the names you see in play – other than Ryan Howard and some of Carlos Ruiz – this season.  These are the last holdovers from the Phillies’ recent years of glory – a team that finished 2nd from 2004-2006 and 1st the next 5 straight years, winning a World Series in 2008.  But Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Scott Rolen, Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino… all are gone now.

Next: Rebuilding Philly

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