The Philadelphia Phillies have officially begun to face reality and are set to finally tear down a franchise in need of a reboot. The introduction of Andy MacPhail as team President, the organization is ready to rebuild after its greatest stretch, just a few years ago.
With the hiring, the Philadelphia Phillies have officially sealed the fate of embattled GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who failed at extending the team’s title contention run. His irresponsible approach to veteran contracts and unwillingness to trade commodities has forced the team into a deep hole exemplified by their terrible start to 2015.
Aging veterans with bad contracts and little depth in the farm system have left the Philadelphia Phillies in baseball limbo. The addition of MacPhail should change their fortunes rather rapidly, as he has a proven record of flipping over poorly constructed rosters. He has consistently been able to produce high returns when trading off veteran players.
Courtesy: Washington Post
His most recent stint with the Baltimore Orioles is still reaping the benefits, as the team is looking forward to its fourth straight winning season. That roster was built on a series of trades and smart draft decisions that returned franchise cornerstones Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, J.J. Hardy, Chris Tillman, Manny Macahdo and Matt Wieters. He accomplished those feats without having the massive payroll budget that the Philadelphia Phillies are afforded after their recent television deal.
And even though he is technically not taking over the position until the end of the season, he will absolutely have a major influence over any decision made. All that being said, MacPhail has a lot to work with the most important trade deadline upcoming in franchise history. These next couple months could determine how long they remain in the National League cellar.
Following the example put forth by teams like the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals, the team should to focus on developing prospects throughout their entire system. A realistic approach would lead the Philadelphia Phillies back on track in 2017, with becoming a legit contender the following season.
Listed below is the five trades that the Philadelphia Phillies should initiate before July 31st.
Philadelphia Phillies trade LHP Cole Hamels to Los Angeles Dodgers for Julio Urias, RHP Chris Anderson, OF Alex Verdugo and RHP Zach Lee.
Courtesy: USA Today
This is the main domino that still needs to fall before the Philadelphia Phillies can officially begin to rebuild. The Los Angeles Dodgers have been so close to reaching the World Series the past several seasons and this could be the move to get them over the hump. Though they have plenty of money to spend, the willingness to eat some of his contract will raise the prospect cost.
Hamels provides postseason experience and is locked up for the next couple seasons. With the impending free agency of Zach Greinke, he could easily replace him as the No. 1B (behind Clayton Kershaw) in their rotation starting next year. It would also create the scariest three man rotation in baseball for their playoff run.
In return the Philadelphia Phillies receive the top level talent they have been asking wanting for the past two seasons. Urias is the top LHP prospect in all of baseball and profiles as a future ace of a staff. While Anderson adds more young talent to a depleted pitching core, that has potential to fit into the starting rotation or a dominant back-end bullpen arm. Verdugo is a big hitting talent in the outfield the Philadelphia Phillies sorely need in their farm system. While Lee was once a highly touted prospect, who has regressed, but is still worthy of taking a flyer on.
Philadelphia Phillies trade Closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Chicago Cubs for 2B Javier Baez.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
The Chicago Cubs have a logjam of top young talent in their infield and really have no room for Baez. Though he is one of the better middle infield prospects in baseball, he does not have as high of a ceiling as incumbents 2B Addison Russell or SS Starlin Castro.
With the team progressing quicker than expected, they need to sure up the back end of their bullpen to finish out games. Cubs President Theo Henry has a familiarity with Papelbon and knows what he would provide to a playoff run. He is still an elite closer and with the Philadelphia Phillies willingness to eat a portion of his salary, who is under contract through next year, this deal makes too much sense.
By receiving Baez in return, the Philadephia Phillies have another major league-ready prospect to continue their rebuild. He provides them with sorely needed power, projecting to be a middle of the order bat. He could be the eventual replacement to Chase Utley or possibly move to first base in the future with the amount of middle infield talent they already have in the system.
Philadelphia Phillies trade OF Ben Revere to the Seattle Mariners C Tyler Marlette, 1B/OF Jody Lara and LHP Dany Hultzen.
Courtesy: Zimbio
With the Seattle Mariners ready to make a serious push to becoming a perennial playoff team, they need to add speed at the top of their lineup. The teams have already gone through preliminary talks and expect to see the Philadelphia Phillies asking price drop in the coming weeks.
Revere may be the fastest player in all of baseball and has the ability to be a consistent 40 SB player. Though his on-base percentage is low, he has reached base by averaging around .300 the past couple seasons. He also covers a lot of ground in the outfield and could help the team defense in spacious Safeco Park.
The Philadelphia Phillies add a young hitting back-stop in Marlette, which provides them with the catching prospect the team has been searching for to replace Carlos Ruiz. Lara was the the Mariners most productive minor leaguer after his breakout 2014 campaign. He makes good contact to all fields and projects as a possible fringe starter at first base. While Hultzen was once a top prospect that has succumbed to a serious shoulder injury; he has a lot of potential if he can ever return to the field.
Philadelphia Phillies trade 1B Ryan Howard to Tampa Bay Rays for OF Justin Williams and RHP Ryne Stanek.
Courtesy: Fox Sports
Though Howard is still due over $70M over the next couple seasons, the Philadelphia Phillies have already expressed interest in eating $50M to get a deal done. That likely opens up more small market teams to be interested in the power hitting first baseman.
No team needs more lineup help then the Rays, who after a surprising start are in contention in the AL East. His left-handed power should play well in Tropicana Field and provide more protection for Evan Longoria in the lineup. Even though he is not nearly close to the player he once was, he is still an upgrade for them at either 1B or DH.
The Philadelphia Phillies have to be realistic in what they receive in return for an aging big-money player with an injury history. Obtaining two lower level prospects with solid potential should be a win for a team looking to unload one of its last pieces to its past glory. Williams has a lot of potential as a 5-tool player, but is extremely raw and Stanek needs to return from injury to find his way to the major leagues.
Philadelphia Phillies trade RHP Aaron Harang to the Texas Rangers for OF/2B Evan Van Hoosier.
Courtesy: Fox Sports
The Texas Rangers have shown interest in adding more starting pitching and have even contacted the Philadelphia Phillies about Cole Hamels. Though they have a deep farm system, their top overall prospects have reached the majors over the past couple seasons, leaving them a little short in a possible package for the ace.
Instead, they add a reliable starter that will eat innings in Harang, for a significantly lower price tag. After a strong start to the season, he has fallen back to reality as an average back-of-the-rotation starter for a contending team.
In return, the Philadelphia Phillies receive a lower level prospect that fill needs in their system. They were very high on Van Hoosier coming out of high school, selecting him in the first round, but were unable to sign him, before he went to college. He has good all around tools, with great speed and decent power to go with a strong arm that should project to a corner outfield spot.
2017 Projected Lineup:
1. 2B Scott Kingery (R)
2. SS J.P. Crawford (L)
3. 3B Makiel Franco (R)
4. 1B Javier Baez (R)
5. RF Dominic Brown (L)
6. C Tyler Marlette (R)
7. LF Cody Asche (L)
8. CF Odubel Herrara (L)
2017 Projected Bench:
IF Freddy Galvis
IF/OF Cesar Hernandez
OF Roman Quinn
C Cameron Rupp
1B/OF Darin Ruf
2017 Projected Rotation:
1. LHP Julio Urias
2. RHP Aaron Nola
3. LHP Jesse Biddle
4. RHP Zach Eflin
5. RHP Zach Lee
2017 Projected Bullpen:
LHP Elvis Araujo
LHP Adam Morgan
RHP Ben Lively
LHP Jake Diekman
RHP Servino Gonzalez
RHP Chris Anderson (Setup)
RHP Ken Giles (Closer)
2017 Top Prospects In Waiting:
IF/OF Cornelius Randolph
OF Alex Verdugo
2B/OF Evan Van Hoosier
1B Jody Lara
C Deivi Grullon
LHP Tom Windle
LHP Matt Imhof
* 2017 projections do not include possible future free agent signings, retirements, trades, Rule 5 picks or draft picks
