One of the most intriguing story lines going into the trading deadline has been centered on whether Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro was willing to blow up a team that is not only disappointing but also getting very old very fast.
For a while it looked like the Phillies might have been buyers at the deadline but then they went into a tailspin after Ben Revere and Ryan Howard got hurt. The team is riding an 8 game losing streak right now and their season is all but over. What players can Amaro get rid of to help the team rebuild?
Jonathan Papelbon
Over the weekend the closer made comments that basically packed his suitcases for him. Talking to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that he was unhappy with the direction the team was going.
"I definitely didn't come here for this," Papelbon said. "It's going to take, in my opinion, a lot. And in my opinion, I think it's going to have to be something very similar to what the Red Sox went through a couple of years ago. From top to bottom."
It's interesting that Papelbon referenced his former team since he is one of the players that they chose to get rid of in order to rebuild. The two teams that are most in need of a closer, Detroit and Boston, haven't shown any interest in Paps. The Phillies are trying to move him but he has two years left on his contract and teams appear to not want to take on that burden, according to ESPN.
Cliff Lee
Jerry Crasnick reported on Friday that the ace of the Philadelphia staff could be had for the right price. The problem is that Lee has a lot of years left on his contract and he is not cheap. Amaro has said that he will listen to offers but it seems apparent that it will take a team giving up choice prospects AND picking up the entire contract for the Phillies to be interested in making a deal. The Red Sox and Dodgers are two teams that were mentioned as being able to do so but it seems very unlikely that they will pull the trigger on such a massive deal, according to ESPN.
Michael Young
ESPN reports that if any of the Phillies are going to leave that Young is the most likely candidate. While there may have been a bigger market for him two weeks ago it still looks like the third basemen will be moved. The Yankees are probably the best fit for Young. With Youk broken and A-Rod hurt and rumored to be facing a lengthy suspension there is a gap at third base for the Bronx Bombers. Alfonso Soriano and the return of Derek Jeter are probably still not enough to make the Yankees contenders in the toughest division in baseball so adding Young makes since. There are also rumblings that Young might be headed back to Texas or possibly to Baltimore, according to ESPN.
Chase Utley
Despite Amaro saying that he would be willing to trade the star second basemen it appears as if that was just talk. The Phillies have been telling interested teams that Utley is off the block as the team works to put together a contract extension, according to CBS Sports.
Those are the big names that could be on the move from Philadelphia. Jimmy Rollins is probably drawing interest but he has a full no-trade clause and has shown that he would be reluctant to leave town, according to ESPN. Carlos Ruiz could get dealt but most of the contending teams don't appear to be in need of catching help so it seems unlikely.
Wednesday is the deadline so it's possible that the Phillies look completely different by Thursday, or they could look exactly the same. That's what makes the trade deadline so much fun.
