The Phillies just might trade closer Ken Giles. The time could be right; the overwhelming demand for closers this offseason just might entice a team to pony up some quality prospects and ship them to Philadelphia for the young closer. If the Phillies accept, they are not "getting rid" of Giles, but bettering their team.
After a recent piece on Giles, we received the following comment:
That would be dumb. I'd expect that from Ruben amaro. If the new gm does that he's just as bad and he should be removed also
"Dumb" would be releasing Giles after just one full seasons. But if they move Giles, they will get something back.
The return would be the primary reason for trading Giles. The Boston Red Sox just received four prospects in exchange for closer Craig Kimbrel. The Red Sox do not even control Kimbrel after this season. The Astros and Dodgers have apparently checked in on various available closers, including Aroldis Chapman of the Reds and Mark Melancon of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chapman will be a free agent after 2016, and Melancon was never a completely lock-down closer. He's had his good years and some not-so-good years.
If four prospects is the price for Kimbrel, who is a free agent, a team might find better value in Giles, whom would be under the acquiring team's control for five years. Trading Giles would depend on there being a return that would make the Phillies foolish not to trade him. Let's face it: the Phillies have cashed out most of their assets. There are no more productive veterans around the Phillies can spin for prospects. Giles would give them one last wave of talent to a team that might be reading to content in two years.
As for replacing Giles, the Phillies may have traded for his heir this summer. Jimmy Cordero just may be the one to replace Giles, should he leave in a trade. The reliever Cordero has a lively fastball:
Reading's Jimmy Cordero hit 100 mph 6 times in 8th, and 101 once. Five straight at 100 or better. Don't think Ken Giles ever did that
— Mike Drago (@mldrago) August 8, 2015
Simply throwing fast of course does not make a lock-down closer. But even Ken Giles was pitching to an ERA over five two seasons ago. The team still foresaw Giles' development. If they feel that Cordero could develop, it could be a good move for the Phillies.
In the interim, anyone can close. On the current roster, Luis Garcia could do it for now. Garcia has a nice fastball, and chances are he'll get the final three outs more often than he would not. And, if Garcia exceeds in the role, the Phillies then have another trade piece they can move. If not, maybe Mario Hollands, if his fastball returns post-Tommy John surgery. Or, the Phillies add a free agent reliever who had a tough 2015 and let him rebuild his value as a closer. And possibly, the Phillies develop themselves a trade piece.
Who closes in 2016 is not integral to the future of the Phillies, unless they strike gold and develop themselves a trade piece. Thus, the Phillies can afford to be without Ken Giles. And if they are without Giles, that means they got some talent in return, and that is a good thing.
