Buried in this morning's Ken Rosenthal report which pretty much bashed the Miami Marlins for their team construction and now demolition, was this quick blurb on Hunter Pence:
The Phillies continue to signal to clubs that they are eager to move right fielder Hunter Pence, who could earn $13 million to $14 million next season in his final year of arbitration.
Pence, 29, is batting .268 with a .789 OPS, 17 homers and 57 RBI. His value could be enhanced by the signings of the San Diego Padres' Carlos Quentin and Toronto Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion and their respective removals from the trade market. But few teams are willing to assume high salaries and part with significant prospects.
NBC Sports' Hardball Talk picked this up and points out that the Phillies traded four high-ceiling prospects for Pence and would have to get less in return than they gave up.
I still personally endorse the Pence trade because he was exactly what the Phillies needed last year in what may still be the best team they had on paper through their whole run. But, last year is gone and the Phillies must build for next.
