Lauber: Phillies ‘Not Interested’ in a Victorino Reunion

According to a report from Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald, the Philadelphia Phillies are not interesting in re-acquiring outfielder Shane Victorino through a trade with the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox have been long-linked with the Phillies as potential suitors in a trade that would send 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels to Boston. Just this afternoon, the special assistant to Phillies' general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., Charlie Kerfeld, was spotted at the Red Sox' Spring Training facility, suggesting talks between the two clubs have been more than casual.

Lauber further states that the Phillies are 'focused only on younger, cheaper players'. At 34-years-old and with a 2015 salary of $13 million, the "Flyin' Hawaiian" surely would not satisfy either of those two characteristics that Philadelphia seeks in return.

The Phillies traded Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31, 2012 for relievers Josh Lindblom and Ethan Martin, as well as a player to be named later (Stefan Jarrin). Lindblom was traded that offseason as a part of the move that brought third baseman and long-time, beloved Ranger Michael Young to Philadelphia. Jarrin was released in March of 2013. Martin is currently on the Phillies' 40-man roster.

Over eight seasons as a Phillie, from 2005 up to being traded in 2012, Victorino was two hits shy of having exactly one thousand. He ranks 14th in franchise history in both triples (63) and stolen bases (179), and earned three Gold Glove awards (2008-2010) and two All-Star game nominations (2009, 2011) while wearing red pinstripes.

A recent report by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com suggests that Blake Swihart or Mookie Betts, two top-level prospects in the Red Sox' system, should be "fair game" in a trade with the Phillies for ace Cole Hamels.

Swihart, 22, is a switch-hitting catcher that had 13 home runs and 64 runs-batted-in combined at the Double-A and Triple-A levels last season. Betts, also 22 years of age, is versatile in that he can play the middle-infield positions, as well as in center field. He stole 33 bases combined last season in the Red Sox' minor league system, and had 55 hits in 52 games with the major league squad.

Lauber's report regarding the Phillies' lack of interest in bringing back Victorino contradicts the following report from Heyman, which was posted a week ago today:

The sides do seem to have potential matches for either pitcher on the main pieces, and maybe even a secondary piece, as well, as word is the Phillies wouldn't mind bringing back old Philly hero Shane Victorino, whose position in a crowded Bosox outfield appears tenuous.

As the Phillies seek young, cheap talent in return for Hamels, it is unclear whether or not they desire the same return for Cliff Lee, who also has drawn interest from Boston. Lee, 36, is set to earn $25 million this season, and could earn up to $27.5 million in 2016 if his option vests.

Cliff Lee missed the final two months of the 2014 season due to a strained left elbow. Victorino, too, missed significant time. He was sidelined for a good portion of April with a hamstring injury, and on August 5, he had a season-ending back surgery.

Perhaps Lee and Victorino could be swapped as a part of a more-larger blockbuster. Bringing Victorino back to Philadelphia, however, would take-away playing time from Domonic Brown, Rule-5 selection Odubel Herrera, and Ben Revere.

In addition, once prospect Maikel Franco gets promoted to the majors, there is a possibility that third baseman Cody Asche would make a transition to the outfield, and he too would lose valuable playing time to the veteran. Also, with Ryan Howard at first, Darin Ruf would once again be seemingly forgotten and would lose potential innings at either of the two the corner outfield positions.

Victorino is most remembered in Philadelphia for the grand slam he hit off of C.C. Sabathia in the second game of the 2008 National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. This scoring, with the help of starter Brett Myers working the count and walking to turn the lineup over, was huge in setting the tone for the rest of the series, and the two series thereafter against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS and the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series. 

The Hawaiian-native set his mark in Boston as well when he hit a go-ahead grand slam for the Red Sox in Game 6 of the 2013 American League Championship Series. These runs clinched Boston their 13th American League pennant. 

In the World Series, Victorino continued to be a contributing factor.  He got Boston off to a good start in the third inning of Game 6 with a three-run double, which ultimately was all the run production his team needed en-route to winning their eighth championship in franchise history.

Taking all of the above-stated domino effects into consideration, Lauber's report from today, and not Heyman's, makes the most sense in terms of the direction the Phillies are currently taking moving forward: acquiring young talent in trying to shape their next generation of core players.

Victorino will be a free agent after this season, as his three-year, $39 million contract signed on December of 2012 expires.

Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is a contributor to Philliedelphia.com.