We are just 18 days away from when Phillies pitchers and catchers head south to Clearwater to being Spring Training. When the team breaks camp, who will be there? The clock is ticking for any deals to be consummated before February 19. Will Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon be there?
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that the Padres remain interested in Hamels:
Preller clearly not done trying to upgrade. Also in touch with #Phillies on Hamels, though some doubt #Padres have enough to make deal.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 31, 2015
Despite all their dealing, the Padres still have their top prospects in their organization.
The Phillies appear to have prepared themselves for a Hamels trade. On the current 40-man roster are as many as eight starting pitchers: Hamels, Cliff Lee, Chad Billingsley, Aaron Harang, Jerome Williams, David Buchanan, and Jonathan Pettibone. Supposedly Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez is tapped to start, too, and veteran Kevin Slowey is in camp after signing a minor league deal with Spring Training invitation.
As for Papelbon, the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers need a closer. The Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash recently said that talks for Papelbon were "not dead". For both the Blue Jays and the Brewers, it could be the difference of contending or not contending. But the issue with Papelbon seems to be about how much money the Phillies will eat, particularly in the second year that Papelbon will ask to be guaranteed should he accept a trade.
The bullpen is similarly stacked. For just seven spots, the Phillies have Papelbon, Ken Giles, Jake Diekman, Justin De Fratus, Mario Hollands, Elvis Araujo, Phillippe Aumont, Luis Garcia, Ethan Martin, Hector Neris, Andy Oliver, and Joely Rodriguez. The bullpen could feature a couple of the aforementioned starters with no rotation spot, too, if no deals are made.
The important thing for the Phillies is that they have an opportunity to turn the page. Almost important as the players the Phillies get back is allowing younger players to get an opportunity to demonstrate their worth. If the Phillies wish to contend sooner than later, it would be wise to let them get experience. Only when the young players are ready can the Phillies use their checkbook to bring in some free agents to compliment them.
