Yesterday afternoon, our Matt Rappa passed along an audio segment where ESPN's Jayson Stark noted that the Philadelphia Phillies were 'definitely looking' for an outfielder, following what may have been season-ending wrist surgery for Aaron Altherr last week.
One name that Stark says that Phillies won't be interested in as they look for a potential fifth outfielder is Marlon Byrd.
Way too soon to say who. But they've been down the Marlon Byrd road. Not a fit for where they are right now https://t.co/M1SOMXHJ8K
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 15, 2016
Byrd played for the Phillies from 2003-2005, before he was traded to the Washington Nationals. He signed a two-year free-agent contract to return to the team prior to the 2014 season, but was traded to the Cincinnati Reds just one season into the deal.
The other name that Stark was asked about was New York Mets' outfielder Alejandro De Aza. De Aza was signed to a one-year/5.75 million contract after spending the 2015 season with the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and the San Francisco Giants. In signing with the Mets, his career seemed to gain a level of stability, but instead the Mets were surprisingly able to retain Yoenis Cespedes, making De Aza a fourth outfielder.
According to ESPN's Adam Rubin, six teams have called the Mets to gauge their interest in moving the 31-year-old. Rubin didn't mention any specific teams, but it certainly would make sense for the Phillies to have at least some interest in him.
There are numerous levels that the Phillies and Mets could match up in a trade for De Aza on.
Rubin noted that the Mets, if they move De Aza, would like to move him him to a team that would take on his entire salary for 2016. Stark said on Twitter that the Phillies were willing to take on money in trades.
The second level that they match up on is that Stark suggested that the Phillies would like someone who is only under contract for one season, which De Aza is, and that they could potentially trade. As far as outfielders available in mid-March that the Phillies could acquire now and move this summer, De Aza would have to be near the top of the list.
The final level where the Phillies and Mets could match up on is that Rubin reported over the weekend that the Mets are looking to acquire a backup catcher. Carlos Ruiz and Cameron Rupp were expected to be the two catchers on the Phillies' Opening Day roster, but non-roster invitee J.P. Arencibia has batted over .400 this spring, perhaps forcing his way on to a major league roster somewhere. It would be hard to imagine Ruiz being moved in a trade given that he's making $4.5 million this year, but either Arencibia or Rupp could hypothetically be part of a trade that would allow the Mets to move De Aza while also landing a backup catcher.
Of course, the Phillies will have other options. Former Phillies Jeff Francoeur and Shane Victorino may not make the clubs they are currently with. Justin Ruggiano of the Texas Rangers could be an interesting potential trade target. But if the Phillies evaluate their best available options and decide De Aza is a fit, it's certainly feasible to think they could pull off a trade to acquire him.
And faced with the prospects of David Lough potentially being a fifth outfielder in a group that right now would probably start Rule-5 draft pick Tyler Goeddel — who has never played a game in the majors, you can bet the Phillies will add another external option before the end of Spring Training.
Phillies nuggets
- I'm interested to see how long long it take everyone in Philadelphia to respect that Vince Velasquez wants to go by the name Vince, not Vincent. Ask Roy Oswalt, Philadelphia isn't the best in terms of correctly saying the names of former Houston Astros pitchers.
- MLB.TV is great and all, but it really seems like all the Phillies' Spring Training games should be televised on a channel that everyone gets. It's not like 1:00 games are interrupting anything that important.
- Not that this is pressing, but you get the impression that the Phillies would be smart to buy Maikel Franco out of the rest of his arbitration years, with his price likely to go up each season. Giving him a five-year deal after this season would probably cost less in the long-run, and it could help to ease any hurt feelings over him not starting the 2015 season with the big-league club, due in part to a service-time technicality.
Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) is the Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com, focusing on news and features.
