The Phillies were reported early this offseason to be "listening" on young closer Ken Giles. With perhaps some other young relievers in the pipeline and being a couple years away from contention, the Phillies could move Giles in the right deal. After the Boston Red Sox sent four prospects to the San Diego Padres for closer Craig Kimbrel, the time could be right to move Giles.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that at least a couple teams looked into Giles:
#Astros, #Marlins among teams to check in on Giles, sources say. #Phillies also could wait until July or next off-season to move him.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 19, 2015
There is no rush to move Giles, as Rosenthal notes.
The Astros and Marlins fit the bill of teams who could really stand to benefit from Giles. If the team thinks they are close to winning, and they are a small market team with little money to spend, they would get a big money closer for about $500,000 in 2016. That is what makes Giles' value so high right now. The Phillies need multiple pieces, not a ninth-inning reliever right now.
The Phillies could wait until July when a team has a greater sense of urgency to add a closer. The Kansas City Royals lost their big-money closer to Tommy John surgery in 2015, but had a lock-down closer standing by. Not all teams are that lucky and Giles could add a boost in July.
Or, the Phillies could simply keep him. The team could monitor new acquisition Jimmy Cordero, who might have closer upside down the line. If the team is comfortable he could be the next Ken Giles in a couple of years when the team is ready to contend, then why not get a few pieces back now?
