Monday, July 31, 2006

Bye Bye Bobby

To simply sum up the Bobby Abreu (sorry Cory Lidle) trade to the Yankees, it's about time. The first order of business for GM Pat Gillick shouldn't have been to sign the dreadful Ryan Franklin (a loser even on steroids), it should have been to buy back the no trade clauses of Abreu and Pat Burrell.

To think what might have been if that clause had been removed before the season. At any cost, it could've blown trade negotions much more in our favor. We could possibly have traded Burrell as well.

The years of banking on the outfielders have come and gone in failure, much like many of the teams in the club's 123 year history. The Phillies fortunes now clearly lie with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Cole Hamels. That's right, for the first time in a while, we have a bright young pitcher to look forward to seeing more of.

Getting rid of Abreu is step one in the process of moving forward. Next, will be to try and unload Burrell (2007 trade deadline possibly). At least Gillick is moving the Phillies in the right direction.

The GM traded Rheal Cormier to the Reds for Justin Germano, a young starter. He traded 3B David Bell to Milwaukee for minor league pitcher Wilfredo Laureano. And in the Yankees deal, Gillick acquired 20-year-old minor-league shortstop C.J. Henry, the Yanks No. 1 pick in 2005 and 27-year-old left-handed reliever Matt Smith. The Phillies also received minor league catcher Jesus Sanchez and right-hander Carlos Monasterios, while the Yankees took on responsibility for Abreu and Lidle's contracts.

The tune of these trades, it seems to me, is to feed our farm system while freeing up cash. Quite a few talented position players have emerged from the Ed Wade era, but pitchers have been pretty lousy. Gillick is also stressing patience, which shouldn't be too hard to preach to fans of a team with 1 championship in 123 tries. Desparation passed us by about 50 years ago.