Extreme Mid-Season Makeover: Philly Edition

[OrioleMagic]

Key Losses:

Romeo "Flyswatter" Gimenez-2B, 3.0, $ 8,800,000
CF Joseph Holmes (11 million, 3.5 stars)
SP James Utterback, 3.5 stars, 8.5 million
SP Robert "Porker" Couch (4.0 stars, 9.37 mil)
Ronald Kim-RF, 2.5, $300,000
2B Bill Boatright (1.0 star, MLC)
MR Jesus Velez, 3.5 stars, 300k
LF Frank Bolen (6.7 million, 3 stars)
David Lavalle-3B, 2.0, $300,000
William "1-2-3" Yokley-MR, 3.0, $1,200,000


Key Acquisitions:

Fidel Tavares-LF, 4.0 prospect, MLC
Valentin Maldonado-RF, 3.5 prospect, MLC
Pedro Cruz-SP, 2.5, MLC
2B Randall Osuna (MLC, 3 prospect stars)
LF Michael Luna (300K, 2 stars)
SP Paul Torkelson (MLC, 3.5 prospect stars)
CL Miguel Vasco (MLC, 4.5 prospect stars)
Steve Amoroso-SP, 4.5 prospect, MLC
Chad Strawbridge-CL, 3.5 prospect, MLC
Benjamin Gillingham-SP, 3.0 prospect, MLC
Bernardo Medina-LF, 2.5, $300,000
David "Cookie Monster" Beale-1B, 3.5 prospect, MLC
Young Wendling-SP, 2.5 prospect, MLC
LF Frank Bolen, 3 stars, 6.7 million [spun to Anaheim]
DH Royal Vandiver, 4 stars, 3.6 million
2B Alberto Mora, 4 star prospect, MLC
MR Pedro Coria, 5 star prospect, MLC
SP Ronald Aguinaldo (2.5 stars, 2.39 mil)
SP Cleo Salvatore (4.0 prospect stars, MLC) [already crashed]
CF Clifford Owens (3.5 prospect stars, MLC)

Evaluation:

Philly received more quantity than quality in return. Medina just may be the key player in return. In this league, all of these prospects have a realistic shot at becoming MLB players even though Medina with 8 contact and 10 power is the only one with an Allstar profile. Amoroso, Torkelson and a few others could turn out just fine though.

Hidden in all this is the shedding of about $40 million in pay roll without a giant reversal in the win/loss column. Right now Philly would receive the 19th pick in the upcoming draft. Ideally, a top ten pick would be nice, but the fan interest would certainly take a hit.

Looking at ratings alone, this does not appear to be a smart move by the Philly GM, but when the bloated payroll, average age, and current power rankings in the NL are taken into consideration... it was the right thing to do.

Colorado and the Cubbies are clearly better than the Phillies and it appears that Colorado is destined for the NL Wildcard.

There was no point in being the 5th-7th best team in the NL with an aging team.

Let's hope some of these new young Phillies develop nicely!

With Treadwell and Robinson as tradebait through the off-season... More young talent may be on the way. The only thing standing in the way of a bright Philly future is that long shadow cast by Forida.

[Providence A's]

The Cubs are a paper tiger though. The window for a playoff birth is closing. Last season was probably our best shot. Unless I can add without subtracting, I expect another season or two like this and then we'll fall off and have to rebuild. I know I've got some young guys, but I've some aging guys and a few guys that appear to have peaked.