Beerleaguer - Phillies Blog, Baseball News, Trade Rumors & Spirits

Monday: 29 Phillies become minor free agents

The Phillies are losing the third-highest total of veteran minor leaguers to free agency, according to Baseball America. We also look ahead to possible players exposed to the Rule 5 draft.

Here is the list, courtesy of Baseball America: RHP: Jason Anderson (AAA), Alexander Concepcion (AA), Tristan Crawford (Hi A), John Ennis (AAA), Santos Hernandez (Lo A), Gary Majewski (AAA); LHP: Cedrick Bowers (AAA), Gustavo Chacin(AAA), Jason Mackintosh (AA), Brian Mazone (AAA), Jake Woods (AAA); C: Paul Hoover (AAA), Orlando Guevara (AA), Kevin Nelson (AA); 1B: Andy Tracy (AAA); 2B: Brad Harman (AA), Fidel Hernandez (AA), Carlos Leon (AAA), David Newhan (AAA); 3B: Mike Cervenak (AAA), Terry Tiffee (AAA); SS: J.J. Furmaniak (AAA), Jorge Velandia (AAA); OF: Javis Diaz (Hi A), Jason Ellison (AAA), Kevin Mahar (AA), Mike Spidale (AA), Brian Stavisky (AA), Rich Thompson (AAA).

Beerleaguer:The Phillies continue to be among the oldest farm systems in baseball, and year after year, there is this mass exodus of mercenaries. A number of them are good soldiers who've taken a couple tours of duty and could return. Based on name recognition, the lefty Chacin, still only 29, has experienced the most Major League success and has the best shot at sticking on a 25-man roster, in my estimation.

Meanwhile, Phuture Phillies offers his best guess of possible players exposed to the Rule 5 draft (If it’s good enough for James at Phuture Phillies, it’s good enough for us). Notables include relievers Joe Bisenius, Edgar Garcia and Pat Overholt and catchers Tuff Gosewich, Tim Kennelly and Joel Naughton (catchers, of all levels, seem to be frequent targets). If Garcia is correct, he fits the profile of the type of pitcher a team may try to stash in their 'pen. Click here for the entire list.

In other news, the Phillies released catchers Luis Ramon Arzeno and Tim Gradoville earlier this offseason.

Money isn’t only matter standing in Figgins’ way

Insiders think Chone Figgins will command upwards of five-years, $50 million in free agency. Some believe he’s best suited to remain with the Angels, but one could argue that the Phillies need him most.

Today, David Murphy continued his free agent primer with a look at third base, noting that among Major League third basemen, Pedro Feliz ranked 18th in on-base percentage (.308) and 18th in OPS (.694). He also noted, as others have, too, that the Phils’ 7-hole production placed them 19th in the league in OPS. Meanwhile, here’s Jimmy Rollins’ line from 640 lead-off plate appearances: .242/.292/.413. That ranks 21 out of 22 qualified Major League leadoff men in OPS (.704). His .292 on-base, as you might expect, was the absolute worst by a long shot.

There’s no other way to view Figgins and his .298/.395/.393 than the best possible free agent upgrade the Phillies could make, one who would kill a whole flock of birds with one stone . The problem: many teams, including the Angels, feel the same way.

We’ve read about the Phillies’ budget restrictions, but one can’t help but wonder if other forces are in play. From Jayson Stark, a week ago: “What happens if they (the Phillies) try to install Figgins in the leadoff hole? That has the potential to create a gigantic problem because they’d have to sell it to their current leadoff man, some guy named Jimmy Rollins. And that won’t be easy. So to me Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa and Placido Polanco are much better fits for them, depending on the asking price.”

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Feliz fits Orioles’ needs

As of midnight, teams are square to negotiate with free agents. Third baseman Pedro Feliz, considered a fallback for the Phillies, has drawn early interest from Baltimore.

Feliz, along with Adrian Beltre, heads Baltimore’s short list to replace Melvin Mora at third, according to the Baltimore Sun. While Beltre would likely require a longer, more lucrative deal, the Orioles view Feliz as a stopgap measure until prospect Josh Bell is ready, according to the Sun. Meanwhile, the Phillies are hunting for a third baseman of their own, along with bullpen and bench help. Phillies.com scribe Todd Zolecki believes Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre have the best shot at resigning, but believes free agents Brett Myers, Eric Bruntlett, Tyler Walker and Jack Taschner will not be back. He adds Paul Bako, Miguel Cairo and Matt Stairs would only be back if they accept minor league deals.

Readers weigh in: “What's more important: 625 PA from a 3B and their defense or 100 PA from some guy on the bench (not forgetting that the Phils still have Dobbs). It's wild to me that some on here would be willing to put up with 625 PA at .260/.300/.380 (at best!) so the Phils could add a marginally better bench bat. Maybe Figgins is asking too much, but Feliz isn't a deal at almost any reasonable price.” – Sophist

DeRosa would deliver marginal upgrade at best

FOXSports, citing a Major League source, has listed the Phillies as the favorites to land Mark DeRosa. Despite a 23-homer season, expectations should be tempered.

In a nutshell, here’s the problem with Mark DeRosa: we’ve seen him before and didn’t like the results. The Phillies need a third baseman. For various reasons, some good (the existence of Chipper Jones), some not so good (not seen as everyday player), DeRosa has never started more than 100 games at the position, setting a career high with 99 starts in 2009 between St. Louis and Cleveland. That’s 31 less than Wes Helms’ career high, set in 2003 with Milwaukee.

We’ve seen this line of reasoning from the Phillies before: "If only we could sign (blank) and turn him loose for an entire season, he’d hit (blank) home runs at Citizens Bank Park. We won't worry about age, because the short porch always reverses the effects of aging. Just ask Helms, Pedro Feliz, Geoff Jenkins and David Bell." Note: DeRosa will turn 35 in February, which is older than every last one of those guys when they originally signed.

Think of Feliz’s 20 home runs during his final year in San Fran and note the resembalence to DeRosa's 2009 season: 23 homers and a pedestrian .752 OPS. He also hit .237/.299/.421 the second half of the season. Jenkins showed us why second-half declines by aging vets should be seen as a red flag before making long-term commitments.

Defensively, and in very general terms, DeRosa was good enough to “hold his own” at third; many of the advanced numbers, including a – 5.6 Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) suggest he’s well below average. That’s going to be a sharp transition for a team accustomed to receiving solidly above average defense, by that same measure, from Feliz the last two seasons.

Then, consider his bat, which Bill James projects as a .250/.319/.433 in 2010, and DeRosa isn’t much better than a warm body. Nevertheless, they'll take it. Right now, the Phillies have the worst third-base situation in baseball: they don't have one. But the commitment, and the impact on other needs this offseason, will determine whether a move like this is ultimately better for the Phillies than Feliz.

Wednesday: Walker considering return; talks set

Ralph Walker, the father of Tyler Walker, told his hometown newspaper that the reliever has not ruled out a return to the Phillies. Meanwhile, the club gets set for the start of shopping season.

If Walker does return to the organization, it would be on a minor league deal. Walker, along with Eric Bruntlett, Andy Tracy, John Ennis and Paul Hoover, were outrighted to the minors Monday. Bruntlett refused the assignment and became a free agent, but according to Walker's father, the right-hander may be willing to accept. "That's possible and I know it's something that's high on his list," Ralph said. "I know he is looking at his options." Beerleaguer: Just wanted to clarify the process by which Bruntlett became a free agent and to follow up on Walker. It would be great to keep the right-hander around as extra bullpen inventory. The Phillies would be well served to start out the season with plenty of at-the-ready bullpen depth in the high minors, just as they did last season.

Notes: Teams can talk dollars and cents with free agents starting Friday, so expect the Phillies' hunt for outside help to heat up shortly. Meanwhile, dozens of new names have been floating around just for the sake of it, including Omar Vizquel, Jamey Carroll, John McDonald, Ronnie Belliard, Brandon Lyon and others. ... Top prospect Michael Taylor is hitting .294/.351/.471 in the Mexican League and is lighting up left-handed pitching, hitting .455/.571/.818. ... The general consensus seems to be that the Phillies have a decent chance of resigning Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre, although Eyre "may have priced himself out of (the Phillies') range," according to Ruben Amaro Jr. in today's reports.

Tuesday: Phillies paying the price of 2008 success

The Phillies hold $107 million in 2010 commitments, many of them made after the World Series, plus $2.25 million already lost in buyouts.

It’s going to be a winter of belt tightening around baseball. Luckily for the Phillies, their belt is strapped around Olympian-sized brawn. After winning the World Series, and perhaps even before, the Phillies’ brass set their monetary diet, increasing their caloric intake to meet the needs of a sustained playoff run. Now we come to 2010. They’ve fattened the roster through a series of big paydays a year ago, and a new set of commitments will force the Phillies to dig deeper into their pockets than ever before. Mix in pending arbitration for Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Carlos Ruiz, Chad Durbin and Clay Condrey and one can understand why it looks as though only a single notch remains on their belt.

Here’s the bad news. The hands of the arbitration clock have wiped away most of the bargains, while some of the long-term free agent contracts are starting to look a little flabby. That would include $12 million to Brad Lidge, $6.5 million in base salary to Jamie Moyer, $4.25 million to J.C. Romero, $1.5 million to Greg Dobbs, and yes, quite possibly that $12.25 million owed to Raul Ibanez next season. Here’s the good news. They’re the second-tallest team on the podium and an early favorite to return to the postseason, and most of the roster is rewarded accordingly.

Transactions: The Phillies added outfielder Quintin Berry, left-hander Yohan Flande and right-hander Jesus Sanchez to the 40-man roster. All three are of similar age and prospect standing and coming off pretty good seasons. The move shields them from escaping via the Rule 5 draft. It's something of a minor detail, however, the Phillies have a tendency to reach for help from the 40-man roster first, so don't be surprised if one of them - Berry and Flande in particular - surfaces in the majors next season, if only for a game or two. The Phillies now have 30 players on the 40-man roster.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Fall League stat updates

A quick peek at some of the stat lines from Scottsdale, where several Phillies prospects are participating in the Arizona Fall League. Numbers are compiled and courtesy of Phuture Phillies.

Hitters: Domonic Brown .250/.314/.426 in 108 AB, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 0 SB; Troy Hanzawa .000 in 18 AB, 2 RBI and 2 SB; Steve Susdorf .216/.333/.392 in 51 AB, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB; Tuffy Gosewisch .275/.293/.275 in 40 ABs, 0 HR and 3 RBI. Pitchers: Mike Cisco 5 games, 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA, 14.2 IP, 13 H 7 ER, 6 BB, 12K, 1.29 WHIP; Edgar Garcia 9 games, 2-2 with a 5.63 ERA, 16 IP, 22 H, 10 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, 1.63 WHIP; Scott Mathieson 10 games, 0-0 with a 3.09 ERA, 11.2 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 7 BB, 17 K, 1.37 WHIP; Michael Schwimer 9 games, 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA, 11.2 IP, 10H, 5 ER, 8 BB, 8K, 1.54 WHIP.

Breaking news: Coghlan earns top NL rookie honors

An injury-plagued and so-so September may have proved costly for Phillies’ candidate J.A. Happ (12-4, 2.93). Florida outfielder Chris Coghlan (.321/.390/.460), who led baseball with 113 second-half hits, took home the hardware.

Beerleaguer: This figured to be a tight race and I respect the voters’ decision; Coghlan, who earned 17 of 32 first-place votes, looks like a good one and caught fire after the All-Star break. Tommy Hanson wouldn’t have bothered me, either. Take nothing away from Happ, who earned 10 first-place votes and was the Phillies’ best and most consistent pitcher in a World Series year, opening eyes with a 12-win season and a pair of complete-game shutouts against the Jays and Rockies. Still, he seems to attract a fair share of skeptics, a group that quite possibly includes the Phillies. I know the national stat guys don’t buy into him. At worst, he's a Major League starting pitcher, and I'm quite content with that.

Breaking news: Eric Bruntlett, four others, set free

The Phillies have non-tendered Eric Bruntlett, who hit just .171/.224/.238 in 118 plate appearances in 2009. In addition, right-handers John Ennis and Tyler Walker, catcher Paul Hoover and infielder Andy Tracy were granted free agency, according to the Daily News. [Link]

Beerleaguer: It would have been hard to produce less if he tried. Bruntlett’s lone highlight was an unassisted, walk-off triple play Aug. 23 at Citi Field. Otherwise, his season was actually worse than rarely seen outfielder So Taguchi the season before. There’s no sugar coating it: It was the worst, full-season offensive showing I’ve ever seen. Bruntlett actually produced considerably less than Taguchi, a 22 OPS+ compared to Taguchi’s Ruthian 55.

Some of it wasn’t his fault. After an encouraging spring, E-Brunt struggled to get on the field after serving as Pat Burrell’s defensive caddy the season earlier. The additions of Ben Francisco and John Mayberry at various points in the season also hurt, and Charlie Manuel was reluctant to compromise run production in his middle infield, so Bruntlett basically gathered dustmites in his beard.

Nevertheless, you can’t deny the absurd highlights. The triple play. All the others occurred in the 2008 postseason: a ninth-inning home run off hot-shot rookie David Price in a Game 2 loss to the Rays; the walk-off run on “The Little Squib that Did” in Game 3; and the eventual winning run in Game 5 of the World Series. Then in 2009, he scored the first run on Jimmy Rollins' game-winning hit in Game 4 of the NLCS. For all his faults, it’s quite a distinction to be involved in so many big moments in Phillies history. Lord knows there haven't been many.

From here, the Phillies will be seeking better depth and versatility, something they've really needed for a couple of seasons. They’re very thin in the minors. It’s possible Jason Donald would have been the guy to replace Bruntlett in 2010 prior to his trade to Cleveland, but now the Phillies will be forced to make ends meet via trade or free agency. I'm sure the Phillies have been preparing for this.

Bruntlett is arbitration eligible, but he's likely to receive only a minor league deal, at best. Vaya con dios, Gnome.

As for the others, only Tyler Walker is worth mentioning; he actually played a bigger role than Bruntlett this season. There was some thought that Walker could possibly handle the ninth inning, but as soon as that chatter started in early September, he immediately fell off a cliff and never factored into the Phillies' postseason plans. He'll land on his feet somewhere, possibly on a major league deal, but more likely a minor league one. 

Saturday thread: Links to the Phillies' rumor mill

Aside from a few early reports on the Phillies' pursuit for a third baseman, there's been no new hot stove information since midweek. In the meantime, I've got nothing to add and will be taking a break from the blog for the rest of the weekend. If something comes up, chances are it will pop up on these two threads from FoxSports and ESPN. And if you see anything, be sure to share it with the group in the thread below. Have an awesome weekend.

Need for bullpen, spare closer, can’t be taken lightly

Brad Lidge, who had a dreadful season, underwent flexor tendon surgery and his recovery could set him behind schedule. Meanwhile, J.C. Romero could also miss the early going. Bottom line: bullpen is a major issue for the Phillies.

While the third base debate continues, here’s the dire situation in back of the Phillies’ bullpen. Brad Lidge was the worst closer in baseball last season. He just had elbow surgery. Ryan Madson again demonstrated his limitations as strictly an eighth-inning option and pitched 1 million innings. J.C. Romero is breaking down. Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre are probably gone. The Phillies are in a lot of trouble if they can’t get help. A lot of trouble. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Phillies “will be aggressive in signing a set-up man/closer safety net.” They must.

The good news is it’s a relatively saturated market for decent relievers, and there appear to be a disproportionate number of buyers and sellers. A report surfaced yesterday that the Phillies are kicking Fernando Rodney’s tires. More reports like these are likely to surface. Expect the Phils to add at least one, or possibly two, late-inning options.

Here’s another issue worth tracking down the road: do the Phillies make J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick and Antonio Bastardo permanent additions to the bullpen? Bastardo already seems like a given, Kendrick could find his way back to the majors through the middle innings, and Happ could be doomed for the 'pen depending on how the offseason unfolds.

Thursday morning: Phillies dropping hot corner hints

Baseball sources cited by Inquirer scribe Jim Salisbury believe Ruben Amaro has turned his attention toward the free agent trifecta of Placido Polanco, Mark DeRosa and Adrian Beltre. Chone Figgins and Miguel Tejada are expected to command too much for the Phillies to cover. [Link]

Beerleaguer: Polanco, at the center of this report, would not be my first choice, and I'm uncertain that a move to third, after winning the Gold Glove at second, would be the best move for Polanco. There's no question that the Polanco of two seasons ago - the one who hit .344/.388/.458 - is exactly the type of contact, situational hitter this lineup needs, but his numbers have been in decline the last two seasons, posting a mediocre .285/.331/.396 in 2009, raising a red flag, in a contract year, at age 34. Plus, it's unknown whether he has enough arm to withstand the rigors of third base; he hasn't been a regular third baseman in ages. I'm also concerned about the "you can't come home again" syndrome that seems to infect past players who tried to come back.

As much as the Phillies think they can improve the lineup by upgrading third base, I'm skeptical of all three of the aging options topping the Phillies' free agent list. Nevertheless, the Phillies have little choice but to commit to one of them, unless they can work out a trade. San Diego's Kevin Kouzmanoff, Colorado's Garrett Atkins and Pittsburgh's Andy LaRoche have been speculated upon in reports. According to the Denver Post, the Rockies may actually release Atkins if they can't find a trade partner.

Rollins, Victorino repeat as Gold Glove winners

For Jimmy Rollins, it's his third-straight award at shortstop. Shane Victorino picks up his second in a row in the outfield. Former Phillie Michael Bourn was also honored for his work in center field with Houston. Beerleaguer: No argument here. As much as J-Roll struggled at the dish, it didn't affect his play in the field. Honestly, I thought it was his best defensive effort yet.

Report: Phillies taking a look at Fernando Rodney

The 32-year-old reliever saved 37 games in 38 chances for the Tigers last season. The report, filed by FoxSports from the GM meetings in Chicago, marks the first reported Phillies free agent inquiry.

Beerleaguer: Seems like yesterday when red-hot Pete Orr rumors kicked off the post-World Series hot stove one year ago. Rodney’s peripherals aren’t strong; he finished with a 4.40 ERA and 61/41 K/BB ratio in 75 2-3 innings in his first full season as Detroit’s closer, ending the year on a down note. He was suspended three games for throwing a ball into the Tropicana Field press box on September 4 and was erratic down the stretch, saving all of his games nonetheless. In Rodney, the Phils would be hoping to land a pitcher with late-inning experience, but not necessarily an opening-day replacement for Brad Lidge. MLBTR seems to think a ballbark one-year, $6 million deal would be in order.

Interestingly, the FoxSports piece made mention of the Phillies’ budget limitations, which seems to be a running theme among the early reports from Phillies' camp. According to Cot’s Contracts, the Phils already have close to $110 million in salary commitments to the Major League team, with several players due for raises through arbitration, along with a wide-open hole at third base. Rodney is a Type B free agent and this report suggests the club would be satisfied with second-tier relief help.

Tuesday: Free agents file, Phillies formulate plans

Less than a week removed from the World Series and the Phillies' hot stove is heating up. Chan Ho Park, Matt Stairs and Paul Bako joined Pedro Martinez, Miguel Cairo, Pedro Feliz and Brett Myers in filing for free agency.

Free agents have been assigned Type A and B designation and now the stage is set for teams to talk turkey. Only Park and Eyre will garner extra picks for the Phils. Aside from a few reported discussions about Pedro Martinez, the Phillies reportedly had little interest in retaining the rest of their eligible free agents. Now, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and his team will begin to lay the groundwork this week at the GM meetings, happening through Nov. 11 in Chicago, a prelude to baseball’s winter meetings, set for Dec. 7-10 in Indianapolis.

By most accounts, the saturated market and bad economy figure to bog down the wheeling and dealing. The Phillies have addressed their needs early the last few seasons, and as a team with means, may attempt to do the same this winter. By letting Feliz go, the biggest priority is at third.  Early frontrunners include Penn product Mark DeRosa, slick-fielding Mariner Adrian Beltre and slashing leadoff man Chone Figgins, who rocked a .395 on-base percentage with Anaheim, but would cost the Phillies a draft pick. The list includes several other possibilities, including Type A player Placido Polanco. Polly, who’s 34 and coming off a ho-hum season with Detroit, hasn’t been a regular third baseman in ages, and never saw regular action there while in Philadelphia. The Phillies could be hesitant to make something out nothing, as they tried to do with Wes Helms two seasons ago.

Once again, the Phillies will hunt for a backup catcher; the list is deep with veterans who could be trusted behind the dish in the event Carlos Ruiz would go down with injury. The Phils are dry at catcher in the high minors, so they could be in the market for two. It’s a buyer’s market for relievers as well, with many good-not-great possibilities equipped to handle the eighth and ninth innings. Other areas of need include middle infield depth and more pop off the bench. Eric Bruntlett seems likely to be non-tendered. Meanwhile, the Phillies are reportedly hot after Roy Halladay. We'll obviously keep our eyes on that.

Resources: Type A and B; Team-by-team free agents; Cot's Contracts; MLBTR Top Free Agents.

Brown retains top spot among Phillies prospects

Typically a winter treat, Baseball America pulled the Phillies’ name early this season, announcing their Top 10 prospects and best tools in the organization today. [Link]

Outfielder Domonic Brown repeats as the top player in the Phillies' farm, followed by Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, Travis d'Arnaud, Trevor May, Anthony Gose, Sebastian Valle, Jarred Cosart, Antonio Bastardo and Domingo Santana. Click here for more details and the best tools winners (biggest surprise is that Gose - who stole 76 bases for Lakewood, is not considered the fastest player in their system). Only subscribers can access the full scouting reports.

Beerleaguer: Put Michael Taylor second and Kyle Drabek third and this was close to the list I presented to Reading Phillies beat writer Mike Drago back when he polled 15 writers for his top prospect piece. So I’m feeling pretty good about that. My list also included defensive whiz Freddy Galvis, who did not make the BA cut, although I did include darkhorses Antonio Bastardo and Domingo Santana in my group. So hurray for me I guess, but a bigger hurray for the Phillies, who appear to have some very good depth - including a couple of future big leaguers - down on the farm.

One one hand, it's always a great day when Baseball America announces their rankings. Bummer we were given this meaty topic only days removed from the World Series. This will be a long offseason indeed.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Phils decline Feliz's option

The Phillies will pay 34-year-old third baseman Pedro Feliz a $500,000 buyout and upgrade the hot corner via trade or free agency. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has not ruled out bringing him back on a lesser free agent deal.

Beerleaguer: No argument here; Feliz would have been owed $5.5 million in 2010 and the hot corner is one area the Phillies can secure an upgrade. Feliz hit .266/.308/.386 with 12 home runs and an 80 OPS+ out of the No. 7 hole, earning 625 plate appearances on the season. He came through with a clutch, game-tying home run in Game 4 of the World Series, and also homered in the Championship Series, otherwise, he had a poor showing this postseason, hitting just .167.

Still, whenever a team achieves a certain level of success, as the Phillies have these last two seasons, disrupting the nucleus should never be taken lightly. The Phillies have been sacrificing offense for defense at third for many seasons, a formula that's worked to some extent. Feliz proved to be a very solid defender, exhibiting pinpoint accuracy on his throws and converting most of the plays he needed to make, but the Phillies had been hoping for more pop. When you get past the decline in home runs, Feliz turned in nearly identical run production he had given San Francisco the previous two seasons, with an OPS+ hovering around 80. The Phillies lived with it since they received above-average run production from atypical areas like second base, but as his power vanished, so did their patience for all the bad at bats and low on-base percentage.

Nevertheless, Feliz, who battled through a back injury in 2008 and underwent offseason surgery, played an important role in last season's march to the World Series, knocking in the eventual winning run against the Rays and making a key stab off the turf in Tampa. Signed as something of a last resort, fortifying what has become the organization's thinnest position, the Phillies will feel no regrets in the $9 million he was given over the life of his deal.

The club has already made inquiries and has received trade offers regarding third base, according to the Inquirer.

Breaking news: Phillies bid farewell to Brett Myers

The Phillies have informed Brett Myers they intend to go in another direction. Myers, in turn, thanked them "for putting up with my (stuff)," according to the Inquirer's Jim Salisbury. [Link]

Beerleaguer: My eulogy to Myers was written May 30, two days after it was announced he would require season-ending hip surgery. Turned out, he was able to pitch again, but he was a non-factor, instead of an X-factor, as many of us hoped. Here's part of my piece from May:

“Even Bill Lyon would struggle to extract meaning from Myers' career. In five years of blogging about the Phillies, Myers has been the toughest player to write. Eight seasons have simultaneously felt like too much and not enough content. For a pitcher who constantly looked uncomfortable in his own body, he's still regarded as something of a work in progress, just two shocking years older than J.A. Happ. Still considered a front line starter by some, mounting evidence suggests otherwise. He never won more than 14 games, setting his career high six years ago.

“But before his career is painted in a broad brush of disappointment, recall the highlight, including two of the loudest Citizens Bank Park moments in history: the 2007 division clincher against Washington, and his amazing at bat against C.C. Sabathia in the NLDS. Ironically, neither had anything to do with starting pitching, yet he earned his World Series ring based on the two postseason wins and a stretch-run surge that guided the Phils to October.”

Back in May, there might have been some thought to bringing him back, but according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, that won’t be the case. I cannot blame them. Ruben Amaro Jr. met with the right-hander and said they won’t engage in negotiations.

Myers, a first-round pick in 1999, was 73-63 with a 4.40 ERA (99 ERA+) in eight seasons as a starter and reliever. He did right by the Phillies, too, earning a generous extension before the 2007 season that took him one-year past free agency.

Considering how slowly free agency moved last offseason, I bet Myers, with all his baggage, becomes one of the last free agent pitchers signed this offseason. On a good team, he’ll become a back-of-the-rotation starter, and as much as he likes touching the ball every day as a reliever, financially, it would be wise to market himself as a capable starter to a lesser National League squad like the Nationals, where he’d be a No. 2 at worst and could end up giving them some decent innings.

Friday: No rest, a couple of tests, for the weary

In addition to Raul Ibanez (groin/abdomen) and Scott Eyre (elbow), who will be reexamined for previously known ailments, 2009 bust Brad Lidge will also have his elbow tested for loose bodies, the Phillies announced.

In other news, the Phillies have picked up Cliff Lee’s option for 2010. No surprise there. Meanwhile, they have until Monday to decide whether they exercise Pedro Feliz’s $5 million option. Beerleaguer: You know, that really chaps my ass about Lidge, and I wish I knew where to point my finger. It’s one thing to shrug off a knee injury and spend eight months pretending it’s not bothering him. Now we get news of an elbow injury? So let me get this straight: healthy pitchers stay home; we’re bringing the guy with 11 blown saves, a 7.21 ERA and two injuries along for the postseason?

On Feliz, that's a definite pass on the $5 million option. Pocket the money and bring him back on a lesser free agent deal if the Phillies can't make a trade or lure an upgrade. There were absolutely no takers for Feliz two years and 4,000 more points on the Dow ago, coming off a year in which he had 20 homers, not 12.

Yankees dethrone Phillies as champions of baseball

The Philadelphia Phillies' bid for back-to-back world titles fell short Wednesday night in a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the New York Yankees. 

Beerleaguer: Tonight concludes a historic run by a proud Philadelphia franchise, beginning with last season's title capture, continuing with their successful 162-game and division-clinching march through the regular season and ending with their second-consecutive National League pennant. While 2008 became the year Philadelphia was given reprieve from a long title drought, 2009 carried a different meaning for this individual, one that mattered less about winning and more about the bonds the Phillies have created among us. Step back. Look around. What great pleasure, excitement and brotherhood the Phillies have stirred, at a time when unity and goodwill are in such short supply.

I'll issue my final thoughts on the Phillies in the days ahead. Meanwhile, I extend my sincere thanks to the peanut gallery for spending another season with Beerleaguer. It's been a pleasure to serve you.