2011-12 Hot Stove Thread

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

The Phillies are so far ahead of the NL in spending it's almost impossible to screw it up in the short term.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

I think Papelbon is a better choice than Madson, and for not too much more than the money they were talking with Madson. Yeah, they need hitting, but they're going to have to look in the second-tier market for that.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

The fact that they were going to wildly overpay for Madson doesn't make it better that they wildly overpaid for Papelbon and gave up a first-round compensation pick to boot.

By my math, they've got something like $146 million committed to 17 players, including arbitration estimates. They've got some room left to make improvement still.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

The phrase "overpay" is meaningless without the context of comparison, since it obviously implies "compared to what another closer would cost." Papelbon has been overall the second-best closer in the AL (he sucked in 2010) for six seasons. Who would the Phillies get for the position for significantly less who would be expected to be as good?

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Let the Henry and Lucchino-sponsored (with the compliance of Boston media) Pap smears begin. Given that Pap's a, shall we say, free-spirited kind of guy that historically doesn't play well with management or the media here, I had the feeling his Boston days would not end well.
By Sunday night, Jerry Sandusky will look like a model citizen compared to the santorum manufactured against Pap.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

I'm less worried about the next closer option as I am the opportunity cost elsewhere on the roster. In a choice between a 4-year commitment at that kind of money to Madson or Papelbon, I'd choose neither.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Papelbon will be better off out of the AL East.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Rick, you can't choose "neither." The Phillies can't anyway. They are an older team coming off a 100 win season. They're built on pitching and their offense looks to be weaker than last year. They need a closer, because they're going to need an inordinate number of 2-1, 3-2 wins. Demand meets supply meets Papelbon gets richer.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

I'm a bit of an outside-the-box thinker, but if I'm built on pitching and my offense looks like it may be weaker, I'm spending my money on offense.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

That's a fine plan in theory, but in practice, the offense out there on the big money market plays first base. So the Phils are kind of stuck. They pretty much have to go down to the second tier for batters -- although I'm kind of surprised they're not making a play for Reyes. Rollins is obviously putting out on the 16th hole of his career, if not the 17th.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Keith Law
New post for Insiders - the Phillies sign BJ Ry... I mean, Jonathan Papelbon: http://klaw.me/uzMqAZ

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

There is always a risk of injury with a free agent signing, moreso with a pitcher. But assuming it is just silly.