Between baseball seasons, the three month layoff allows imaginations to run wild. During this time, nothing is more interesting than the speculation of which players will be added to help the team bring home a World Series crown.
As the Philadelphia Phillies continue to build a strong core of players, it becomes more unlikely that the team will make a colossal splash in the free agent market. However, returning seven everyday players and declining the 2010 option on Pedro Feliz, the Phillies will look to fill the void at third base.
Feliz has been an outstanding fielder (.969 fielding percentage) since coming to Philadelphia from San Francisco before the 2008 season. By declining his option, the Phillies are obviously looking to add a more effective bat to their lineup.
Although there are not many big name third basemen on the market, the Phillies have some options at the position.
Adrian Beltre
Beltre, 30, has spent the last five seasons with the Seattle Mariners, after spending his first seven with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2004 runner-up for National League Most Valuable Player, he never came close to duplicating this success in Seattle.
Statistically, 2009, was the worst season of his career as he posted his lowest amount of games played, at bats, hits, homeruns and RBI since his rookie season. He also spent time on the disabled list, playing in only 111 games.
Beltre will not warrant the $64 million contract he received from Seattle in 2005, meaning the Phillies will be able to afford him. Beltre still has the talent to play at a high level, and working with Charlie Manuel may be the answer to turning his career around. Although the Phillies do not like to take chances, the reward of a resurgent Adrian Beltre would far outweigh the risk.
Chone Figgins
Figgins, 31, has spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. One of the best base stealers in baseball (at least 34 the past 6 season), he has consistently put up good numbers at the plate and in the field.
Figgins is one of the bigger names on the free agent market this offseason and is reportedly seeking about $10 million per year. Although the Phillies would love his versatility, they are looking to spend only $5-7 million per year, so Figgins may be out of contention. Another reason the Phillies may pass on Figgins is that he is most valuable at the top of the batting order and Manuel does not seem apt to altering his line-up.
Mark DeRosa
Before the 2009 season, the Phillies showed some interest in DeRosa, as a left fielder. One year later, the Phillies may be looking to DeRosa to fill the void at third base.
DeRosa, a pure utility player earlier in his career, has the skill to be an everyday third baseman. DeRosa has put up good numbers the past two years and his combination of power and contact hitting would fit perfectly as the 7th hitter in the Phillies line-up.
DeRosa will probably require the Phillies to spend slightly more than the $5-7 million per year they want to spend, but for one or two years he may be worth it.
In Philadelphia, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the idea of signing either Placido Polanco or Miguel Tejada. Although Polanco would be the sentimental choice, re-signing Feliz would be a much safer option. Tejada will require much more money than the Phillies will be looking to pay and he may not be receptive to playing third base.
Other options for the Phillies include Troy Glaus and Melvin Mora. Glaus, an outstanding power hitter throughout his career, is coming off of an injury riddled 2009 season. Mora is 38 years old and although he has put up decent numbers in his career, he is past his prime. Both Mora and Glaus are below average defensively and the Phillies would be taking too much of a risk to sign either player.
There are too many factors to predict exactly who will be playing the hot corner on opening day. The Phillies have the luxury of having a great team, allowing them to take a chance this offseason. Anything could happen during the offseason; General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has even implied that Feliz could be back next season.
Spring training starts in less than three months, and until then, the imaginations will run wild.
Comments
So who do you think they will sign?
Obviously the Phillies are very interested in DeRosa, seeing as this is the second consecutive year that they have shown interest in him. I think that he is currently the best fit for the team in the seventh spot in the line-up. I believe that Beltre (the youngest candidate) is the dark horse in the running for the job. I would love to see what Manuel could do with Beltre's talent. Since the Phillies do not have much 3B potential in the minors, age may play a factor in the decision. It's nice to imagine how good the Philies would be if Beltre could return to his 2004 form, but I would currently put my money on DeRosa.
David Bell is out there!
I think they should have taken the feliz option. his defense by far is the best the phillies have had there in years. and although his hitting is not what they were hoping for, his hitting with runners in scoring position is better than the rest of the phils. unless you get a figgins or a tejada i think you stick with pedro.
Doug, I totally agree with you about the defense of Feliz. He is by far the best defensive free agent at third, and one of the best in the league. He does have the best average with runners in scoring position the last two years for the Phillies and he only struck out 68 times in 2009. However, Feliz seems to have lost the power he had in San Franciso. I think opposing teams feel comfortable pitching to him, and at times he can look lost. By declining his option, the Phillies are either looking for a better offensive 3B, or they are hoping to sign Feliz for less than the $5.5 mil he would have made.
hey scott I think that it will come down to DeRosa and Beltre. I think DeRosa is the safer player to go with and they always say he is a great club house guy which the phillies like. But i think the Phillies will go after Beltre assuming they can get him for the right contract. Beltre is a much better defender than DeRosa and he has more pop, which the phillies also like. I don't think that the phillies can go wrong with either DeRosa or Beltre. I wish they would try and get Figgins, i know he is more expensive but the phillies have more money coming off the books than some people realize with the end of the infamous Eaton contract. I think Figgins would give the phillies a very good lead off hitter and you could move rollins or victorino in to Feliz's old spot. Good article again Scott
I would love to see what Beltre could do here in Philadelphia. I really don't think you could go wrong with Beltre or Figgins (assuming you can get Beltre for a few mil less per year). To tell you the truth, I really like every option they have at third. They all have certain strengths and weaknesses, but for me its more fun to imagine getting Beltre and letting him hit at Citizens Bank Park.
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