Starting the off-season with a bang.
This one snuck up on everyone I think. The Phils get Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett in exchange for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Mike Constanzo. (I think Ed Wade is eager to regain some of the players he drafted.)
I love the Lidge pickup; I know he’s been regarded as being down over the past couple of years after the homer to Pujols in the NLCS, but I really think way too much has been made of it. He’s still a strikeout machine and that’s what you want in a reliever, especially in a bandbox like CBP. Bruntlett is a very generic utility infielder, but I guess we know who replaces Abraham Nunez in that role.
They also didn’t give up all that much. Bourn is an excellent defensive player, but I’m really not convinced that he’s ever going to hit enough to be an everyday player. However I wouldn’t be surprised to see him enjoy a solid career as a fourth outfielder/part-time starter. Geary is about to hit arbitration and get expensive, which in turn reduces his value. As a cheap fungible reliever he’s got value, but if his salary starts going up via arbitration, he’s a lot less useful. Constanzo is looking more and more like a bust with his struggles at Reading this year and a dreadful performance in the Arizona Fall League. All told that’s not a huge package to be giving up.
The trade does raise some interesting other questions though. Does Lidge move into the closer role or does he become a setup guy. I’m happy to have him in either role, but of course if he does become the closer, that means Myers is likely headed back to the rotation. This may depend on whether or not the Phillies can land a starter somewhere else. Another issue is what this means for the outfield. If they resign Rowand they’re still in pretty good shape with only a fifth outfielder needed and that’s a spot that could definitely be filled via a non-tendered free agent similar to how they landed Jason Werth last year. However if Rowand walks or if they get stupid and actually trade Burrell, they’re suddenly very thin. I’m comfortable with a starting outfield of Burrell, Victorino, and Werth, but there’s nothing on the horizon for reserves/injury insurance. While Chris Roberson is still on the roster I’m convinced that he’s effectively done with the Phillies and I see no reason to be optimistic about T.J. Bohn. There definitely seems to be some work still to do there.
All told it’s a good first move of the off-season, but there should be move to come. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next.