http://www.sportsnipe.com Philadelphia Phillies, Team News, Updates, and Stats from all sports sources, updated continually. http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047143/phils-training-staff-honored-award.html Phils' training staff honored with award Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044008/bullpen.html NEEDS Their biggest needs, in order, appear to be a back-of-the- bullpen arm with the stuff to pitch the eighth and ninth innings, a multiple-innings arm, and a dependable situational lefty. The Phillies are hoping to re-sign Chan Ho Park, which would fill the multi-innings void and also give them another pitcher for l Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044007/baseball-notes-giants-lincecum-wins-2d-straight-cy-young.html NEW YORK - Tim Lincecum needed just 15 wins to take the NL Cy Young Award for the second straight year. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044006/15-wins-lincecum-earns-second-cy-young.html Talk about a freak - Tim Lincecum needed just 15 wins to bag another NL Cy Young Award. Yup, throw out those old baseball cards. Wins and losses don't mean much anymore when it comes time for voters to pick baseball's best pitchers. It's all about WHIP, FIP, BABIP and other lines of alphabet soup. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044005/bill-conlin-massacre-baseballs-records.html THERE IS A SCENE in "The Godfather" where Vito Corleone has just called in the favor owed him by Amerigo Bonasero, the undertaker. He is to use all his powers to make the ambushed Sonny presentable for a traditional "family" viewing. He draws back the sheet covering his son and sobs for the only time in the film. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044004/for-phillies-expect-few-fireworks-in-free-agency.html SEVEN YEARS AGO, the Phillies publicly pursued free-agent slugger Jim Thome. At the stroke of midnight on the deadline that teams could make formal offers, then-general manager Ed Wade fired off an e-mail and followed it up with a long, from-the-heart letter. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044003/phillies-say-gillick-returning-to-toronto.html The Phillies strongly deny a pair of stories in the Toronto Star indicating that Pat Gillick, who became their general manager before the 2006 season and helped the franchise win only its second world championship 3 years later, could be heading back to the organization where he first made his reputation as a top executive. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044002/phillies-have-specific-freeagent-needs.html General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and his staff have long since established their off-season priorities: The Phillies need to sign a third baseman, remake their bench, and improve their bullpen. Now they can begin to convert plans into reality. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044001/phillies-gm-amaro-says-3b-bullpen-priority.html Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was on his way to Citizens Bank Park at 8 a.m. on Thursday to make final preparations for baseball's free-agent signing period, which got under way at midnight Friday. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1041204/ryan-howard-turns-30.html Ryan Howard turns 30 LGT his Baseball Reference page. Just goes to show that he (and the core) are not particularly young anymore. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1039026/time-to-trust-phillies.html More photos » by Matt Rourke - AP Can't see through the smug (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Browse more photos » Through the first two weeks of the off-season, I haven’t heard much out of the Phillies’ front office that’s made me happy. The payroll isn’t going up much, despite a year of record attendance and post-season revenues I assume they didn’t budget for but that included eight home dates, one short of the maximum possible (they didn’t need that Game Five against the Rockies, thankfully). Yet they’re looking at pricey but questionable free agent additions to the bullpen like Fernando Rodney; are evidently hot once again for aging Mark DeRosa ("he's a Penn grad" really isn't a very compelling reason to bring the guy onboard); and reportedly are planning to bring in a "defense-first" type for infield depth. That’s four "ughs" right there, all along the lines of past mistakes we’ve seen the Phillies make—in fact, they’ve made these exact mistakes in previous offseasons. Read Roberto Hernandez for Rodney, David Bell for DeRosa, and Abe "No-Hit" Nunez for whatever slick-glove guy they bring in for the bench.  Yet I find myself unable to get too worked up about it anymore. it’s not because I don’t care; it’s because I’m now (almost) convinced that whenever my views diverge from those of GM Ruben Amaro Jr., the strong likelihood is that he's right and I’m wrong. As I noted right after the season ended, the Phils did something amazing in Amaro's first season as the Phils’ GM—something I suspect is unprecedented in baseball history: they won a second straight pennant in a year when five of their best six pitchers from the first pennant campaign were either hurt or ineffective for most of the year. Amaro's moves, both to bolster the offense and to add in an ace and deepen the bullpen, were the biggest reason why; other than J.A. Happ, no 2008 holdover was all that much better this time around. (Joe Blanton was better too, but mostly he was on hand all year.) Either this guy is the luckiest baseball exec in the history of ever, or he really knows what he’s doing. And with the one (big) exception of the Cliff Lee trade, I didn’t like most of Amaro’s big moves at the time he made them. I wrote last winter that the market-shaping deal for Raul Ibanez was so bad that "I can't even make a joke about this"; Ibanez absolutely carried the team through the first two months and quickly became a fan (and TGP) favorite. Evidently I was so bummed out by the signing of Chan Ho Park last December that I didn't write anything about it; he only turned out to be the team's most consistent reliever. I didn't like bringing in Pedro Martinez; he had far more left in the tank than I’d guessed, to the point of making two World Series starts.  Even the little depth plays, for the likes of Rodrigo Lopez and Tyler Walker, turned out to be helpful. (He did foul up the backup catcher situation, parting ways with Jason Jaramillo, Ronnie Paulino and Chris Coste and dealing Lou Marson in the Lee deal before winding up with the useless Paul Bako; nobody gets 'em all right.)  Actually, the first big decision involving Amaro that I had a problem with was... his hiring. Coming days after the Phils won the 2008 World Series, it felt like a nepotism/comfort move, elevating an organizational lifer who hadn't proven himself to anyone outside the team's offices. It didn't help that Amaro came off as smug to the point of self-righteous; rumors abounded of his disdain for performance analysis, perhaps informed by his own experiences in a baseball uniform. With some of the other executive talent on the market last winter, not to mention the passing over of his front-office rival Mike Arbuckle, I feared and believed that the Phillies' residence in baseball's upper echelons would prove all too brief. But a year into his tenure, he seems to have taken the best of the two general managers he learned under, fusing Ed Wade's resolve to keep his very best prospects with Pat Gillick's aptitude for reading the market and adding talent in-season. If the Phillies plummet in the next few seasons, it likely will be from a rash of injuries or key players suddenly getting old--not a slew of boneheaded front office moves.  I don't generally enjoy being wrong. But I do enjoy the feeling, for the first time in more than a quarter century, that the people running my favorite baseball team have more of a clue than I do. So when the Phils bring in Mark DeRosa, David Weathers, Brian Schneider and John McDonald as their big offseason additions, for once I'm going to try and keep the faith. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1037428/great-editorial-decisions-domonic-brown-edition.html Great Editorial Decisions -- Domonic Brown Edition From Yahoo! Sports' Big League Stew Original, poorly proofread article still online as of this posting, follow the link within the article. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1036941/phillies-stressing-defense-in-assembling-bench-sportingnewscom.html Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the team will look to... Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1036041/baseball-notes-colorados-tracy-nls-top-manager.html Jim Tracy of the Colorado Rockies yesterday became the second man to win the National League's manager-of-the-year award after taking over during the season. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1036040/angels-scioscia-rockies-tracy-named-top-managers.html The Los Angeles Angels could have crumbled when pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car accident in April, overcome by waves of grief and sadness. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1036039/haddon-heights-bailey-on-top-as.html It was a few weeks ago and far away from the spotlight Andrew Bailey had performed under as one of the true feel-good stories of the 2009 season in major-league baseball. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1036038/manuel-falls-short-for-nl-manager-year.html Charlie Manuel's 2009 regular-season resume - 93 victories and a third consecutive National League East title - is pretty darn good. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1033046/manuel-sixth-in-nl-manager-year-voting.html Phillies manager Charlie Manuel finished sixth in the voting for National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1031081/wrong-focus-phillies-should-on-offense-off-bench.html Ruben Amaro Jr. is reportedly so content with the offense that Ben Francisco and Greg Dobbs can provide off the bench next year that he thinks that the Phillies should focus on defense with their other bench positions.  Here's the Inquirer's introductory take on the matter: The Phillies will emphasize defense when working to improve their bench this off-season, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said yesterday. While the team would love to add part-time players who can hit for batting average and power, they will "err on getting defense over offense," Amaro said. Amaro is wrong here for two reasons that can be encapsulated with the following numbers:  .630 and .447. First, Amaro is wrong because the Phillies as a team had an awful .186/.284/.346 triple slash line and .630 OPS last year when pinch hitting.  That .630 OPS was 12th in the NL.  Their .186 batting average when pinch hitting was 15th in the NL.  This is awful production from the bench, especially given that the bench usually comes into play in important game situations. Second, the Phillies were 8-16 in interleague play last year (when you add in the World Series) and have a .447 overall winning record against the AL since interleague play has begun (including World Series appearances).  As was quite clear in the World Series, the Phillies suffered with the DH at Yankee Stadium and Hideki Matsui being the main pinch hit threat at Citizens Bank Park.  With a bench that's weak offensively, the Phillies will not eliminate their NL East disadvantage in interleague play or give themselves more options if they reach the World Series again. Both of these reasons indicate the Amaro is foolish to emphasize defense over offense in his quest to fill out the bench this off-season. But, there is one possible way that I could be less angry with this decision.  In filling the third base spot, as PhillyFriar has noted over the past week, there are players available by free agency or trade who might be offensive assets but defensive liabilities.  If Amaro were to pursue one of those players, it might be worth backing him up with a more defense-oriented infielder who can sub for the new third baseman when appropriate. However, even this possibility would explain just one position.  Even if that were to come to pass, the Phillies need more offense off the bench.  Focusing on defense is wrong. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1030178/derosa-could-fill-in-for-phils-at-third.html DeRosa could fill in for Phils at third Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1029425/phillies-breakfast-links-november-18-2009-happy-petey-shane-gets-married-swap-happ.html Thanks for your patience around here.  This is truly the slowest part of the offseason.   PARK, EYRE, PEDRO: STAY OR GO? - Philled InScott Lauber breaks it down.   Reports: Dodgers, Cubs stalk Martinez If people are willing to overpay for Pedro Martinez, let them. He's worth more to other teams than the Phillies at this point, probably.   Park keeping options for 2010 openI know we're talking negotiations and whatnot, but I really hope Park doesn't insist he's still a starting pitcher.   Phillies no stranger to awards It's really funny how much less of a crap you give about these awards, as a fan, when your team has been going deep into the postseason.   crashburnalley.com " The Case Against J.A. HappTrade J.A. Happ now, while is value is (likely) at its peak?     Philadelphia Phillies add Quintin Berry, Yohan Flande, Jesus Sanchez to 40-man roster Procedural, Rule V stuff?   Retired pitcher Terry Mulholland lists 3BD for $2.25M Another potential TGP clubhouse, this time in Arizona! Snowbird fun!   Philadelphia Phillies Star Shane Victorino's WeddingA couple pics. Chuck Liddell was Best Man. I need to go lie down now. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1028326/baseball-notes-royals-greinke-wins-cy-young.html NEW YORK - Zack Greinke won the American League Cy Young Award yesterday after a spectacular season short on wins but long on domination. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1028325/phillies-add-three-to-40man-roster.html The Phillies added two pitchers and an outfielder to their 40-man roster yesterday. Lefthander Yohan Flande, righthander Jesus Sanchez and outfielder Quintin Berry had their contracts selected, the team announced. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1028324/more-online.html To read David Murphy's expanded free-agency preview on the available relievers, visit the Daily News' Phillies blog High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1028323/phils-to-stress-defense-in-filling-bench.html The Phillies will emphasize defense when working to improve their bench this off-season, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said yesterday. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1028322/greinke-enters-into-royalty.html When the phone rang, Zack Greinke let it go - he didn't recognize the number. Only after listening to the voice mail did he call back and find out he'd won the American League Cy Young Award. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1028321/reports-dodgers-cubs-stalk-martinez.html It seems unlikely that the Phillies will bring back Pedro next season. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1026789/phillies-in-market-for-bullpen-help.html Phillies in market for bullpen help Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1025373/manuel-in-running-for-manager-year.html Manuel in running for Manager of the Year Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1022340/bruntlett-leaves-phillies-becomes-free-agent.html Utilityman Eric Bruntlett, who scored the winning run in the final game of the 2008 World Series, became a free agent after refusing a minor league assignment from the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1020253/ja-happ-second-in-rookieaward-voting.html J.A. Happ, the lefthander who began this year as a reliever and became one of the Phillies' most consistent starters, finished second in the voting for National League rookie of the year yesterday. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1020252/as-bailey-paul-vi-named-rookie-year.html Andrew Bailey of the Oakland A's, a relative unknown at the beginning of the season, capped a whirlwind year yesterday by being named the American League's rookie of the year. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1020251/andrew-bailey-pride-paul-vi-top-al-rookie.html At first, Andrew Bailey didn't believe it. The Oakland Athletics' closer, a product of Paul VI High in Haddon Township, was in his car when he got word he had won the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1020250/bill-conlin-no-award-for-phillies-happ-just-stellar-season.html GENE MAUCH used to say, "Close only counts in dancing and grenades, podnah." Marlins hitting machine Chris Coghlan edged J.A. Happ, Charlie Manuel's Musical Chairs lefthander, by less daylight than you can see in one of those steamy "Dancing With The Stars" tangos. He won 2009 National League Rookie of the Year Award by a point total of 105-94. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1020249/marlins-coghlan-edges-phillies-happ-for-nl-rookie-year.html He started the season in the bullpen. He ended the postseason as a reliever. In between, though, lefthander J.A. Happ pitched well enough as a starter to stabilize a rotation that was beset by injuries (Brett Myers) and ineffectiveness (Chan Ho Park, Jamie Moyer), helped the Phillies win their third straight division title and earned serious consideration for the Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year Award. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1020248/happ-finishes-second-in-nl-rookie-voting.html Also, the Phils let Eric Bruntlett and Tyler Walker become free agents. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1018973/happ-motivated-by-finish-in-rookie-vote.html Happ motivated by finish in Rookie vote Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1018972/bye-bruntlett.html Bye Bye Bruntlett No longer will we have to ask the question "Why is Eric Bruntlett on the Phillies?" As of today, he's gone from the 40-man roster, along with John Ennis, Paul Hoover, Andy Tracy, and Tyler Walker. Todd Zolecki reports that Bruntlett and Walker "will not be back next season"; the other three could return on minor league deals. Perhaps less heartening is Zolecki's list of possible replacements: John McDonald, Omar Vizquel, Jamey Carroll, Ronnie Belliard and Juan Uribe, all more or less variations on the dreary Bruntlett theme. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1017345/victorino-playsand-misplays.html NEW YORK - Shane Victorino's sore right index finger wasn't an issue for Game 6 of the World Series. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1016354/bruntlett-among-phils-off-40man-roster.html Bruntlett among Phils off 40-man roster Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1016353/happ-falls-just-shy-top-nl-rookie.html Happ falls just shy of top NL rookie Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1016352/south-jerseyamp0146s-bailey-wins-al-rookie-year.html Oakland A's closer and local product Andrew Bailey, who was pitching a year ago in Double-A, today was named the American League Rookie of the Year. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1016351/coghlan-beats-out-happ-for-nl-rookie-year.html J.A. Happ, the lefthander who began this year as a reliever and became one of the Phillies' most consistent starters, finished second in the voting for National League Rookie of the Year. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1015390/marlins-chris-coghlan-named-2009-national-league-rookie-year-phillies-happ-finishes-second.html More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP 2009 National League Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Browse more photos » Chris Coghlan of the Florida Marlins was named the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year today, narrowly edging out Phillies' LHP J.A. Happ for the award.  Coghlan received 105 total points and 17 first place votes, versus 94 and 10 for Happ. Coghlan posted a .321/.390/.460 line for the Marlins, starting 120 games in left field for the Fish.  Vote tallies after the jump... 1st 2nd 3rd Chris Coghlan, Florida Marlins 17 6 2 105 J.A. Happ, Philadelphia Phillies 10 11 11 94 Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves 2 6 9 37 Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates 2 5 25 Casey McGehee, Milwaukee Brewers 1 3 4 18 Randy Wells, Chicago Cubs 1 3 Garret Jones, Pittsburgh Pirates 2 2 Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres 1 1 Dexter Fowler, Colorado Rockies 1 1 Gerardo Parra, Arizona Diamondbacks 1 1 Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals 1 1 Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1013513/phillies-breakfast-links-november-16-2009-happ-waits-hiding-brad-moving-mike.html   NL ROY Award in offing for Happ? So, root for him!  Winners announced at 2 p.m. Eastern time.  Go here for results.   Philly's Wedding -- World Series Losers + A Loser - TMZ.comI hate myself for posting this. I'm sad.   Honoring Harry | Philadelphia Daily News A statue of Harry Kalas outside the ballpark? Fine with me.   Lidge never let on that arm was hurting Well that's aggravating.   Yankee win might have to tide us over It may be awhile before we see another athlete come this way like Jeter, who showed up at spring 15 years ago acting the way every parent would want his or her kid to act on the big stage, and hasn’t changed. The two-strike bunt he tried in Game 2 against the Phillies might’ve been the first dumb thing he’s done, or said, in 15 seasons. Wipe off your chin, dude. Ryan Madson Headlines Celebrity Bowling Event This Wednesday in Pennsauken So, if you're in the area... Mike Schmidt in Jupiter, Estate of the Day If we all pitch in, like, six dollars, we could buy it and make it The Good Phight's clubhouse! Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1013512/analyzing-third-base-candidates-trade-targets.html More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP If the Angels re-sign Figgins or sign Beltre, would they finally make Brandon Wood available? (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Browse more photos » On Friday, we tackled the free agent possibilities at the hot corner.  Ruben Amaro is said to be leaning toward signing a free agent, but due diligence dictates a look at potential trade targets as well.  I've tried to limit the discussion to third basemen who might actually be available (so you won't see Ryan Zimmerman listed below, sorry). Without further ado, here's a look at how the trade market for third basemen shapes up: Brandon Wood, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Garrett Atkins, Andy LaRoche, Dan Uggla, and Alex Gordon. Brandon WoodBackground: 25 years old, 1 year of service time (current club: Los Angeles Angels) Upside: A former top prospect, Wood has never been given a fair shot in Anaheim.  He developed as a shortstop and can probably still be functional there (a la former Phillies prospect Jason Donald), so third base isn't a problem for him defensively.  His .286/.354/.541 line across 7 minor league seasons is impressive, perhaps most of all for the .255 ISO and 160 HR that accompany it.  He seems like the perfect candidate to unlock his potential under the tutelage of Charlie Manuel and Milt Thompson.  Plus, he's cost-controlled for 5 years. Downside: He's struggled mightily in the majors, though it's been a mere 236 plate appearances and he doesn't turn 25 until next March.  Wood has struck out a significant amount throughout his career (33.0% in the majors, 26.1% in the minors), but he made adjustments in Triple-A in 2009, striking out just 20.7% of the time while still posting a .264 ISO and 22 HR in 99 games. Quick take: If the Angels lose Figgins and fail to sign Beltre, they may just hold onto Wood.  Still, their reluctance to give him an extended run of at bats means they could be disenchanted with him at this point, and it makes him a great buy low candidate.  It wouldn't be without risks, but dealing for Wood has fantastic potential rewards. Kevin KouzmanoffBackground: 28 years old, 3 years of service time (current club: San Diego Padres) Upside: Kouz is good with the leather, posting a career best 10.7 UZR/150 this year. He's got some pop, too, with a career .174 ISO, and as a right-handed hitter, he'd reap the rewards of moving from Petco Park to CBP. Downside: His career .308 OBP is a good place to start.  He's essentially a younger Pedro Feliz with less contact ability, more power, and the same good glove/aversion to walks profile.  Additionally, he'll get a substantial raise this year, as he's arbitration eligible for the first time. Quick take: Kouzmanoff for free, as a 1- or 2-year stopgap, wouldn't be the absolute worst thing in the world.  But the cost in prospects and salary simply can't be justified for a guy who is, at best, a very minor upgrade over Feliz. Garrett AtkinsBackground: 30 years old, 5 years of service time (current club: Colorado Rockies) Upside: Atkins is listed here because he hasn't accrued enough service time to be eligible for free agency, but he's likely to be non-tendered by the Rockies, so a trade is probably unnecessary.  At his best, Atkins was a .301/.364/.482 hitter during his four-year peak from 2005 to 2008.  Plus, he's friends with Chase Utley! Downside: Atkins has been regressing as a hitter for three straight years, culminating in an atrocious .226/.308/.342 line in 2009.  It's not just bad luck on balls in play, either -- his line drive ratio was almost 6% lower than his career average, power has almost vanished (.116 ISO) and his contact rate has been steadily slipping as well.  He was roughly average with the glove in 2009 (-0.7 UZR/150), but he's been a first baseman waiting to happen throughout his career (career -5.0 UZR/150). Quick take: If Charlie and Milt want a challenge, Atkins could be their reclamation project of choice.  Still, with a poor glove and rapidly slipping offensive peripherals, the upside doesn't appear to be all that great with Atkins.  I'm sure he's on Amaro's radar, but the reigning NL champs can do a lot better. Andy LaRocheBackground: 27 years old, 2 years of service time (current club: Pittsburgh Pirates) Upside: After years of being stuck in the Dodgers organization, LaRoche finally got an extended run of playing time with Pittsburgh in 2009, and responded with a solid if unspectacular .258/.330/.401 campaign.  He exhibited excellent control of the strike zone during his minor league career (243 BB, 294 K), and was plus with the glove in 2009 (5.1 UZR/150).  With top prospect Pedro Alvarez in line for a call up in 2010, dealing LaRoche would make room at the hot corner in Pittsburgh. Downside: At 27, LaRoche should be entering his statistical peak, and he's yet to live up to the promise that he showed in the minors.  He was even in danger of losing his starting job in 2009 before a hot September.  And, as the only worthwhile piece the Pirates received from the Jason Bay/Manny Ramirez deal (unless you're a believer in Craig Hansen suddenly finding his command), Pittsburgh may be reluctant to deal him. Quick take: LaRoche certainly isn't a top shelf option, but depending on the cost, he's more desirable than the DeRosas, Tejadas, and Atkins of the world. Dan UgglaBackground: 30 years old, 4 years of service time (current club: Florida Marlins) Upside: He's a right-handed power threat who has never hit fewer than 27 home runs in 4 major league seasons.  Uggla has even developed greater patience as he's grown accustomed to the majors, drawing walks in an impressive 14.0% of his plate appearances last year.  And since he's (1) arbitration eligible and (2) a Marlin, you know he's eminently available. Downside: Uggla hasn't played third base since he was in Double-A back in 2004, and it sounds like he doesn't want that to change.  Even if he acquiesces, his .929 career fielding percentage at the hot corner means he'd probably be subpar defensively at best, and Ryan Braun-level bad at worst.  He's shown a strange reverse platoon split throughout his career, OPSing 86 points lower against southpaws.  Plus, he's due a substantial raise on the $5.35 million he made in 2009. Quick take: The defensive concerns and the escalating salary outweigh the potential benefits here. Alex GordonBackground: 26 years old, 2+ years of service time (current club: Kansas City Royals) Upside: Okay, so Gordon is the one name on this list who's probably not really on the trading block.  There's been speculation as to his availability since the Royals manipulated his service time with a demotion in 2009, and the club did just trade for Josh Fields (although they claim they'll keep Gordon at third and play Fields in left).  If available, Gordon's a former top prospect with a career .325/.432/.583 minor league line; he likely only needs regular at bats to improve on his major league .250/.331/.451 line. Downside: If Gordon really is available, he wouldn't come particularly cheap; an educated guess would have the Phillies parting with at least Michael Taylor to get a deal done. Scouts remain puzzled as to why he's struggled in the majors so far, though it's probably attributable to a hip injury suffered last year.  He's eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason, so he's in line for a pay bump.  Finally, he's left-handed, which would really, seriously unbalance the Phillies lineup. Quick take: No harm in making the call -- Dayton Moore isn't exactly the sharpest of GMs, after all -- but it sounds like the Royals are smart enough to hang onto Gordon for the time being. --- There you have it.  Of the above, Atkins seems the most likely to don red pinstripes next year, while Wood and Gordon offer the most upside.  I'll go on record now to say that Beltre and Wood are my top two choices, and that Kouzmanoff joins Tejada and Mora on the list of guys I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1013511/honoring-harry.html ON APRIL 14, the day after Harry Kalas died, avid Phillies fan Antonio Jose started a petition on Facebook seeking support for a statue of Harry to be erected outside Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1012520/phillies-happ-in-mix-for-rookie-year.html J.A. Happ already has been named the National League's top rookie by The Sporting News. The Phillies lefthander has also won that honor from his peers with the MLB Players Choice Award. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1012293/as-alnl-gap-widens-general-managers-tread-cautiously.html General managers agree that free agents, especially those who would be switching leagues, are coming under greater scrutiny. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1008587/phillies-related-but-this-outstanding-short-animated-film-has-been-making-rounds-over.html Not Phillies related, but this outstanding short animated film has been making the rounds over the past few days. Enjoy. Philadelphia Phillies - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates