Enter Corey Hart.

Brewers have considered trading Corey Hart to free up money for pitching search. Without some type of move, can’t play on bigger pitchers.

— DKnobler (@DKnobler) December 5, 2012

Hart has been a Brewer all his life, and may be reluctant to leave as evidenced by his limited no-trade-clause. Assuming the Phillies aren’t on the list, there’s no reason they shouldn’t make a full court press to acquire him.

Hart has primarily played right field, but also filled in at first base last season, so he brings versatility. His power would be a much needed addition to a Phillies lineup that is desperate for the long ball. Did I mention he is right handed?! Hart hit 30 homer runs with OPS of .841 a year ago. He would look mighty nice splitting up Utley and Howard in the lineup.

If the Brewers are serious about making a push for Zach Greinke or Anibal Sanchez the Phillies should gladly take his $10 million dollar salary off their hands. Like Jacoby Ellsbury, Hart is in the last year of his current deal so the prospect package to get him wouldn’t be astronomical. Start the conversation with Sebastian Valle and Justin De Fratus and the Phillies can solve their right handed power problem.

The biggest roadblock is Hart’s no-trade. If the Phillies are on the list I doubt they have what it takes to lure Hart to the city of Brotherly Love, but Corey’s power and right handed-ness are to valuable not to ask. So get on the phone Ruben, track down Doug Melvin and make him an offer he can’t refuse.

It was a tough situation, as Contreras was hustling into a spot that most pitchers have found impossible to fill in the last two years:  Closing for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Whether its a floundering Lidge or a metal chair, the position of “Phillies closer” has been a carnival of cloddishness, as the same handful of guys trips and stumbles over each other in a vain attempt to emulate the immaculateness of 2008, but can only muster the occasional spurts of success, like six desperate hamsters all squealing to run on the same wheel.

And yesterday, as Joe Blanton anxiously watched from the dugout, hoping against hope that the “0″ in his record could finally shift to a “1,” Jose Contreras closed the door on the Brewers for not only Big Joe’s first 2010 victory, but the first save in his own 22 year career.

And it would have been the highlight of the game, had Corey Hart not accidentally kicked the ball over the right field wall while trying to field it.

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