Phillies Rumors: Ranking Trade Pieces Before Winter Meetings
The Phillies by no means have to make another move this offseason, but thats just not likely. Lets put free agency aside, and rank the club’s top trade pieces heading into the leagues winter meetings.
With a sudden influx of talent, the Phillies are in a golden position. It may be a year too-soon, but the pieces are already in place.
With the winter meetings always a being a wacky experience, you truly never know what may happen. And the Phils, if they choose to be, could be front and center in all the wackiness.
Before we dive in, I’m not including Vince Velasquez or Odubel Herrera. I’ll believe it when I see it.
But without further ado, here are the Phillies top trade pieces heading in to the winter meetings:
The Phillies and Matt Klentak are in a unique position with their international bonus pool.
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The Phillies could continue to spread the wealth of their international bonus pool, which now has a hard cap of around $5 million based on market size according to the leagues new CBA, or, and this is a new one for Philadelphia fans at least, they could use that money as a valuable trade asset.
Teams can now trade all of their international bonus pool money, and up to a whopping 75 percent in a single deal alone. That’s extreme value for the Phils.
Whether or not they spend it all (they did not last year), or trade (whichever amount) it away, the Phillies international bonus pool might as well be considered a top prospect in its own right – and is worthy of a mention.
The Phillies have the goods. The kids alone will generate interest around the league.
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The teams top prospects and emerging rookies (Quinn, Thompson, etc) all carry terrific value. From club control to real potential, these kids have legit value.
We’ll get to the big leaguers, but there’s not many prospects in the farm system the Phillies would have a hard time dealing. Consider J,P Crawford, Mickey Moniak, Jorge Alfaro, Nick Williams, and Franklyn Kilome as the clubs core prospects. They’re likely off the table.
However, any and every other prospect in the system does not have a future set in front of them. Making them all assets. Assets in which the club, could or could not, cash in on at any time in the future.
These kids really make the future exciting on numerous levels, and it’s going to be something to watch develop.
If the offer is right, the Phillies shouldn’t hesitate dealing the breakout catcher.
There are many reasons the Phillies should trade Cameron Rupp. He had a breakout campaign, has power and a rocket arm, and more importantly carries club control – but he also has two elite prospects chasing down his job.
Andrew Knapp and Jorge Alfaro both present a better long-term option behind the plate, and both are now on the 40-man roster as well. Meaning they’re only one call away.
With talks of a potential return from veteran catcher A.J Ellis, Rupp could soon be on the outs. He doesn’t have the most value amongst big league catchers, but if the offer is right I see no reason for the Phils not to deal Rupp.
The Phillies have three solid right-handed relievers expected carry over from 2016. However, could one be one the move? They have the value.
If the Phillies get desperate in search for a big league bat, than consider their three best right-handed relievers from 2016 (Jeanmar Gomez, Edubray Ramos, Hector Neris) all available.
The Ken Giles trade of last winter proved the Phils aren’t attached to relievers, and if one the listed three warrant a return worthy, than all hands should be on deck. Neris and Ramos easily have more value than Gomez, still all three could get the club something of potential significance, respectively.
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The fact that the Phils bullpen was terrible last season could hinder a potential deal. However, it remains a possibility.
While the Phillies found themselves a gem in Tommy Joseph, the clubs history should tell us to not feel 100 percent comfortable with him as a lock.
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If it weren’t for Rhys Hoskins or the other numerous offensive prospects who could find themselves without a position upon arrival, Tommy Joseph would not be on this list. But in reality his future really isn’t clear.
Yes, Joseph had a terrific season and deserves every opportunity to keep his job. And no, I do not want the team to trade him. However, I can’t deny it’s a possibility.
If the team really did listen on Joseph, it would take an awful nice return for the club to part ways with the slugger. And the wackiness that is the MLB offseason makes this possibility a reality, to whatever extent.
Right now, Joseph is penciled in my opening day lineup. But I can’t say with 100 percent certainty he’ll even be in a Phils uniform come opening day. Let’s just keep an eye out on Josephs future in Philly as things could get interesting.
If there’s one player on the Phillies most likely to be dealt, it’s Cesar Hernandez.
Cesar Hernandez will be 27 next season. While certainly still young, and under club control until 2021, there are rumors of the club potentially cashing in on his value if the return is satisfying.
With players like Howie Kendrick, Freddy Galvis, J.P Crawford, and Scott Kingery in the fold – along with the abundance of money the team could throw at a player – it’s hard to see Hernandez becoming anything more than a bench/utility player with the club moving forward.
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While Hernandez may not have a place with the Phillies as a regular, he may still have a ceiling to reach with another organization. Again, he’s only 27 and has tools to play with.
I’ve said it before, the Phils are better off not waiting on Hernandez becoming a utility player for them, and should be selling high on his productive 2016 now.