Phillies trade Thome, $24 million to White Sox

ESPN News is reporting that the Phillies have traded first baseman Jim Thome to the Chicago White Sox for center fielder Aaron Rowand and a pair of pitching prospects.

The Phillies are reportedly sending $24 million to the White Sox, about half the money remaining on Thome's contract, the richest in club history.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that Thome has agreed to waive his no-trade clause to join the defending champs, but the deal is contingent on Thome passing a physical scheduled for Friday. Thome underwent season-ending elbow surgery in July and is currently rehabbing in Clearwater.

Beerleaguer take: What does it all mean?
If this deal comes to fruition, Pat Gillick will have upgraded outfield defense significantly while ridding the Phillies of their biggest offseason headache: the first base situation. The prospects, which weren't reported on in an earlier report on ESPN.com, only sweetens the pot. According to an anonymous baseball source quoted by the AP, those prospects are left-handed pitchers Giovany Gonzalez, Chicago's first-round pick in the 2004 amateur draft, and Daniel Haigwood.

The immediate impact from 2006 is leather. Lots of leather. According to Hardball Times Win Shares, Rowand - who has been compared with Jim Edmonds for his fearless play - was far and away the best defensive outfielder in baseball last season, better than such names as Brady Clark, Vernon Wells, Carlos Beltran and Johnny Damon. Overall, adding his batting and fielding Win Shares together, he was ranked 32nd in baseball among outfielders.

The 28-year-old played 157 games last season with the world champs, all but a few in center field, hitting .270 with 13 homers and a .736 OPS. He earned $2 million last season and is expected to receive $3.25 million in 2006. Chicago has a club option for 2007 at $5 million and Rowand holds a player option for 2007 at $3.25 million.

Rowand took most of his cuts as a No. 5 hitter; the rest of the time, he saw action in the No. 3 or No. 6 hole.

Should the deal go through, it could spell the end for Jason Michaels, who would only be an expensive bench player. It will almost certainly block International League MVP Shane Victorino's path to a starting job in center field. The move could also be a prelude to GM Pat Gillick trading Bobby Abreu, in which case, Michaels could stay.

Why it's very, very good: Defense, defense, defense. Rowand is a tough, fearless defender who will give the Phils a G.I. Jim Edmonds presence in center field. With left field set to move back, Pat Burrell will need help in the outfield. And even with his "Gold Glove" on the mantle, Bobby needs help out there, too.

Why it's good: A $24 million payout takes care of half of Thome's contract. The headache is over: Ryan Howard plays his natural position, and the White Sox can worry about Thome, his back and his elbow through 2008, including an option for 2009. Rowand's 156 hits is nothing to sneeze at, and he gives the Phils more pop from the right side. At 28, he should be hitting his prime on a team that's suddenly getting a bit younger. He has some speed. Sudden jogjam of defensive center fielders creates opportunities to flip one of them out of town. The Phils are also getting two prospects with this deal, reportedly a set of pitchers.

Why it's bad: Rowand experienced a significant drop in offensive production between 2004 and 2005. In 2004 he hit .310/.361/.544 for an OPS of .905, compared to just .736 in '05. Rowand also adds more strikeouts to a lineup already loaded with them (116 last season). The Phillies did not address their biggest needs, major-league ready bullpen and starting pitching. Another good question: Where does he fit in with the lineup?

Why it could be very, very bad: If healthy, the Phils could be giving up 40 homers in Thome for a singles hitter with marginal power. Meanwhile, the Phils are putting all their chips behind Howard, who must prove he can hit left-handers and adapt to pitchers who are sure to adapt to him.

Thome trade nightcap
Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful comments in the thread below. I've been away from my computer this evening and have been wondering who these prospects were. The early report had Thome and cash for Rowand straight up. Later, the AP cited a source that said some pitching prospects were involved, and for me, that swung this trade clearly in favor of the Phils.

On some level, pitching should come from your own system, not bought for millions, and the fact that Hamels and Floyd represented all they had has been bothering me tremendously. It was a serious void they were desperate to fill, Gillick recognized it, and jumped at the opportunity. In addition, he improved defense in center field, something I thought he might pursue based on past decisions.

The Phillies are better today than they were yesterday; they are younger, they have deeper pockets and they took care of the Thome situation sooner rather than later. The latter is very important. They aren't nearly as "locked in" as many thought they would be this winter. The pieces from the Ed Wade are being disassembled one brick at a time. When was the last time a deal was made to fortify the farm system or improve defense? Granted, this situation was very different because of Howard, but it's amazing how many reports we're reading on Gillick probing the AL - teams like the White Sox, Toronto, Texas, Minnesota and Cleveland.

If the Mets want to take the easy way out and spend millions, than the Phillies need to be the ones who outsmart them with savvy baseball moves. It's time to get creative with bullpen and starting pitching. They can still win with David Bell at third and Mike Lieberthal at catcher, both playing to extend their careers beyond 2006. These are secondary holes. Focus on bullpen and starting pitching, and be especially creative in bullpen.

Final verdict
Considering the quality of the pitching prospects involved, in addition to the significant defensive upgrade in Rowand, this is a very good deal for the Phils, who are beginning to lay a younger, more dynamic foundation for 2006.

Comments

[Michael]

Whoa. I would have liked to have gotten a prospect with Rowand, but I can't complain.

Whoa.

[That Dude from Philly]

The "prospect" is a pitcher named Daniel Haigwood. He was a 16rd draft pick, is 23yrs old and just made it to Double A last year although his numbers are encouraging...

W L ERA k9 whip
6 1 1.74 10.16 1.04

According to futuresox.com....

"Haigwood, 22, had a breakout year in 2005, rapidly elevating his status in the White Sox organization. Drafted in the 16th round in 2002, the 6-2 lefty impressed between high A Winston-Salem and AA Birmingham, putting up a combined 14-3 record with a 2.82 ERA. After moving to Birmingham, Haigwood wowed the Southern League, going 6-1 with a 1.74 ERA and a BAA of .170. Haigwood allowed only 39 hits in over 67 innings of work. Haigwood draws comparisons to Mark Buehrle, working fast with a bevy of pitches."

The othe rplayer rumored to be the proverbial 'player to be named later' is possibley "possibly top Sox pitching prospect Gio Gonzalez"...again according to futuresox.com....

"Gonzalez, 20, was drafted during the compensatory round of the 2004 amateur baseball draft. The 5-11 lefty has drawn comparisons to former Sox hurler Jim Parque. Gonzalez went 13-6 between low A Kannapolis and high A Winston-Salem. Gonzalez also sported a 2.82 ERA with a .205 batting average against."

If this is all true it's looking like "Stand" Pat is eally "Hook 'em" Gillick.

[That Dude from Philly]

Oh yeah....both are leftied...I think I'm smiling now.

[Brian]

Philly Inquirer has confirmed it. It's Gio and Haigwood. Happy days are here.

Brian

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/13244080.htm

[Oisin]

Ha. I couldn't have got it more wrong. I was convinced they were going to stick with victorino and leave CF well alone.

I'm lary of that obp drop-off this year, and would like to see a better k/bb ratio from him. Still, rowand is hitting his prime and manuel could turn around some of that offense. Thome is gone with a big chunk of contract. It feels like a b- or a b+ depending on how the prospects pan out next year.

So long jim. we'll miss ya.

[studes]

Wow. Getting Gio Gonzalez is huge.

[Oisin]

South Side Sox do a nice breakdown on it from their point of view. Some info on the two young lads in question:

http://www.southsidesox.com/story/2005/11/23/193229/10

[theragtopguy]

WOW! Way to go Pat! I think this is a totally a win-win situation. I think that this is just part one though. I'll bet he moves Abreu for another need-perhaps a 3B and another pitcher.

I like this guy already, moreso than before!

Also I'm glad to see Thome go where he wants to, back home. Good luck to him, he's a class act.

[J. Weitzel]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I've been away from my computer this evening and have been wondering who these prospects were. The early report had Thome and cash for Rowand straight up. Later, the AP cited a source that said some pitching prospects were involved, and for me, that swung this trade clearly in favor of the Phils.

On some level, pitching should be developed in your own system, not bought for millions, and the fact that Hamels and Floyd represent all they've got has been bothering me tremendously. Young pitching is a serious void they needed to fill this offseason, Gillick recognized it, and jumped at the opportunity. In addition, he improved defense in center, something I thought he would pursue based on past decisions.

The Phillies are better today than they were yesterday; they are younger, they have deeper pockets and they took care of the Thome situation sooner rather than later. The latter is very important. They aren't nearly as "locked in" as many thought they would be at this point. The Gillick era, in its infancy, has a very different feel from the Ed Wade era, which was "upgrade," never "downgrade," and never fortify the farm system.

Gillick and company can head into the winter meetings with a swagger. This isn't the same Phillies regime. Now, it's time to get creative with bullpen and starting pitching. They can still win with David Bell at third and Mike Lieberthal at catcher, both playing to extend their careers beyond this season. Focus on bullpen and starting pitching. Be especially creative in bullpen

Considering the prospects involved, and the defensive upgrade in Rowand, this is a very good deal for the Phils, who are beginning to lay a foundation for 2006.

[phillydad]

GREAT TRADE! I was absolutely thrilled when this popped up on the screen. Jim Thome was a nice guy, but you know what they say about nice guys...

[adamh]

Has anyone heard that the Phils might be looking to move these young pitchers for Hank Blalock? I know the Rangers are looking for pitchers and the Phils have been mentioned as interested in Blalock.

[pat]

i believe the rangers are looking for young major league ready pitchers, and these two don't fit that, and im not sure id really want to move these two for blalock, his home and road splits scare me

[gr]

a top notch trade. both sides are gambling that their new parts fit well, but from the phils' standpoint, it's hard to beat. thome for the prospets alone might have been worth it. this is the work of two real GMs.

[josh fishman]

I acually think tha we got the better end of the deal we got 2 young poitcher plus a good veteran otfelder for slumping thome he had a big injury and i think that will affect himm this year and we gotn aaron rowand and 2 prospects sure we are paying half pof his salary but i think it is ompletelyworth it!

[ryan]

ya i afree with josh! i think rowand will help us and thwe 2 prospcts are a good start and we gsve up a fat steriod taken power hitter who got suver injury in july i relly think this was a smart move by pat gillck now he is 1 an 100 on good trades and bad trades

[max]

i think this trade was ok but we could of gotten more like instead of the 2prospects it would be like som1like jose contraez thome is alittle to good for 1 good felder and 2 prospects but i think its kind of good now we can give ryan howard a chance so i think it had good pposes also we got a person to replace lofton and michals and this player is much better thsn both of them but i do think we could of gotten more!

[scott]

i agree with max we got aaron rowand and he is a good player but thome was to much we should of gotten joe crede with rowand for thome and cash

[bryan]

i think it was a win win situation we got rowandand that will help us in the out feld and the sox got a good dh

[austin]

im from chigago and i think we got ripped of big time i mean we gave up rowand our star outfelder for a DH paul knerko is even better i think we got ripped of and they got the better deal i bet you we will try to get him back in the future but how could of we done this trade!!!!!!!!!!!!! phillies fans everywhere u are all a bucha assholes for taken rowand! i hate every single one of you Phillies Suck!

[MATT]

THIS WAS A OK DEAL FORBOTH OF THEM BUT I THINK THE PHILS GOT THE BETTER END OF THE DEAL!