About 600 minor leaguers have been declared free agents, including 33 veteran Phillies. For the complete list from around baseball, click here.
The following Phillies’ veterans are now on the market: C John Castellano; C Dusty Wathan; C Jeff Winchester; 1B Gary Burnham; 1B Brandon Gemoll; 1B Randall Simon; 2B Carlos Leon; 3B Brennan King; SS Avelino Asprilla; SS Jonathan Johnson; SS Jesus Merchan; SS Juan Sosa; OF Peter Bergeron; OF Ryan Fleming; OF Gary Harris; OF Josh Kroeger; OF Matt Padgett; OF Brian Sellier; OF Pedro Swann; RHP Ryan Cameron; RHP Jeremy Cummings; RHP Daniel Giese; RHP Talley Haines; RHP Nick Mattioni; RHP Tim McClaskey; RHP Travis Minix; RHP Brian Reed; RHP Ben Shaffar; RHP John Stephens; LHP Jim Crowell; LHP Allen Davis; LHP Luke Lockwood; LHP Matt White.
Beerleaguer take
You’ll find a similar list year after year. As clout would call them, they are baseball’s version of human flotsam. Here are the highlights and lowlights:
Randall Simon, the only player who saw action with the big club, was outrighted to Scranton after his brief tour of duty and is now free.
Gary Burnham’s career is similar to Chris Coste. The 32-year-old minor league lifer tore up the Eastern League for 16 homers and a .341 batting average in just 290 at bats, earning EL player of the month honors in August. He also went 18-46 (.391) as a late call-up to Scranton. I watched him make a brilliant throw from right field this season, gunning down a runner at home plate. He can obviously hit minor league pitching, but the closest he’s ever been to the show is one plate appearance for the Reds during 2004 spring training. He walked.
Travis Minix is a reliever I thought we’d see this season, but the opportunity never materialized.
Outfielder Josh Kroeger was once a highly rated prospect in the Diamondbacks system, and was kind of a notable signing last offseason. However, the 24-year-old had a horrible season with the Red Barons, logging a .630 OPS in 441 at bats.
Right-hander Nick Mattioni is a Berks County product who couldn't stay healthy this season for his hometown R-Phils.
you would think within that list there a plenty of diamonds in the rough waiting to be discovered as useful bullpen arms. ok, diamond may be a stretch, how about cubic zerconium...at least looks good.
Posted by: Drama Queen | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 11:24 AM
Sure ... the next Marcus Thames is somewhere among that list of 600, DQ. It happens every year. What the Phillies should concentrate on are the pitchers let go from AL clubs with deep bullpens and deep farm systems, teams like Oakland and Minnesota. Players like Matt Smith who might have some upside pitching in a weak NL.
As sad as it sounds, they'll probably pluck a No. 3 catcher from this group. Kelly Stinnett anyone?
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 11:28 AM
I guess the D-backs knew what they were doing by releasing Kroeger. Major dissapointment, though it isn't hard to see how he went from a guy with a .983 OPS in AA and .963 OPS in AAA in '04 to his disastrous '06 campaign.
The problem was that almost all of his value was in BA, as he hit in the .320s at both stops (while drawing only 36 BB in 453 ABs). In '06, he had only 23/104 BB/K ratio in 443 ABs!
While his raw rate stats looked good, he is basically an outfielder with no power, no plate discipline, and little speed. To be a solid ML player, he would have had to hit over .310 consistently. The Phils were fooled by an empty BA, but fortunately it didn't cost them anything.
Posted by: kdon | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Plenty of interesting names out there...Ligtenberg, Yan, Bump, Olsen, etc. Not great names, but certainly better than someone like Franklin. Assuming the Philes resign Fultz, my bullpen looks something like this:
Gordon - Closer
Geary - Set Up
Madson
Fultz
White
Castro/Condrey
Brito - Long Man
I'm not too down on this group, but I wouldn't mind seeing a cheap veteran added to the group (and no, not The Beard!) The major problems is that if Gordon is hurt or inefective, everyone has to move up a spot, and the Phils don't have much left after this.
Posted by: kdon | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 11:49 AM
I might pass on Fultz this year. He isn't young or spectacular, and the dead-arm issue concerns me.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 11:52 AM
Bring Bump home!! Haha.
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 11:58 AM
Didn't see Jim Rushford's name on that list? He must of already signed with the Phillies to play in Ottawa.
Posted by: Brad | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12:27 PM
I have a question that maybe some of you may help me with. There are obviously some good names on this list, like Cummings, Cameron, Swan, Mininx, even Matt Smith the lefty we got from the Yankees. A lot of them I'd like to see the Phillies retain. What is the normal process to follow and will most of these guys stay with the Phillies organization? Thanks for your help guys.
Jack
Posted by: Jack | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12:32 PM
I have a question that maybe some of you may help me with. There are obviously some good names on this list, like Cummings, Cameron, Swan, Mininx, even Matt Smith the lefty we got from the Yankees. A lot of them I'd like to see the Phillies retain. What is the normal process to follow and will most of these guys stay with the Phillies organization? Thanks for your help guys.
Jack
Posted by: Jack | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12:32 PM
Jack, you're thinking of Matt White, not Matt Smith, who will be retained by the Phillies this season. White is a left-hander who was with Scranton all of 2006.
The process is a little complicated, usually based on how many years you linger in the minors. Typically after six years of service, if you don't have a contract, you are eligible for free agency. There are plenty of other rules in addition to this.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12:38 PM
Jack Matt White is the Phils minor league free agent, not Matt Smith. Matt White was a minor league pickup outta the Washington organization. Matt Smith was the effective lefty acquired in the Abreu trade (still with the Phils and most likely in the bullpen next year).
Here's my idea of rounding out the bullpen. Other than spending millions on relief pitchers that flucuation effectiveness from season to season (i.e. Cormier), go sign as many of these minor league free agents as possible and bring them to camp in the spring and take the best north and leaves the others to get ready for a "call up" chance in Ottawa (new triple A).
I would love to see a premier relief pitcher brought in, but they are expensive and highly unpredictable. Just look at the Yankees "elite" bullpen with Farnsworth, Sturtze, and Dotel...not so great, nothing you couldn't find through your own organization or minor league free agents.
I'm not expecting to land the future closer for the Phils, but I'm sure from that list of 600 there are guys who could be effective in middle relief and possibly setup for 1 or so seasons.
Posted by: Drama Queen | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12:42 PM
p.s. I see Angel Chavez is on the list. He's the guy we dealt to the O's for Conine.
Posted by: Drama Queen | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12:44 PM
Matt Smith, Matt White, Rick White, Reggie White, Drama Queen, Arrrrrgggghhhhhh! My head hurts now!
Thanks Jason!
Posted by: Bob D | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 01:02 PM
Judging by the picture accompanying this post, it looks like even Will Ferrell is a minor league free agent this year...
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 01:14 PM
Quite a list. If the Phils sign Buddy Hernandez and Tim Bausher, and resign Nick Mattioni to play at Reading with Nick Evangelista...all from Berks County, Pa., the Reading Phils could have new promotion nights...high school class reunions. Other names I saw, Van Buren a reliever with Red Sox, Machi, an ex-Phil who they lost to the rule 5 draft, and JR House a good minor league hitter.
Posted by: martin | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 01:28 PM
Not a whole lot to get excited about. Basically a bunch of minor leaguers and veteran retreads. Hopefully the Phils can find a useful arm or two for the bullpen but it is always so hit or miss.
Posted by: mg | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 01:53 PM
jr house - i went to wvu and that guy is a legend in the whole state. i don't think he has any knees left though.
Posted by: Tim | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 01:56 PM
We can sign catcher Juan Brito from Arizona. That would give us a possible Brito - Brito battery. Maybe then, Eude would pitch better!
Posted by: Lake Fred | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 04:02 PM
Is the Frank Brooks listed under Boston the same guy who used to be in the Phils' organization? Didn't he get some ML time with Pittsburgh a year or two back?
Also see Dewon Brazleton on the Padres list. Wasn't he among the hot shots the Phils were considering drafting the year they went with Floyd?
And, last but not least, I see the Nats kicked Nelson Rodriguez loose again. Whatever happened to Joe Roa?
Posted by: Alby | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 11:35 PM
Indeed Frank Brooks is the same guy from the Phils organization. We traded him to Pittsburgh for Mike Williams...yuck! Brooks pitched briefly for the Buccos and I believe for the A's too, but don't mark my word on that last part.
Posted by: Drama Queen | Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 06:19 AM
well, if the phils sign Buddy Hernadez they also can add deoth to their bullpen and sign a pitcher whose done nothing but dominate every level he has been assigned to. he was with Atlanta for years and they never gave him a shot b/c he wasnt a bonus baby...even thought his numbers scorched everyone else they sent to the bigs. he is due...even though he is coming off tommy john...he is worth a look.
Posted by: Rocky | Friday, January 12, 2007 at 02:02 PM