Several news outlets, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, the News Journal of Delaware and MLB.com, believe right-hander Kris Benson could be in Clearwater by the end of the week.
According to reports, Benson’s agent Gregg Clifton is talking turkey with Phillies Assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. on what is reportedly an incentive-laden one-year contract. The 33-year-old is trying to bounce back after surgery for a torn labrum.
Beerleaguer: The Phillies are doing the right thing here, and I’m excited by the possibilities. They've snuffed out a sketchy situation with Adam Eaton, and they're ready to take preventative measures.
Benson’s a sleeper. Even if he doesn’t make his first appearance until June, the chances the Phils can make it even that far with a healthy, viable starting five are remote. Think of the upside. Suppose they ink Benson with an option year and he turns out to be fine? It would be a coup. I'm really hoping they can settle on a club option.
Not to say he’ll win Cy Youngs, but a healthy Benson fits the bill of a true fourth or fifth starter on a World Series contender. And if he fails – so be it. On Feb. 13, what else were they going to spend their money on, unless you believe the Phillies were prepared to open up their wallets for Kyle Lohse, which I still don’t believe is within their budget, even at the reduced rate. It's possible Benson alone puts them over their self-imposed cap.
After Pedro Feliz, consider Benson your bonus for being a patient fan this winter. The off-season has seen lots of dreck move across the market, very little of which will make any impact whatsoever. Benson could make an impact.
I agree, I really hope they get this done. I'm certainly not LOVING the rotation, but with this move it should be ok given the broad shoulders of the offense.
Posted by: Tartan69 | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:11 PM
I'm excited about the potential here and hope they can get it done. I still think Lohse will eventually be had on a 2yr./~$16MM deal and the team to sign him will be the Phillies.
Posted by: Mike | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Philadelphia, Anna Benson.
Anna Benson, Philadelphia.
This is a solid move given the "budget". This will be like a deadline move if his health pans out.
I hope Helms smashes the ball in the spring (unlikely), so we can at least get something for him.
Posted by: Reed | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:15 PM
I don't have a problem with the move, but it is really frustrating that we're apparently not worrying about opening day any more. IMO, the rotation is going to need band-aids (or, more likely, some huge tourniquets) within the first few weeks, not just in June.
having a guy in your back pocket who can contribute down the stretch is great, but you have to get there first. right now, that's hardly a sure thing.
Posted by: ae | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:18 PM
"I hope Helms smashes the ball in the spring (unlikely), so we can at least get something for him."
If Helms has a good spring, why not keep him as the backup corner infielder?
Posted by: stjoehawk | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Zolecki says it's done. for a 1-year minor league deal, evidently.
Posted by: ae | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Can there be any doubt now that Adam Eaton has been the worst signing of the Gillick era? I guess there's still time, but if the deal goes through, you're basically paying Eaton, and Benson, and arguably Durbin, to do the job of one. At least Garcia is one and done.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:23 PM
there have been some doozies, but Eaton takes the cake. Unless, of course, he bounces back and wins 20 games with a sub-3 era.
That being said, I have more confidence in Eaton at the plate then on the mound.
Posted by: Reed | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:29 PM
ae: can you expand on why you think the rotation will struggle early? i don't see it.
Hamels- maybe he has a DL stint, but not likely in the first half.
Myers- i'll give you. I think he may struggle adjusting back to the rotation.
Kendrick- i'm a believer. as long as the defense behind him plays well, i think he'll give the club a chance to win every time.
Moyer- is 45 and may tire, but certainly not by opening day.
Eaton/Durbin/Benson/Lohse- whoever this is, they'll have won the spot by pitching well in ST, so i don't see how you can say they would struggle by opening day?
Posted by: CubeHostage | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:32 PM
did anyone mention the most important point?
his wife is smoking hot, and hates peta, thats worth something big in my book
and in case people couldnt tell that was in jest, while i do feel that way about those 2 points i know the value this has for the team if for nothing else then added depth and insurance
Posted by: Tony | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:33 PM
did anyone mention the most important point?
his wife is smoking hot, and hates peta, thats worth something big in my book
and in case people couldnt tell that was in jest, while i do feel that way about those 2 points i know the value this has for the team if for nothing else then added depth and insurance
Posted by: Tony | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Jason,
Eaton may be the worst signing of Gillick era, by any team!
I think Pavano, Wright, and Clement were before before Gillick right. And those guys at least had the decency to get hurt, and not completely suck. If the Phils hadn't caught the Mets at the wire, Eaton would have been reasons 1, 1a, and 1b why that didn't happen.
A minor league deal is a bit of a concern actually, because I can't believe would do that if he were ready to contribute in the first two months of the season.
Posted by: kdon(in Brussels) | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Good move on Benson. High potential reward, low risk. Now we need to get Lohse in.
Posted by: DPatrone | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Cube, I agree with ae. I'm confident in Myers and Hamels as above average for their slots, but Kendrick is likely a slightly below average #3, and Moyer a below-average #4.
As for the five slot, well, I think he was assuming neither Benson nor Loshe would be there, so you are talking about either of the Durbins or Eaton as the #5 pitcher...whoever that is, they will be a below-average #5, despite "winning" that job.
Posted by: kdon(in Brussels) | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Also, I'm shocked you are more worried about Myers than Moyer or Kendrick!
Posted by: kdon(in Brussels) | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Benson sure beats nothing.
/(taking CY's advice:)
Posted by: Morty | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:44 PM
In order for the Phils to sign Lohse, they have to move Eaton to free up the money.
Not likely that's going to happen.
Posted by: Crazy Jon | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:45 PM
ae: can you expand on why you think the rotation will struggle early? i don't see it.
that's not exactly my point--I don't think there's anything intrinsic about the beginning of the year that's going to make the rotation struggle. my point is that the rotation as constructed now is simply not good enough, and there's an extremely good chance that opening day is going to find the Phillies with one or more starting pitchers who don't belong on a contending major league roster.
Hamels I am not concerned about. (or, more accurately, I can't afford to be concerned about him to maintain my sanity as a Phillies fan.)
Myers struggled mightily as a starter at the beginning of last season. he was unable to throw a cutter at the end of last year due to his injury. he hasn't started a game since early April.
Kendrick performed very well last year, but his ERA was completely out of line from his peripherals--low strikeout rate, only marginally above average GB rate. his fielding-independent ERA was 4.90, a full run higher than his real ERA. his minor league numbers do not indicate that he's an above average major league starter.
Moyer is nearly impossible to project because of his advanced age and general lack of "stuff", but he's clearly a risk.
"Eaton/Durbin/Benson/Lohse" - well, Lohse isn't on the team, and Benson is very unlikely to be ready opening day. I have basically zero confidence in the rest of the guys projected as fifth starters.
Posted by: ae | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:45 PM
I don't know if i buy into the "Myers may struggle adjusting being back in the rotation" theory. He's have all offseason/spring training to adjust. The other guys are the concern, not Myers/Hamels
Posted by: Bedrosian's Beard | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:46 PM
New thread.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:49 PM
well, I'm not staying up nights worrying about it, but I think it's awfully optimistic to assume that he'll just instantly snap right into elite starter mode.
Posted by: ae | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Do a google images search for Kris Benson.
That about sums up what the town of Phily is getting.
Enjoy Kris Benson and his husband Anna.
Posted by: johnsonville brats | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 03:53 PM
ae: okay. i'm with you now. i agree with you too that the rotation projects as below average. i was just confused about the "start of the season comment". i like the Benson signing because, like you, i think at least one of our starters goes up in smoke by the all star break. hopefully Benson will be at 100% strength by then and can step in and stop the bleeding.
Posted by: CubeHostage | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 04:00 PM
ae: i agree on Myers. not losing sleep over it, but it's a gut feeling i have. it's not his arm that i doubt, it's more of the mental side of the game that i think will plague him. i think he truly found his baseball calling in the bullpen last year and he's going to struggle adapting back to a starter's role.
Posted by: CubeHostage | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Get Lohse, he's better than the Durbins, Eaton, Condry, etc. Pitch him wherever he's needed - long relief, 7th inning, etc. If they have him, they may be able to go with 11 pitchers.
Posted by: Slocs | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 04:31 PM
kdon: "If the Phils hadn't caught the Mets at the wire, Eaton would have been reasons 1, 1a, and 1b why that didn't happen."
Really? Looks like you're still lovin' that Phillies bullpen from the start of last season!
Posted by: clout | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 05:06 PM