MLB Trade Rumors has compiled a list of players that have cleared waivers and can be traded to any team. The Phillies would have to trade for these players by tomorrow if they are going to be eligible for the playoffs.
With Jim Thome no longer on the board, here are some of the more intriguing names on the list:
Tom Gorzelanny, Nationals: Lefties are hitting .171/.209/.286 against him in 84 at-bats this season. He has made 15 starts and seven relief appearances for Washington.
Chris Capuano, Mets: On Friday, the veteran southpaw pitched a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts and no walks against the Braves. Lefties are hitting .216/.255/.313 against him this season, though only two of his 27 appearances have come out of the bullpen.
Bill Bray, Reds: The southpaw has been effective against both lefties and righties this season. Lefties are batting .192/.240/.247 against him, while righties are coming in at .229/.264/.304. He has allowed one home run to the 168 hitters he's faced.
Mike Gonzalez, Orioles: The lefty, who has been linked to the Phillies in the past, has thrown 13 consecutive scoreless appearances, spanning 12 1/3 innings. He has allowed a total of five hits and one walk in that stretch. Lefties are hitting .211/.240/.305 against him in 2011.
Johnny Damon, Rays: Probably unlikely given John Mayberry Jr.'s emergence, but he'd be an obvious upgrade over Ben Francisco and/or Raul Ibanez. There are other outfield candidates, as well, including David DeJesus and Angel Pagan.
Ryan Theriot, Cardinals: Given the injury concerns with infielders Placido Polanco and Jimmy Rollins, an upgrade to Michael Martinez - wouldn't that be just about anyone? - might not be a bad option.
I only skimmed the last topic, so apologies if this has already been referenced & discussed to death. Disclaimer aside: Sweet Jeebus!
Dom Brown Had A Particularly Rough Night In The LV
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:43 PM
GTown, I believe it's abbreviated "LHV", thank you very much.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:44 PM
GTown, he did it just to take the focus off of Pence's own terrible defense last night. Dom is a team player.
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:47 PM
Bill Bray is probably a legit candidate.
Playoff Bullpen:
Madson
Bastardo
Worley
Stutes
Lidge
Herndon
Waiver Wire LOOGY.
Or do you only carry 6 and drop one of Stutes/Herndon/Lidge - or never pick up a waiver wire LOOGY and stick with Bastardo as the lone lefty.
Posted by: lorecore | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:48 PM
I'd go with Bill Bray, because Cholly likes to have his LOOGY face RH bats for some reason.
Posted by: Dickie Thong | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Though we have enough former Mets, I don't think I'd be too upset with taking a flier on Capuano and seeing what he can do in September.
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Bray would be a pretty good pickup.
Career 118 ERA+, 8.5 SO/9 against 3.6 BB/9.
Wouldn't be a terrible pickup. Been VERY good this year.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:49 PM
"How about Big Papi, with a lower AVG and higher HR rate?"
that sounds about right, probably a better comp than Sexson.
Posted by: conshy matt | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:49 PM
RE Damon: "he'd be an obvious upgrade over Ben Francisco and/or Raul Ibanez."
So would Chase Utley's lawn chair.
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:50 PM
I don't think we should dismiss any PH candidate just because of Mayberry's emergence. As long as Gload is still on this team, there is room for improvement. Damon would be an improvement over both Gload and Ibanez, and you can't tell me that neither of those will get important ABs in the playoffs.
Posted by: Heather | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:51 PM
Fatalotti: As an isolated & insular Philadelphian, I don't know jack about that part of the world. However, in the above case I was merely transcribing the title of the article. Kindly take your defense of the area's civic pride up w/ The Fightins.
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On the possible trade front, Gorzelanny is an interesting idea. He certainly has seemed to frustrate the Phillies the last couple of times they've faced him. And I'm giving a rousing "HELL NO!" to Angel Pagan. Does anyone remember way back to last week? Not good. Not good at all. If the Mets wanted to gift him to Philly free f*ckin' gratis, sure. But giving something back in return? Uh-uh.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:52 PM
So would Chase Utley's lawn chair.
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:50 PM
Why not Ryan Howard's lawn chair??
Racist.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:52 PM
Oh great. Raul's back in the lineup.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:53 PM
Gload has no business on a playoff roster.
He has zero business on an MLB roster right now either.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:53 PM
GTown, just joking. I forget who, but someone kept getting on peoples' cases for using the abbreviation "LHV" as opposed to the correct "LV".
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:53 PM
Gtown: That Domonic Brown video was frightening.
Posted by: Drew | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:54 PM
Did Mayberry get hit by a bus? Why is the backup LF playing tonight???
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:54 PM
Fatalotti: If Dom keeps that up they should change the abbreviation to E7.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:57 PM
How is it possible for someone to be as terrible defensively as Brown has shown himself to be? I mean, its one thing to be raw, its another to have no fvcking clue how to play a corner OF position.
The average HS OF probably makes better reads on the ball than he does.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 03:58 PM
One wonders whether, with Brown, it's just the ability to handle pressure. He seemd to do alright until he hit the MLB level, and then didn't perform up to "expectations". One wonders whether he put extra pressure on himself and whether or not he actually handles it well?
BTW, that Heyward guy in ATL is having a fine sophmore campaign.
Posted by: Bigot-to | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:03 PM
Wow. Just watched the video. Prior to watching, I figured people were overreacting a bit, but...wow. It was pretty horrible.
When you literally muff plays that a competent HS outfielder would make, you obviously need some time to get your head screwed on straight.
Posted by: Heather | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:03 PM
Also, if he reads this blog, Dom Brown must be utterly convinced that he can no longer play baseball.
Posted by: Bigot-to | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:05 PM
I must admit to being very surprised by how poorly Dom has handled his demotion. Kid seems to have come entirely unglued. I'm wondering if he'll ever become even half the player he was projected to be, at least while wearing a Phillies uniform.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:06 PM
Heyward injured his shoulder pretty badly in April...and its simply snowballed from there.
Brown seems like he freaks out on every routine fly ball. He's like the Steve Sax of corner OFs at this point.
Maybe he's right that he just needs a time away from playing baseball this winter. Let him focus on getting healthy (from the hamate bone surgery) and coming back in late Feb in top physical shape.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:07 PM
Also, see some people were criticizing people boo-ing Brown. If you can't boo a guy who is playing defense worse than the guy at my local high school, who can you boo?
Posted by: Heather | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:07 PM
That lazy, no hustling bust Brown was seen taking early BP today. No work ethic from that kid!
Posted by: RedBurb | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:08 PM
What stuck out to me was the balls that Brown misplayed in that video were off the bats of left handed hitters.
Seemed to be his issue when he was in RF, playing the ball off the bat of a right handed hitter.
Seems like he can't read a ball that's slicing towards him.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:08 PM
Dave - Maybe trade him from Freddy Garcia this offseason?
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:09 PM
I would take the best Chevy(Corvette)over any BMW(Big Money Wasted).
Posted by: goody | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:11 PM
Why is Ibanez in the lineup? Sept 1 isn't until Thursday
Posted by: Jbird | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:11 PM
Only if we can also acquire Gio Gonzalez and toss him into that trade for Freddy.
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:11 PM
"Also, if he reads this blog, Dom Brown must be utterly convinced that he can no longer play baseball."
Why do you think I'm bagging Winter Ball this year? The snow bunnies are calling in Vail.
Posted by: Dom B. | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:13 PM
I don't mind sitting Mayberry against Arroyo. Arroyo, much like Livan Hernandez, pitches backwards, and upside down. I'm not sure Ibanez would fare much better against him, but I'd rather watch Ibanez flail away hopelessly at Arroyo's slop than Mayberry.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:14 PM
It will be interesting to see if Ibanez has one hot streak left in his yet this season. He is the most puzzling enigma on this team right now.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:15 PM
Put me in the camp that wants to see if/how Polly bounces back. As bad a night as Dom had, we can't afford to have too many nights from Polly like last night.
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:17 PM
If Raooold doesn't smoke Arroyo tonight, I have no interest in seeing him in the starting line up for the rest of the season.
Posted by: Scotch Man | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:24 PM
That video is really bad.
Here's the thing though--plenty of prospects probably have games where they look downright awful. But if those games aren't caught on video and posted on a team blog, then no one ever knows about it, except maybe sees that they went 0-6 in the boxscore.
Really no point in freaking out about it.
Posted by: Jack | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:25 PM
Jack, don't you see that it's over for Brown?
Posted by: Klaus | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:27 PM
Somebody asked: "I'd really like to see some examples of sluggers who helped drive attendance and revenues for losing teams."
Ralph Kiner, 1947-50.
Kinda proves the point.
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:28 PM
Scotch Man - Ibanez is 3-7 (all singles) in his career vs. Arroyo. Good guy as any for him to get back on track.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:30 PM
Dom Brown is so sad. Dom Brown is going to get Dom Brown a pint of ice cream and cry.
-Dom Brown after cleaning out locker.
Posted by: Rauls grandpa | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:31 PM
lineup vs Arroyo:
Vic: 2/9, 1 K
Polly: 8/22, 1 3B, 1 HR
Utley: 5/14, 1 HR, 1 K
Howard: 4/10, 2 2B, 6 K, 1 BB
Pence: 11/32, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR
Ibanez: 3/7, 1 K
Chooch: 1/4, 2 BB
Valdez/Martinez/Lee: 0 PA
Mayberry is 1-2 with a K.
Posted by: lorecore | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:32 PM
Preacher: You got that right. Exxon is a clear future HoFer, but even he can't play both 3B & SS simultaneously.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:33 PM
Per Twitter, Dom Brown has announced his retirement from the game of baseball.
He's going to Tibet to "find himself".
Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:33 PM
Dom Brown sings Beauty School Dropout with his guardian angel.
Posted by: Rauls grandpa | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:38 PM
hib to the jib
Posted by: They Call Me King Of The Bop | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:38 PM
"[Ibanez] is the most puzzling enigma on this team right now."
There's really nothing puzzling or enigmatic about him. He's old.
Puzzling and enigmatic would be, for instance, Ben Francisco.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:41 PM
NEPP
https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/domonicbrown9
If you check out his real twitter feed it is pretty sad.
Posted by: Rauls grandpa | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:41 PM
I thought Hideki Matsui also cleared waivers. He'd top my list for our postseason bench.
Posted by: JJG | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:45 PM
BAP: This isn't an enigma?
April: .161/.247/.218 with 1 HR
May: .315/.339/.602 with 7 HRs
June: .211/.258/.311 with 1 HR
July: .284/.320/.558 with 7 HRs
August: .175/.226/.246 with 0 HRs
Good Phight has had a few interesting articles on Ibanez this year. Just strange even for a really streaky hitter.
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:47 PM
In fairness, LF is a brand new position for Brown.
Posted by: clout | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:49 PM
Newest Philly area institution: Wawa?
"Overall, Wawa did $5.89 billion in sales in 2009, making it the country’s 50th largest private company, according to the latest calculation by Forbes magazine. That revenue would place Wawa, if it were a public company, among the handful of Pennsylvania’s Fortune 500 companies. As things are, 50 percent of the company is owned by a trust benefitting members of the founding Wood family, 30 percent by company executives and employees through a stock plan, and the remainder by other Wood relatives and Wawa associates. "
"As it’s grown, Wawa has hoisted a handful of regional brands along with it. It’s the number one convenience-store seller of Herr’s chips and a top account for Amoroso’s hoagie rolls, Tastykake (whose problems, insiders say, were unrelated to Wawa) and the Sunday Inquirer. The company’s impact on local jobs isn’t about just its own 17,000 employees, but also many more along the supply chain of firms that service Wawa and its suppliers. Local companies do well enough in the relationship that they’ll alter operations and move facilities to keep Wawa happy."
http://www.phillymag.com/scripts/print/article.php?asset_idx=318971
Posted by: MG | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:52 PM
BAP/MG, I think the biggest "enigma" concerning IBanez is what his role is going into the postseason.
Is he the full-time starer? Platoon? Splits w/ Mayberry? Bench role?
Hopefully September will clear up some answers.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:55 PM
New thread.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:55 PM
John Bowker? John Bowker? No one saw that coming. I hope they DL Ross Gload as well and bring up Brandon Moss. Brandon's power is better in Triple A than Bowker. 23 HR's > 15 HR's...
Posted by: Colorado Joe | Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 12:38 AM