LaRoche to the Phils?

by jonoz13 on Nov 12, 2009 4:01 PM EST

David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News is speculating (http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20091112_Phillies_like_the_third-base_market.html) that Phillies GM Rueban Amaro Jr. has talked to the Pirates about a trade for Andy LaRoche. I would be curious to see what Amaro would be willing to offer, but, to me, it does not appear to be a good time to trade Luigi. Neil Walker is not, and will probably never be, ready to start at the major league level. Pedro Alvarez will most likely start the year at Indy, so there is, at this time, no internal replacement for LaRoche. Most importantly, I think trading Andy now would be selling low. He developed last year, and it looks like he still has untapped potential.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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As with all trades...

…it depends what they offer.

From the link, it sounds like their first priority is a solution through free agency, though.

by Vlad on Nov 12, 2009 4:09 PM EST reply actions

OMG

LaRoche and Iwamura for Utley and a blue-chip Pitching prospect FTW.

by escroll on Nov 12, 2009 5:07 PM EST reply actions

No, but seriously....

I agree with the point that we would almost certainly be selling low at this point, unless Amaro happens to have man/baseball-crush on Andy (a al Littlefiend and Adam LaRoche).

by escroll on Nov 12, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

Thinking what I'm thinking?

Blue-chip Pitching Prospect = Kyle Drabek?

by IAPiratesFan on Nov 13, 2009 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

not gonna happen

by BurgherKing on Nov 13, 2009 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah…if they wouldn’t put Drabek in a deal for Doc Halladay, he won’t be in a trade for LaRoche. Any potential second-tier prospects the Bucs could have gotten from the Phils went over to Cleveland in the Cliff Lee deal.

by NastyNate82 on Nov 13, 2009 7:58 PM EST up reply actions

For most of the players we could plausably get from the Phillies (not pieces they wouldn’t give for Roy Halladay like Kyle Drabek and Domonic Brown), I probably wouldn’t be too impressed. Plus I have a soft spot for LaRoche for whatever reason. As always though, we’ll see…

by Adam Reynolds on Nov 12, 2009 5:17 PM EST reply actions

I feel like I have too much invested in LaRoche having a bit of success to see him go right now. Also, I think this writer is just speculating and, if I may speculate in return, I think the Pirates probably like Andy better than most other teams right now.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Nov 12, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

Too soon for me to trade Luigi

1. Iwamura is a bit of an unknown, especially his health (not that you could pencil Freddy Sanchez in for 150 starts in 2010).

2. Pedro’s power numbers may be there, but that’s all. I still don’t have confidence that he can adequately defend at 3B. I’m not sure he’ll play in Pittsburgh before Sept. 2010. NH sent Cutch down in March 2009 because he had to work on his bunting. Pedro’s got a lot more to work on than that.

3. At least one report stated that the PBC asked Pedro to lose as much weight this winter as he lost last winter. I’m not sure he’ll comply — if not the report suggested he’d be ticketed for 1B (he’s no Kung Fu Panda).

4, Neil Walker hasn’t given anyone any reason to believe he can be a ML starter at 3B (one good month at the end of his 2nd year at AAA doesn’t signify). I’m not saying give up on him, just that he hasn’t shown he’s ready to start for the parent club.

So unless Philadelphia is offering the sun and the moon for Luigi, I just don’t see it.

by WstCstBucco on Nov 12, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

I expect a breakout year for Andy

So I would be very disappointed with a trade at this point. I would think NH is going to wait and see what he has the first 2 months of the season. If he thinks Andy is not the answer at that point he might approach Aki about an extension. Both Andy and Aki could play 2B and 3B, so it’s also likely that if Alvarez had to move to 1B because of defensive issues, they could keep both of them.

There are too many variables there to trade him and not have a sinking feeling you might be getting hosed.

by MarkInDallas on Nov 12, 2009 6:51 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

I also believe Andy is going to have a breakout year. He came on strong at the end of the season and you have to remember that was his first full season in the majors. He already plays solid defense and seems to be a good clubhouse guy. If he can hit 280 with 20 HR’s and continue to do what he does defensively, put Alvarez at first for the next 6 years and watch him hit balls in the Allegheny.

by Bux123 on Nov 12, 2009 10:03 PM EST up reply actions

I bet the phils expect a breakout year from him too and thats why they would be interested in trading for him

by samvescovi on Nov 15, 2009 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't trade him...

unless they offer Drabek which isn’t going to happen.

by joegonzo on Nov 12, 2009 8:10 PM EST reply actions

I Don't See this from the Phillies Side

While the Phillies are looking to upgrade, I don’t see how LaRoche qualifies. Getting LaRoche would not be much of an upgrade from Feliz-except Andy is younger.

AVG OBP SLG OPS
Feliz _______.266 .308 .386 .694
LaRoche____.258 .330 .401 .731

I think the Phils want a proven guy with some power. I see on the MLB site they might look to get Tejada and move him to 3rd. Sounds like a plan to me.

by zogger on Nov 12, 2009 8:12 PM EST reply actions

The linked story states

that Phillies are looking at Chone Figgins. He’s got no power at all.

The rumor up till now has been the Yanks want Figgins to be their starting LF next year, unless they decide to go with Jason Bay.

The Angels have all but said they can’t afford to keep both Figgins and Lackey. Of course, I heard a rumor y’day that Yanks want Lackey too.

by WstCstBucco on Nov 12, 2009 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

I think that Figgins...

…is going to be an excellent example of the “Winner’s Curse” in action for whoever signs him this offseason.

by Vlad on Nov 13, 2009 7:05 AM EST up reply actions

Figgins

would be an excellent fit in Philly. They don’t need power; they led the league in HRs by a wide margin last year. Rollins and Victorino at the top of the lineup have all the speed in the world, but neither works the count worth a damn. Lead off with Figgins and move Rollins to Feliz’s old spot at #7, and their lineup, already the best in the league, would be better.

But Figgins wants probably 5 years and lots of money. The Phillies have it—they sold out thier last 40-something games—but probably don’t want to commit a lot to a 32 yr old INFer.

by rogero on Nov 13, 2009 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

Bay in NY?

It’s like there’s some sort of league-wide conspiracy to keep his career HR totals down – let’s take a righty with no opposite-field power and put him in parks with short right porches.

by JRoth95 on Nov 13, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

Figgins is overrated. He’s coming into free agency off of a fantastic season, but his entire track record is very up and down. He’s always had good OBP, but with his power, is he really going to draw close to 14% walks again? He’ll be overpaid along with Bay, IMO.

by Adam Reynolds on Nov 13, 2009 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

I also don’t like the idea of trading LaRoche, and the Phillies don’t have anything overly interesting to me that they didn’t already give up in the Lee trade that they’d be willing to give up.

by Suffering Buc on Nov 13, 2009 10:44 PM EST reply actions

Their top two OF prospects are interesting.

That said, I don’t think anything’s going to happen there.

by Vlad on Nov 14, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

Amaro

And the Phillies fans as well, are so thrilled to get Cliff Lee for little that they probably think they can get anyone they want for next to nothing.

Don’t see anything happening here.

by God Loves on Nov 15, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions