Pirates Trade Andy Phillips For... An Actual Prospect?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 17, 2009 4:08 PM EDT

Apparently the Pirates have traded minor league utilityman Andy Phillips to the White Sox for Michael Dubee, a starting pitcher who played pretty well as a 22-year-old at Class A+ last year and might actually qualify as a marginal prospect. This could probably be described as a very minor miracle; Dubee won't be mistaken for David Price anytime soon, but I'm not sure why the White Sox would give up anything at all of value for Andy Phillips.

Dubee, the son of Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee, was drafted by the Phils in 2006 but was traded to Chicago for Tadahito Iguchi in 2007. The White Sox' decision to send Dubee back to Class A+ this year indicates that they don't think much of him, but his numbers are good so far, with a solid strikeout rates in levels he wasn't ridiculously old for. I can't find much current information about his stuff, so it's probably safe to assume he doesn't have a blazing fastball. Still, he probably immediately ranks somewhere near the Pirates' top five starting pitching prospects, which doesn't mean much of anything given the Pirates' lack of minor league pitching, but this is still a pretty nifty trade--the Bucs have parlayed one of their many mediocre corner players into a pitcher who has some theoretical chance of someday helping them.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

BA on Dubee at the time of the Phillies trade:

He has a knack for pitching and throws strikes with an average to slightly above-average fastball that touches 94 mph. He also throws a changeup and uses his curveball as his out pitch.

by WTM on Apr 17, 2009 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

I take that to mean “he throws 88.”

Still, I think the Bucs hosed the White Sox here. An extremely minor hosing, but still.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 17, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Knack!

Maybe it’s just me, but whenever I hear the phrase “has a knack for pitching” about a prospect, I almost automatically tune out the rest and assume he’s cannon fodder. Also "is a tough competitor " and “knows how to play the game” auger poorly.

But what the hell, Phillips was not going to lead us to the promised land. Maybe Dubee be due.

by brooklynpirate on Apr 17, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Well played.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 17, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Heh, the only thing missing is comparing him to someone like Tom Glavine. Anyway, I’m surprised the Pirates got anything more than “cash considerations”.

by wickethewok on Apr 18, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions

The other shoe

This opens a spot at AAA for Luis Cruz to play 2B.

by Brakeman8 on Apr 17, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

Shelby Ford

He’s there now.

Cruz will be their utility outmaker.

by WTM on Apr 17, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Dubee in Top 5 as Pitching Prospect?

I think that shows just how much work is left in stocking the minors with talent. No way he should be a Top 5 prospect at this stage, IMO. Keeping sawing wood, Neal and Frank!

by jeffbwi on Apr 17, 2009 6:51 PM EDT reply actions

I've seen Dubee

Twice,once with Lakewood when he was a Phillie prospect and then last year with Winston-Salem.
The scouting report is about right except I would say the fastball is closer to average than above-average.
The curve I rated pretty highly,but he didnt use the change as often as you would think.
Not a top prospect by any means,but worth a flier for an Andy Phillips type…

Check out my blog at thoughtsofrs@blogspot.com

by Count Vertigo on Apr 17, 2009 7:13 PM EDT reply actions

Doing Dubee's Father A Favor

There is a strong Phillies-Pirates connection now with Coonelly and Russell.
Many former Phillies, both coaches and players, have been brought to Pittsburgh.
This is just another one. It’s totally meaningless.

by thegunner on Apr 17, 2009 7:50 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously, why are you here?

Coonelly is from Philadelphia. He otherwise has no connection whatsoever with the Phillie org.

Russell managed in the Phillie org for a whopping two years.

What exactly is “the favor”?

(phone rings in Pirates’ FO)
FC: “Yellooo?”
Rich Dubee: “Hi, Rich here. Can you do me a solid?”
FC: “No. No fucking way, in fact.”
Rich Dubee: “(chuckles) Frank, it’s me, Rich Dubee…?”
FC: (silence)
RD: " … from Philadelphia?"
FC: “Ohhh, Rich Dubee! S’up B?”
RD: “Can you help a brotha out?”
FC: “Anything.”
RD: “Can you trade for my son?”
FC: “Sure. … umm, why?”
RD: (like Luther in The Warriors, when asked why he wasted Cyrus) “No reason.”
FC: (shrugs). “OK. But you owe me one.”

by azibuck on Apr 17, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I Hear That Is Exactly The Way It Went Down

by thegunner on Apr 18, 2009 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Coonelly is from Philadelphia. He otherwise has no connection whatsoever with the Phillie org.

Russell managed in the Phillie org for a whopping two years.

Sounds like a conspiracy to me. I bet they don’t even have birth certificates.

by WTM on Apr 17, 2009 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t really think he’s that great of a prospect considering he’s not ranked among the White Sox top 14 in the Baseball Prospectus rankings from before the season. So I wouldn’t exactly get up my hopes for him.

by Schide on Apr 18, 2009 1:31 AM EDT reply actions