Transition Ahead for World Champion Phils

Last year, the Red Sox celebrated their championship by re-signing World Series MVP Mike Lowell and bringing back several other role players. Their only major addition from outside the organization was bench bat Sean Casey. Needless to say, that kind of stability in the era of free agency has become increasingly rare, and the Phillies won't be an exception.

Of course, the Phillies aren't exactly the 1997 Marlins either. They have a strong young core intact. Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Brad Lidge are all under contract or the club's control for the near future. That five-player spine should be enough to make Philadelphia one of the favorites in the National League next season.

But the status of some of the second-tier players who were integral in the championship run is up in the air heading into the winter. Pat Burrell is at the top of that list. The left fielder is a woeful defender and will never hit for average, but his patience and power will be sorely missed if he signs somewhere else.

Jamie Moyer is also a free agent. He could pitch until he's 50. He could walk off into the sunset. Either way, he made 33 starts for the Phillies during the regular season and three more in the postseason. That too will not be easy to replace.

As often happens with championship-winning clubs, many of the players who will return next year are also going to get more expensive. Utley, Lidge and Brett Myers are due significant raises in 2009 and at minimum the club will probably want to explore long-term deals for the likes of Hamels and Howard, if not for players like Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth.

Perhaps most significantly, the person making all these decisions about who to sign, who to extend and who to let go will likely be different. GM Pat Gillick's contract expires this year and he's expected to retire, handing the reins over to his assistant Ruben Amaro Jr.

The Phillies are not a big-market club, nor are they a small-market one like the team they just defeated in the World Series. That means they're going to be able to hold on to some of their stars, but probably not all of them. Putting that puzzle together and giving Charlie Manuel and Co. a chance to repeat in 2009 will be no small task, especially for a rookie executive.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-31-2008 @ 10:39AM

Ashley said...

dude the parade tomorrow is gonaaa be insane =)

10-31-2008 @ 8:53AM

Chris said...

Thanks to the entire Phillies team for an exciting season. I still miss Aaron Rowand but some how we got the job done without him. No one wants to lose anyone from the current team, but it is inevitable. Jamie and Pat are like family. I'd hate to see the Phils have to play against them, but I know that Philly fans would still be happy to see them and give them a warm welcome. Thanks again fellas! A great season!

10-31-2008 @ 9:20AM

bigshow said...

I heard that they took the mvp away from hammels and gave it to the umps, and I also heard that they gave the game balls to the umpire for the last three games, I am a philly fan, and not ashamed to say that we did get every call at the plate, I was laughing my head off when moyer was pitching, the rays were like how can I hit that being a foot off the plate? and kazmere or whatever was pitching they took him out and he was throwing strikes it was awesome. I never ever in my life ever saw a more one sided calling by an official in any sport, let alone the world series, and people are saying it went both ways but that is lie, when it came to the phills no big deal, but rays had 1 out and the guy up walked and the ump called a strike next pitch a double play, that killed them, when burrell was up they struck him out for 3 outs but they called it a walk victorino came up and drove in the winning runs, but what can I say, go umps, and phills.

10-31-2008 @ 11:01AM

The Ump said...

As a person that loves the game. Played it, Coached it, and know I Ump it. All I can do is hold my head down. I'm a Boston fan. And Bos had a great year. That's all a fan can ask for. Tampa beat us. Great series. I didn't care the the calls from the get go. And I never critigue umpires. But being in the Umpire business. I know what to look for. And during the World Series! I saw things I could not believe. These guys are pros. And there is no way, they can't blow that many calls. Umpirers have bad days. But the whole crew? I going to come out and say what I believe. I believe Vegas was going to lose a bundle if Tampa won. I believe Stern was in on it. I believe there should be an investigation. I believe the whole crew should be banned from umpiring. I believe Tampa was the better team. Yes, I'm talking about the team that took out my Bosox. And I also feel sorry for the Philly fans. I'm sure you believe your team was the better team. And I know deep down, you know the umps handed your team the ring. And the rest of the world knows the fix was in. So, you Philly fans got robbed. In fact we all got robbed. Politics, and big money has it's way of stripping away everything the working class people cherish.

10-31-2008 @ 8:02PM

tfolk717 said...

Your comments are ridiculous and as bad as the umpiring may have been, your sentence structure is way worse. Do us Phillie fans a favor. Before you share your opinions with the rest of America, go to your local community college and take a high school English class. COME ON!!!

11-01-2008 @ 4:19PM

Rich said...

Uh, in the world series i watched the Phillies had more calls against them then they did in their favor. You just sound like a typical Boston fan who can't admit that the Red Sox lost to a team that they (and the Phils) were superior to.

10-31-2008 @ 11:42AM

AJ said...

Congratulations, you crass Phillies fans. 1980. Been a long time and your team played well and looked great. Enjoy your championship!

10-31-2008 @ 11:48AM

Peter Thompson said...

Congratulations to the Phillies, but you are not World Champions, merely National Champions of the U.S.A., as are the winners of Football & Basketball. Only Football (Soccer) can claim that honor. Let's get it right.

10-31-2008 @ 12:45PM

Reggie said...

Again the umpiring was something to behold, we can all agree on that. But the fightins held on to the momentum which they could have very easily lost over a 2 day stretch. To start the bottom of the 6th with a lead off double set the tone. Bordelli tried to take it back with his dinger, but to no avail. The fightins earned this and deserve it. Being a faithful PHILLIES fan, who has suffered the great collapse of 64, and the agony of 25 years, I for one could care less that the umps calls were terrible. The fightins took this series it was not given to them. Now if only the flyers could follow with a championship season my heart will be happy once again.

10-31-2008 @ 4:12PM

Robert said...

If i were the Phils, i would let Pat The Bat walk and bring back Bobby Abreau for left field. He led all of Baseball in pitches seen, an invaluble asset. Great allround hitter and would come for less dollars and years, freeing up money for keeping the core members together.