The rumors swirling around twitter and Facebook were 100% false involving Josh Hamilton and the Phillies. Today the Los Angeles Angels signed Hamiltion to a 5 year 125 million dollar contract. The Angels now have rookie of the year Mike Trout, slugger Albert Pujols, and now Hamilton. This is the first time in MLB history that an outfielder will make 25 million per year. The Phillies made the right move by not offering Hamilton a long term contract, but will now have to make up for it by signing one of the remaining free agent outfielders that remain on the market. Not getting Hamilton means Ruben Amaro Jr. has money for a corner outfielder, 8th inning pitcher, and a 5th starter in the rotation. Lets take a look at the Phillies options are.
Cody Ross is probably the first option. A right handed batter who hits well at Citizens Bank Park, and has a good arm in left field. Ross would bring 20+ home runs and 80+ runs batted in. Phillies fans know this man very well, because of what he did in the 2010 NLCS hitting 2 home runs in one game off Doc Halladay. He later went on to win the NLCS MVP and would then help the Giants beat the Rangers in the World Series. Philadelphia booed him then, but if he signs a deal here, I'm sure we would be willing to give him a fresh start.
Nick Swisher is the other outfielder available. Swisher is a switch hitter who can hit for power and contact. He played right field very well with the Yankees, and I don't think we would see a difference if he came here. Swisher hits home runs, brings home plenty of base runners, and is a guy that can spark this team in the locker room. The only concern is, do we really want another batter who strikes out over 125 times? at this point Ruben has to take the risk. In my opinion Swisher is the guy I want in the lineup. He can hit from both sides and he could help mix the batting order by batting 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th to help Utley and Howard.
Another option is to trade for Chicago Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano. Ruben Amaro tried to sign him in 2007 when he received a deal he couldn't refuse from the Cubs. Soriano provides power smacking more than 25 home runs a year in 9 of the 12 full years he has played. In order to get Soriano, the Phillies would have to part ways with Dominic Brown. The best part about this is that the Cubs have been said to eat 26 of the 36 million owed, so the Phillies would only pay him 10 million which is affordable. I would like this deal a lot and I think Rube should pull the trigger.
After getting a corner outfielder the Phillies need to do two things plain and simple. Sign Jair Jurggens as our 4th starter, and sign Mike Adams as the setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. All the cards are on the table for Ruben, and he needs to go all-in if he wants a championship. I'll have an update on where we are in the NHL lockout coming soon. Stay tuned.
Jimmy "the Fish" Forte (Beat writer for the Sports Goombahs)
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