A left-handed hitting suggestion for the Phillies
3 minutes ago by KenRosenthal

Imagine Johnny Damon with the Phillies.

The Phillies would like to add a left-handed hitter for their bench. As of Thursday, two commonly mentioned possibilities - the Rockies’ Jason Giambi and Twins’ Jim Thome – had yet to be placed on trade waivers.

When Giambi and Thome do hit the waiver wire, other contenders are virtually certain to claim them – and other similar types – to block the Phillies from making a move.

Damon, on the other hand, already has cleared waivers, according to major-league sources. He has never played for a National League club. He has never been a part-time player. But he certainly would be an upgrade over Ross Gload, the Phillies’ current left-handed hitting reserve.

The Phillies, as usual, profess to be at their budgetary limit. Damon, though, has only about $1.25 million left on his contract. That number will drop to $830,000 on Aug. 31, the deadline for teams to set their post-season rosters. The Rays could include cash to secure a better prospect in the deal.

Damon, 37, is batting .263/.316/.398 for the Rays, with 10 homers in 492 at-bats. Gload, 35, is playing with a torn muscle in his right hip. He is 0-for-6 in August and 3-for-25 since the end of June, and has yet to hit a home run in 76 at-bats.

-Ken Rosenthal

CFP wrote:I would have to think Sabean would be tripping over his own feet for another bat

Barry Jive wrote:well those other teams could probably use Thome or Giambi a lot more than we could

bleh wrote:I take it you haven't seen Browns numbers in the Minors? He's been putrid.

And Thome has a .878 OPS. There's no chance in hell he would make it to the Phils on waivers.

Eddie Jordan wrote:I guess 70k doesn't go that far in the statue business...

It's...OK...Although I'm not an expert on the craft. If I didn't have prior knowledge of the event, and I just saw that statue in a room somewhere...It might take me a little bit to figure out who I'm looking at.

The organization could have done a much better job I'm sure if they funded the project independently. I know it's a gift and what not, but it'd be nice to see them turn around and match the 70k donated by the fans to some charity that the Kalas family supports.

Just can't wrap my head around donating money to a 600 million dollar organization when I could think of so many better uses for that sum of money.

5th Round Pick wrote:

bleh wrote:I take it you haven't seen Browns numbers in the Minors? He's been putrid.

And Thome has a .878 OPS. There's no chance in hell he would make it to the Phils on waivers.

JBerry wasn't anything to write home about in the minors, either.

bleh wrote:

5th Round Pick wrote:

bleh wrote:I take it you haven't seen Browns numbers in the Minors? He's been putrid.

And Thome has a .878 OPS. There's no chance in hell he would make it to the Phils on waivers.

JBerry wasn't anything to write home about in the minors, either.

He was much better than Brown has been over the last 2 months. And he could at least field without putting on a circus act.