Phils Make Splash with Lidge

by Aprisco

The Phillies obtained Brad Lidge in a five player deal that should signal an arms race in the NL East.  The Phillies also received infielder Eric Bruntlett from the Astros in return for outfielder Michael Bourn, relief pitcher Geoff Geary, and third base prospect Michael Costanzo.

Lidge is a gamble, but given what the Phillies gave up, it was well worth the risk.  Lidge is not the pitcher he was in 2004 and 2005 when he was one of the premier closers in the game.  He never was the same after he surrendered the three run homer to Albert Pujos in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the NLCS in 2005 with the Astros up 3-1 in the series and on the verge of heading to the World Series.  The Astros never recovered losing the series in 7 games. He has been worked in and out as the Astros closer the last two seasons and has suffered some injuries.  Nonetheless his stuff still looks electric and he dropped his ERA from over 5 two years ago to 3.36 this year in 67 innings.  He also struck out 88 and only allowed 54 hits.  But he blew 8 saves in 37 chances, that's a few too many meaning pressure situations may still bother him.  If that's true, he will have a difficult time in Philadelphia.

Nonetheless, the Phillies gave up practically nothing to get him.  Michael Bourn is a career .285 minor league hitter and served as a defensive replacement and pinch runner this year.  If the Phillies resign Aaron Rowand (which they should), there is no where to play Bourn with Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino also signed.  Even without Rowand it was unlikely that Bourn would see signficant playing time.  Geoff Geary is a decent middle relief pitcher, but middle relief pitching is always expendable.  Perhaps the player that the Phillies will hurt losing the most is minor league prospect Michael Costanzo, a former second round pick, who struggled in his first full season in the minors. Costanzo rebounded nicely hitting .270 with 27 homers in double A Reading this year.  With Gregg Dobbs and Wes Helms manning third for the Phillies an upgrade at third base in a couple of years will likely be necessary.

The Phillies' pick up of Eric Bruntlett in the trade will spell the end of Tadahito Iguchi's short stay in Philadelphia. Iguchi will likely get a starting job somewhere anyway, but he now has no place on the Phillies roster as a utility man.

Perhaps the most important piece to this trade is that it will allow the Phillies to move Bret Myers back into the starting rotation.  Many believe that Myers was on the verge of stardom after posting two solid seasons prior to being moved to the bullpen this past season out of necessity.  In 2005 Myers went 13-8 with a 3.72 ERA in 215 innings and struck out 208 and in 2006 he went 12-7 with a 3.91 ERA and struck out 189 in 198 innings.  While serving capably as the Phillies closer this year, Myers is a premier starter.  With him, Cole Hamels (15-5, 3.39 ERA, 177ks, 183 innings), and the emergence of Kyle Kendrick midway through this season (10-4, 3.87 ERA), the Phillies should be more than able to survive the losses of Jon Lieber and Freddy Garcia , both of whom are free agents and spent most of the season on the disabled list.  Kyle Lohse, a late season pickup is also a free agent.  Given that the Mets rotation is in shambles and will likely lose Tom Glavine, the pickup of Lidge will likely prompt Omar Minaya to do something big to improve his starting rotation.  The Braves should also be solid with Smoltz, Hudson and the likely addition of Glavine, but their bullpen has major holes. Watch the Mets and Braves look to make improvements to their staffs.