The Moves Continue: Pedro Feliz the Next Phillie Player to Go

Written by: Josh Landsburg on 9th November 2009

The Moves Continue: Pedro Feliz the Next Phillie Player to Go | read this item

The Phillies declined the $5.5 million one year option on 3B Pedro Feliz last night. They had until today to make a decision. This is a good move by the Phillies. It gives them time to look at their other options at 3B. Although Feliz was very solid defensively for the Phils over the past two seasons, arguably the best in the NL, he frequently was an automatic out at the bottom of the lineup. Feliz also did not provide the “pop” that the Phillies had anticipated when they signed him. Feliz hit over 20 homeruns for the San Francisco Giants, a pitcher-friendly park, and the Phillies thought he could do the same, if not better, at Citizen’s Bank Park, a hitter-friendly park. However, Feliz only hit 12 HR this past season. Chone Figgins for the Los Angeles Angels is probably the best player on the free agent market at third base. I would love to get a player like that, and I’m sure the Phils would too.

Figgins is capable of hitting .300, scoring over 100 runs, and stealing over 40 bases on a year-to-year basis, and he’s still very young. If the Phils got Figgins, they would not have one weak spot in their lineup. Of course, Figgins will probably command a high dollar amount, but he may be worth it. Also, although the Phillies declined Feliz’s option, they still have the opportunity to sign him, so it gives Ruben Amaro, Jr. some flexibility. The Phillies do not have anyone currently on their minor league roster ready to step into the 3B role at the major league level. Therefore, it will most definitely have to be a free agent signing to fill Feliz’s spot on the roster. The Phillies are in a position of envy from every other team in the National League.

They simply have to tinker with their roster, (i.e. third base, bullpen, etc), whereas a lot of other teams in the NL will have to make a major overhaul to their rosters to have a chance of competing with the Phils in 2010. Phillies and Yankees rematch in 2010?…A long offseason of moves awaits for all of baseball, so we’ll see, but that buzz has already started, just days after the Phillies were ousted in game six, which tells me one thing, and one thing only: It is a general consensus that the Yanks and Phils were the best two teams in all of baseball in 2009, and a lot of people think those same two teams have a chance to be the best in 2010. What do you think?

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Topics: 3b, 5 Million, Best Player, Chone Figgins, Citizen, Envy, Flexibility, Free Agent Market, Homeruns, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angels, Major League, Minor League Roster, Pedro Feliz, Phillies, Ruben Amaro Jr, San Francisco Giants, Two Seasons, Weak Spot, Yankees

hometeamgal says:

November 10, 2009 at 3:08 pm

Yes. It’s a possibility that the Phillies and Yankees could be back next year in the Turnpike Series. As far as the Phillies go, if they keep their focus, as well as the fun they have with one another as a team, nothing could stop them.
ressoxfan2000 says:

November 16, 2009 at 12:10 am

I smell a Phillies Vs. Redsoxs world series…