Phils and Sixer. Well i would excited about Sixers if Drew B. injury has an answer--it sounds like it might be what Utley has----but so does Igoudola, he has done all right. Biggest matter is Evan Turner is BLOOMING---leads teams in rebounds 2nd in assist and averaging 15---but we start a team without a center, but Thaddeus is doing well(Nick Younmg a PLUS and Jason Richardson is doing what he has always done, he isn't aged out yet.--we could be leading the league with Drew B. playing, and we don't no when that will be. Now to big moves by Phillies (which includes trade of Worley)
AP Source: Phillies get Michael Young from Rangers
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Michael Young chose a full-time role over staying home.
A person familiar with the trade said the Philadelphia Phillies have acquired the seven-time All-Star infielder from the Texas Rangers for two relief pitchers.
Young agreed to waive his no-trade clause on Saturday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been announced. The Rangers also will pay a significant portion of Young's salary for 2013. Young is due to earn $16 million, and reports stated the Phillies will pay him only about $6 million of it.
Young, who has spent all 12 of his seasons in the majors with the Rangers, leaves as the club's career leader in hits (2,230) and other categories, including runs, doubles and triples. He has a .301 career average with 177 homers, 984 RBIs and a .347 on-base percentage.
The Phillies sent right-hander Josh Lindblom and minor league righty Lisalverto Bonilla to the Rangers to get Young, who fills a void at third base. Lindblom was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31 for two-time All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino.
Young batted .277 with eight homers and 67 RBIs in 2012, a down year for him. In the nine previous seasons, Young hit at least .300 seven times and averaged 17 homers and 90 RBIs.
A former AL Gold Glove winner at shortstop, Young hasn't play third base regularly since 2010. Seven Phillies started at third base last year, including often-injured former All-Star Placido Polanco.
Young was a leader on a Rangers team that reached the World Series in 2010 and 2011. He agreed to the trade rather than accept a utility role in Texas.
Young began his career playing second base before moving to shortstop where he won his Gold Glove in 2008. But he switched to third base the next year to make room for Elvis Andrus. After two seasons at third, Young lost that position to Adrian Beltre. He started at least one game at each spot in the infield and served as a designated hitter much of the time over the past two years.
In Philadelphia, Young's versatility will allow manager Charlie Manuel to rest first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley occasionally. Kevin Frandsen, who batted .338 in 195 at-bats for the Phillies last year, would start at third base when Young moves around. Freddy Galvis also could be used as a late-inning defensive replacement for Young at third.
''Lets be real Philly nation this is one hell of a pickup!'' Frandsen wrote on Twitter.
The Phillies hope Young is a one-year stopgap until prospect Cody Asche is ready. Asche batted .324 with 12 homers and 72 RBIs last year for Single-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading.
The Phillies, coming off an 81-81 season after five straight NL East titles, got a regular center fielder on Thursday when they acquired Ben Revere from Minnesota for pitchers Vance Worley and Trevor May.
Now they have crossed third base off their to-do list. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. still hopes to find a right-handed hitting outfielder with power, a No. 4 or No. 5 starter, and a setup reliever.
Lindblom was 3-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 74 games for the Dodgers and Phillies. He allowed 13 homers in 71 innings. Bonilla was 3-2 with a 1.55 ERA and four saves in 31 relief appearances for Clearwater and Reading(Rangers i think wanted him most---gambling on his potential as solid prosspect.)
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Phils add Revere from Twins; Rangers' Young coming, too?
When the Atlanta Braves won the B.J. Upton sweepstakes(So Braves are getting Stronger!), outbidding their division rivals, there was pause in Philadelphia. When the first two days of baseball's winter meetings saw Angel Pagan and Shane Victorino also come off the free agent market, pause turned to panic.
Who would the Phillies find to fill their center field void?
Shortly after the Phillies brass departed the premises of the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, the wait was over. Rather than hitting the free agent market, where they still could have plucked former Phillie Michael Bourn for the job, the Phillies found a trade partner in the Minnesota Twins.(i think Bourne passed over because this 24 year old Revere, comes much cheaper but his stats impressive--Bourne is what 32/33?) Twins are desperate for pitching, and Worley the key, i don't know about Trevor may---also this article passes over Ruf like doesn't exist!--i am sure the Phils think much differently!)
The Phils dealt starting pitcher Vance Worley and right-handed prospect Trevor May to the Twins in exchange for center fielder Ben Revere. The 24-year-old Revere, known for defense and speed, gives an aging Phillies team something they have sorely lacked: a young, productive and controllable position player.
Revere, who hit .294 with 40 stolen bases in his second full big-league season in 2012, can't become a free agent until 2018.( reading that i can see why they passed over Bourne--plus Bourne was struggling at end of last year with what for him was a slump)
"For us, it was about the defense and the speed," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said of Revere. "We like athletic players, and he's certainly that. He has great energy, a fantastic defender. And those are priorities for us."
An added bonus to opting for a trade for Revere rather than hitting the free agent market: The Phillies have the resources to take that money and find a power-hitting corner outfielder or third baseman. Prior to the consummation of the Revere deal, the Phils were reportedly on the verge of adding veteran Texas third baseman Michael Young to man third base, but the Young trade could not be completed as he pondered whether to waive his no-trade clause.
Regardless, the Revere trade could enable the Phils to enter the market for another big outfield bat. The team entered the offseason without a legitimate, everyday, major league outfielder.(Regardless if Ruf shows he is ready to take over LF: they do need ANOTHER player in OF that is PROVEN to be better than Brown/Mayberry and the the fellow they got from Giants)
"We still have plenty of flexibility monetarily to try to piece the rest of this thing together," Amaro said.
The trade did create a hole in the rotation, where Worley was in line to be the team's fourth or fifth starter. However, the Phils could find a starter internally, with Tyler Cloyd and prospect Jonathan Pettibone leading the list of candidates.
What the Phillies don't have to worry about anymore is having someone to take over a position that's been a question mark since they dealt Shane Victorino to the Dodgers at the trade deadline in July.
In view of Victorino having mediocre year at bat surprised Red Swox gave him a 3-year deal worth 39 million--but i am happy for Shane--he will play RF for Red Sox)
'Kevin w
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