Report: Phils Early Front Runners for Fuentes

You may remember Brian Fuentes from such episodes as "Rockies Sweep the Phillies."

According to the New York Post, via Sportsnet.ca, the Phils are the early front runners for the closer's services.

Philadelphia has indicated it would include 22-year-old righty Fabio Castro in a deal, which makes the Phils the early front-runners. Oakland's presence indicates the A's, in what was projected to be a rebuilding year, now believe they can contend.

Fuentes would be a big addition to the pen and likely bump Tom Gordon from the set up spot. This would give the Phillies already good bullpen that much more depth and provide Charlie Manuel with another option to close when lights out Lidge needs a night off.

What, if anything, would this mean to the starting rotation? Would they stand pat?

Comments

[GreggyD]

This would be a good deadline acquisition. I'm not a big Castro fan anyway, and Fuentes would fit well in our already outstanding bullpen.

[Justin Evans]

Someone should clarify for the NY post any every other media outlet posting this story that FABIO CASTRO THROWS WITH HIS FUCKING LEFT HAND!

[Justin Evans]

and any*

[Poster Nutbag]

a closer? are you kidding? im always for strengthening the bullpen, and by always i mean when we have more than one quality starter and when our hitting isn't anemic.

in my lifetime the phillies have NEVER had a rotation worth shit, save for '93 (btw, even though schill is a red sox now and won the series with arizona, i still like reading about when he broke in with the '92 phils and made an impact in '93...i can always read about '93), so is it too much to ask to get a starting rotation that is good? pitching wins championships just like defense wins championships in basketball.

[john]

just because they want a reliever doesnt mean they wont get a starter

upgrading your bullpen in exchange for fabio castro is a good thing, not a bad thing

[Rico]

ditto

[Mike]

I think Fuentes would be a great addition, but as Evans noted, Castro is a lefthander. I guess that goes to show what the national media thinks of the Phils farm system.

[MikeY]

Being a subscriber to ESPN the magazine, I have access to ESPN insider content, and I was browsing around the MLB rumors section and found this in there:

Phillies looking to bolster rotation

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, The Philadelphia Phillies have started to have dialogue with some teams about acquiring another starting pitcher. C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Bronson Arroyo and Jarrod Washburn are a few of the names that the Phillies have inquired about. They will also likely be making contact with the Mariners regarding Erik Bedard now that he has officially been put on the trading block.

The problem for the Phillies is that their minor league system isn't exactly the deepest in the league, and to acquire a front-of-the-rotation starter they would most likely have to give up two of their best pitching prospects in Carlos Carrasco and Antonio Bastardo. The question is whether or not the Phillies want to just go for it this year and deplete their farm system, or try to make a run with what they have.

[Poster Nutbag]

i think getting a closer does preclude the team from getting a stater. if they only get fuentes and not a starter the front office can say that they didn't stand pat (no pun intended), made some moves, but they didn't work. im tired of that. i want to win. i want a championship. i don't care if we ruin our farm system for the next 10 years. i would trade that in a heartbeat for one parade down broad street.

[Pete D]

Another reliever will ensure that the regular 6-run lead that Myers is spotting opposing teams does not get any worse...so if the heart of our lineup is hitting that day, there's still chance of a win!

[Loqiel]

Trade your farm team talent with little ways of restocking it and you become the Yankees.

If you don't make that deadline move to get better and give up prospects, and you become the Braves.

Neither team, of course, has done anything recently.

It sucks either way. Do you pull the trigger and hope? Do you build for the future? If you cough up a boatload of prospects and don't win, then what?

If I'm Pat Gillick right now I consider Tums the fifth food group.

[Tartan69]

Castro for Fuentes is a no-brainer as far as the Phils are concerned.

Still need a starter though.

[FatPants]

I think the reporter got it wrong. I think he misheard. There's no way Fabio Castro nets Fuentes. He probably meant Carlos Carrasco, not Fabio Castro. That might explain the righty/lefty thing.

[philsphan]

I think they meant Castro since they said "would include int he deal". If it is Carrasco there is no way the Phillies would or should include any other prospects since he is ranked as their best prospect. While Castro is a lefty and 23, Carrasco is a righty but is 21. The article obviously got something mixed up, but who knows what.

If its Castro and a low level prospect for Fuentes I would do it. This team needs another lefty in the bullpen and a legit set-up man since who knows how long Tom Gordon is going to be able to hold up. The Phillies need a starter more than a lefty reliever though. I don’t really care who they trade if they are able to land a good player, but I would consider Carrasco and Marson as the only untouchables.

The Phillies might need another OF if the DFA Taguchi. I think that they should just bring up Snelling (assuming he isn’t hurt) after they DFA Taguchi and then use Bruntlett as Burrell’s pinch runner.

[Gaze]

It's a good move, but counterproductive in the search for another starting pitcher. Despite his struggles this year, part of me likes Bedard the best because he would be more than just a rental player. Using prospects like Castro or Carasco to pick up a #2 starter has built in dividends for the bullpen when Myers gets another stab at relief.