News of Phormer Phillies 2017

[Philsmania]

The cat named Michael Martinez has yet another life.

Indians, Michael Martinez Agree To Minor League Deal

[Philsmania]

Amidst the flurry of front office appointments Klentak made late last week was the announcement that Del Unser retired as a scout. Aside from a one-year hiatus in 1983, Unser had been involved with the Phillies either as a player, a coach, a minor league instructor, a front office person or a scout since 1979, Below is an interesting SABR bio project about him from 2011.

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/3e2acbdd

Also, Benny Looper, a Gillick guy, retired from the senior advisor position he shifted into just a few months ago.

[zambonir]

Those were (unofficially) announced a couple of months ago. Unser was on the air with the TV crew at one point for a farewell.

Phillies' Ed Wade will not return as an exec

[BostonRoss]

The cat named Michael Martinez has yet another life.

Indians, Michael Martinez Agree To Minor League Deal

God bless him. According to baseball-reference.com, He has never had a season with a positive oWAR. Six of his 10 most similar batters through age 34 are pitchers.

[Slinging_Southpaw]

Twins signed 1B/OF Brock Stassi to a minor league contract.
Stassi managed to crack the Phillies' Opening Day roster out of spring training in 2017, but the 28-year-old went on to bat just .167/.278/.295 over his first 90 major league plate appearances. Philadelphia pushed him off the 40-man roster in August. He's doubtful to make a meaningful impact in Minnesota.

Source: Rhett Bollinger on Twitter

[bkeich]

Michael Martinez...Six of his 10 most similar batters through age 34 are pitchers.

Oh, that is just rude. My guess is they weren't even good hitting pitchers.

[Philsmania]

Tyler Goeddel never made it on to the Reds' forty man roster this past season, meaning he is eligible again for the Rule 5. I wonder if someone else will take a chance on him or if he is pretty much done as a prospect of any kind.

And Jesse Biddle remains on the Braves forty man roster though it appears he may have gotten hurt again. He went on the DL for AA Mississippi on July 22 and never came back but I suppose it's possible that the Braves may have had an innings limit for him as he came off Tommy John surgery though that limit turned out to be a mere 49.2 innings pitched which seems awfully low if that was the case. Either the Braves really believe in him or their system's pitching depth is not much to write home about. He pitched exclusively as a reliever for Mississippi.

[DurhamBull]

Tyler Goeddel never made it on to the Reds' forty man roster this past season, meaning he is eligible again for the Rule 5. I wonder if someone else will take a chance on him or if he is pretty much done as a prospect of any kind.

He hasn't exactly been tearing up the minors, OTOH he's only 24. He won't go unemployed, but it's tough to see him as a Rule 5 pick.

[David_Criss]

Vielma claimed by Pirates

[Philsmania]

Tyler Goeddel never made it on to the Reds' forty man roster this past season, meaning he is eligible again for the Rule 5. I wonder if someone else will take a chance on him or if he is pretty much done as a prospect of any kind.

He hasn't exactly been tearing up the minors, OTOH he's only 24. He won't go unemployed, but it's tough to see him as a Rule 5 pick.

I believe he is still with the Reds organization, albeit as a minor leaguer.

He had a good OBP last season (.360) but was otherwise so-so. .259/.360/.393/.760 overall line split between AA and AAA.

[LoneStarPhan]

Yankees Sign Erik Kratz

[donaldorc]

My friend Erik. (Yes, I know him personally). He has as many lives as Michael Martínez.

[zambonir]

37 years old and he's still controllable until 2020! Except he always gets waived or non-tendered.

[Philsmania]

As I mentioned in the Rule 5 thread, the Astros select Anthony Gose from the Rangers as a LHP.

[andyb]

Scott Rolen's Hall of Fame case:

A defensive wizard, Scott Rolen presents a compelling Hall of Fame case

I think he belongs but it might take most of the 10 year period to get him in. Don't we then retire the numbers of long time Phillies that make the HOF? That might make an even more interesting discussion in Philly.

[zambonir]

I don't think they automatically retire your number if you make the HoF, it's just that they don't retire your # if you don't. Just not sure it's ever been put to the test. But I wouldn't retire Halladay's #, for instance (the Blue Jays should, certainly). I don't think Rolen or Schilling either, just because too much of what got them in the Hall (in theory) was for other teams.

But I think the policy is going to have to change anyway, for some of the guys from the '08 team. I believe there was already an article pointing out that nobody is ever going to wear those numbers in the near future anyway.

[LoneStarPhan]

Cole Hamels donates his $9.75 million mansion to a special needs camp

[phillychuck]

Amazingly generous, also shows how much disposable income a great MLB player has.

[nycphils]

Or how much his effective tax rate was about to rise with no longer deductible property taxes on the thing!

[andyb]

Or how much his effective tax rate was about to rise with no longer deductible property taxes on the thing

That 39.6% to 37% top rate cut will more than offset any property tax deduction losses, though donating $9.5 million (who knows if it is actually worth that) will be a nice tax deduction regardless.