Phillies Hot Stove 2022-23

[LoneStarPhan]

Obama had a policy that made exceptions to allow some academy grads to play professional sports. Trump stopped it and them flipped and ordered a policy to allow it.

2017

DoD Rescinds Policy Allowing Academy, ROTC Athletes to Turn Pro Upon Graduation

2019

U.S. military academy athletes can now delay service, go pro

The memo, obtained by The Associated Press, came at the insistence of President Donald Trump, who directed the Pentagon in June to come up with a way to allow athletes to play professional sports immediately upon graduation. Trump gave the Pentagon four months to develop the new policy.

This past year under Biden, the policy continues as shown by the approval of these Naval Academy 2022 grads to participate in the NFL.

Linebacker Diego Fagot among 4 Naval Academy athletes who receive permission to...

Song is clearly in a different category than a recent graduate. The article quoted above says the Phillies have already put him on the military service list and he does not now count toward the 40 man roster limit. We will see what develops. I assume the Phillies have talked to him and explored the possible outcomes. I guess worst case is that he ends up being returned to the Red Sox.

Good news not losing Miller or any other player in the ML rule 5 draft.

[bkeich]

True enough Z, it was more the way things happened under Klentak, my point that this year is the clear end to that method. In those years we would have made those late signings at a discounted rate. I don't really think that was a bad method, but to me this year put the final stake in that "plan".

We seem to be returning to our 2008-10 period of being a place FA's are excited to sign to play in Philly. That, of course, is quite fun for us.

[julio]

We seem to be returning to our 2008-10 period of being a place FA's are excited to sign to play in Philly. That, of course, is quite fun for us.

Well, pretty much every current FA who wasn't playing for the Phillies or the Astros was likely to have been tuned into the World Series – and CBP was rocking in a way that few other MLB venues ever have. That's not lost on players.

Add to that the obvious commitment to trying to win it all. A player's manager who is widely respected. What's not to like?

I suppose I could dis the city. Philadelphia is not New York, and it's not LA. But we stack up well against pretty much any other MLB city, and Philly is a darn sight more appealing than some of 'em.

[zambonir]

Well, even as we can be happy Turner took less money, it's still mostly the money. There was just no reason for the Phillies to spend it again until 2019 (and they didn't spend what they did in 2018 very well). And much like Wade before him Klentak was a mediocre GM who managed to build the core of a great team (Wade with Arbuckle's drafting, Klentak with Middleton's money), but another guy had to finish it (and ironicallly Wade also hired Charlie, and Klentak/Kapler hired Thomson).

[gmwannabe]

I wonder how much Song has been throwing. Certainly, there is not much wear and tear on that arm. Could be a gem that someone found. We'll see.
gm

[andyb]

Well, early in the season you could just have him work in the bullpen for a month or two with a pitching coach, strengthening his arm and working on his secondary pitches, then put him in at garbage time his first few appearances.

That is not realistic. Have you seen how much the last man in the bullpen is needed lately? Everybody is overworked. Options to the minors are now limited, so it is harder to shuffle fresh arms in and out.

If Song is on the major league roster he needs to be able to pitch (and in more than blowouts). It can be lower leverage innings, but he'll need to pitch.

[Austinfan]

With rainouts, etc. the back of the pen doesn't get a lot of work in April.
So between off season work, ST and a month to work with him, you can get his arm back.
Command and secondary pitches will take longer, but if he's throwing in the high 90s, for one inning, he just needs a "show me" secondary pitch to start out.

[zambonir]

I kind of doubt Song pitching this year is the primary scenario, but maybe Dombrowski already knows what can happen with a waiver. I suppose we'll see what happens between now and spring training. Otherwise he could just sit and be Phillies property for the duration of his service, possibly with the Rule 5 stipulation removed at some point for a modest price.

If he does report to Clearwater and can do baseball workouts between now and then I see no reason why he couldn't make the team. It would be pretty much like putting a guy you just drafted out of college into your September bullpen, it happens.

[andyb]

With rainouts, etc. the back of the pen doesn't get a lot of work in April.

Not true. The schedule no longer has extra off days in April other than the 1 after opening day. When they stretched the schedule out an extra half week they made a point to even out the off days in every month.

And the back of the bullpen might be needed more in April. Starters are not stretched out as much as in the middle of the season and often have shorter outings. Reliever are not ready to go back to back as often.

There is probably more need for the back of the bullpen in April than less need. The last thing a team needs is to burn out their bullpen early in the year.

[fish]

I kind of doubt Song pitching this year is the primary scenario, but maybe Dombrowski already knows what can happen with a waiver. I suppose we'll see what happens between now and spring training. Otherwise he could just sit and be Phillies property for the duration of his service, possibly with the Rule 5 stipulation removed at some point for a modest price.

Plus, it's actually better if he were given permission to play to start mid-season. Then I assume he can work a bit in the minors to get his arm going and they have a shorter amount of time to hide him on the active roster when he does have to be activated. They'd have to do so again the following year until he reaches the roster time, but he'd get a chance for another fall/winter/spring of development.

[EDmuch]

I am not sure why we are getting so excited about a guy who has not pitched in 3 years when we have plenty of pitching propspcts in our system who have probably passed him.

[andyb]

One can never have enough pitching prospects.

[zambonir]

Or first-round talents.

[julio]

I am not sure why we are getting so excited about a guy who has not pitched in 3 years when we have plenty of pitching propspcts in our system who have probably passed him.

Excited? I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m not so much excited, as impressed by the club’s unconventional approach to the Rule 5 draft. Will it reap a real benefit? I don’t know, but it’s creative, outside-the-box, in an industry (and an organization) that is usually pretty hide-bound. Credit where due, IMHO.

[Austinfan]

Yep. Literally zero cost, don't even have to use a 40 man spot until he's allowed to play.

Wonder if the Phillies can send someone out to coach and catch for him during his off duty hours (or vacation).

Given his stuff, absolutely worth the gamble, and we're talking a physically and emotionally mature man who has a plus plus arm, so his learning curve should be steep - he knows he only has a few years of career left.

[zambonir]

Literally zero cost,

Well, not literally. $100K.

[julio]

Given his stuff, absolutely worth the gamble, and we're talking a physically and emotionally mature man who has a plus plus arm, so his learning curve should be steep - he knows he only has a few years of career left.

And not only that, he’s a naval aviator! I don’t suppose the Navy would let him bring along an F/A-18?

Yeah, I’m being silly now.

[Austinfan]

Pocket change for Middleton.

[zambonir]

perhaps even literally

[schillingfan]

He probably already sees Ritalin to improve his focus.