Quick Hits: The End of the Interview

Written by Mike Mariano | 22 July 2010

(here's the final snippet from my interview over at TCB the other day.  This part is particularly interesting with all the recent Oswalt-Werth trade rumors)

TCB: What is the Phillies biggest need at the trade deadline?

Pitching is an obvious need for the Phillies right now, but I don't know who available fits exactly what we need. A starter would be nice, but we already jettisoned Cliff, so why would turning around and giving up prospects for Roy Oswalt make sense? Ruben Amaro doesn't look likely to bring Pedro in again and there isn't any readily available talent down on the farm. I'm not sure if the price is right for the Phillies in the SP trade market.

Offensively however, I think the bench needs to be fixed up and another infielder needs to brought in. With Utley out indefinitely, it makes more sense to bring in a super-utility type guy to patch up holes for him, Polanco, and inevitably J-Roll if he goes out again. The best defense is a good offense, or maybe it's the other way around, but I think keeping our biggest strength (the offense) going is more important that trying to patch-work the pitching.

TCB: Jayson Werth has been a steal the past three seasons, will he be let go in free agency?

Sadly I think so. Domonic Brown is killing people in the minors and he's the future in the outfield. Also, I don't know if the team is willing to eat Raul's 10 million and put him on the bench. I would love to have him back, however I don't know if his price tag is going to be affordable over the long term. He'll be over-30 when he hits the market and if he turns it around in the second half, the offers will be very, very high. Love the guy and will definitely miss him.