Phillies trade for Brad Lidge!

[JayDonnelly10]

rotoworld.com


Phillies acquire RHP Brad Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett from the Astros for outfielder Michael Bourn, RHP Geoff Geary and third baseman Mike Costanzo.

We're not at all impressed with Ed Wade's first move as Houston's GM. Bourn could have a long career as a fair regular, but he's basically another Willy Taveras for the Astros. If Lidge's arrival in Philadelphia results in Brett Myers' return to the rotation, this could be a big winner for Pat Gillick. Geary is an average middle reliever and Costanzo's a long shot to have a career, so this basically boils down to Lidge for Bourn. Lidge is only under control for one more year, so it's not a huge slam dunk. Still, turning Myers back into a starter gives the Phillies a bigger rotation upgrade than they possibly could have picked up in free agency.


Looks like Lidge will be closing games versus us next season.

I know everyone is gonna say how this is a good thing, but he still has tremendous stuff....decent acquistion that allows them to put Brett Myers back in the rotation

I think its a good deal for the Phillies, even though Bourne was a burner....we'll see what everyone else thinks

[SamtheBravesFan]

It's a good risk for them to take. It seems similar to the Kolb trade the Braves made before 2005. Lidge closes and Myers moves back into the rotation and that fills a rotation spot for the Phils.

[Rick]

Lidge still has good stuff but he has never been the same since Albert Pujols hit that homerun off him in the playoffs . Some games he seems like his old self , other games he doesn't have it - no consistency .

I listened to some Astro games this year and if things are going well , he is fine . But if a bloop hit falls in and some little thing goes wrong , then he can unravel - not mentally tough anymore .

[jschafer5]

Wow...Good deal for the Philllies.

[MPH]

Lidge still has good stuff but he has never been the same since Albert Pujols hit that homerun off him in the playoffs . Some games he seems like his old self , other games he doesn't have it - no consistency .

I listened to some Astro games this year and if things are going well , he is fine . But if a bloop hit falls in and some little thing goes wrong , then he can unravel - not mentally tough anymore .
I wonder what Milo thinks about this trade. Rick if you hear anything on that, please let us know.

[MPH]

It seems similar to the Kolb trade the Braves made before 2005.

LOL, yeah it really does. Let's hope it turns out equally well for the Phillies!;)

[McCarroll21]

We've hit Lidge pretty well in Turner Field. Hopefully that continues in Citizens Bank. However, as said, if Myers returns to the rotation this makes their staff improve dramatically.

[Hobbes]

We've hit Lidge pretty well in Turner Field. Hopefully that continues in Citizens Bank. However, as said, if Myers returns to the rotation this makes their staff improve dramatically.
Yep. This makes the Phillies a better team. Not good for us.

[JayDonnelly10]

Yep. This makes the Phillies a better team. Not good for us.

That was my initial thought when I saw the trade and why I posted it....

Even more reason we should go after Haren...haha:D

[at65]

No doubt about it.. This is a good deal for the Phillies... Sure, he could potentially implode and make this a good trade for the Astros. But I think he'll at least have a good regular season -- all bets are off if they make the playoffs. His stuff is still disgusting... Hope we don't have to see him much.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Is it a good trade on it's face? Of course it is. That's all there is to it. What will be the results? Who knows for sure? Wait and see, and try to be happy! ;) :beer:

[HeidiBee21]

While as a braves fan, that doesn't seem so good to me...

as a baseball fan I think it was a great change.
It should bring up their game a lot.


hmmm....maybe I better work on that bedtime prayer again

[JCStone7]

Good move by the Phils especially if Myers goes back to the rotation. Makes for an interesting race. On paper at least in the NL East so far.

[C-Dawg]

'Stros trade another closer to the Phils? Are they in cahoots against the braves :(

[SamtheBravesFan]

'Stros trade another closer to the Phils? Are they are in cahoots against the braves :(

I think that's a distinct possibility. :eek:

[Scalpel19]

The major question for the Phillies is what Lidge are they getting? No one can say good deal or bad deal yet. This could backfire

[JayDonnelly10]

The major question for the Phillies is what Lidge are they getting? No one can say good deal or bad deal yet. This could backfire

Yes you might be right but they are also adding Myers back into the rotation, which is they key peice of information here....that makes this trade wise for them

[BGarrett7]

The major question for the Phillies is what Lidge are they getting? No one can say good deal or bad deal yet. This could backfireThey gave up nothing to potentially get a marquee closer. Regardless of whether Lidge is able to reclaim his old form, this is a win-win situation.

Bourn is a very one-dimensional player, essentially a carbon-copy of Willy Tavares -- a player who has no business being a starter anywhere. He's the proto-typical bench player/fourth outfielder.

Geary isn't a horrible reliever, but he isn't going to be a dominant part of any bullpen, however. He'll eat innings and get you out of a few jams, but he is not going to turn into a go-to middle reliever.

As for Costanzo, I don't know much about him, but he wasn't listed as a top ten prospect for 2007, and wasn't in the top five for 2006.

And with getting Lidge, like everyone else has pointed out, not only does it give them a much-needed reliever, it gives them their ace back in the rotation.

[McCarroll21]

All I know is that Myers and Hamels gives them a one-two punch that will rival that of Hudson-Smoltz and Carmona-Sabathia.

At least it pushes them out of the running for Rivera, if they were truly in it.

[Scalpel19]

They had no shot at Rivera... I bet he ends up in LA or takes the more likely pansy route and goes crawling back to Daddy George.

I really don't like Myers and don't see why people fear him being in the rotation. He has the potential to be lights-out, but he is a hot-head. That's why he struggles. And until he overcomes that, he will always be an underachiever. It could change for him, I just don't think it will

[Hobbes]

I really don't like Myers and don't see why people fear him being in the rotation. He has the potential to be lights-out, but he is a hot-head. That's why he struggles. And until he overcomes that, he will always be an underachiever. It could change for him, I just don't think it will
He's got ace potential and he's automatically a huge upgrade over Eaton. That is why we don't want to see him in the rotation.

[McCarroll21]

He's got ace potential and he's automatically a huge upgrade over Eaton. That is why we don't want to see him in the rotation.
Eaton, Leiber, Garcia...

Hamels, Myers, Kendrick, Moyer is the start of a good rotation. Even Eaton can make for a pretty good, and damn expensive, 5th guy.

[BGarrett7]

I really don't like Myers and don't see why people fear him being in the rotation.Three straight years of an ERA+ over 100 in a very heavy hitter-friendly ballpark.

Averages nearly nine strikeouts per nine.

Is a lock to give you over 200 IP, and will get you into the seventh almost every time out.

Has a respectable WHIP in the 1.20 range.

He's an ever-so-slight upgrade over Adam Eaton.

So, yeah, I think with the frontline of Hamels and Myers with a backend of Kendrick/Eaton/Moyer/Garcia/Leiber and there's plenty of reason to be worried about the current NL East Division champs.

The Phils now have seven proven, capable ML pitchers they can run out there on a daily basis... We have, what, three?

[JayDonnelly10]

Saw these two articles posted on mlbtraderumors.com
Apparently Nate Silver, a Baseball Prospectus writer doesnt like the deal for the Phillies side of things

"Ed Wade’s Revenge"
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=665

"Why Brett Myers Does Not Excuse the Brad Lidge Trade"
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=666