Position By Position

(C) Ruiz-Solid Resign him you have no better options in the system and he is more valuable in staff ERA anyway.  Kratz-Nice guy hard worker but I think its time to upgrade there.  Ideally a left handed hitting catcher but if not Rupp will do.

Free Agent:  Brian McCann offensively is an upgrade over Ruiz but again I pass.  He is oft hurt, will cost more than he is worth and came up pretty small in the playoffs.

(1B)-I would simply platoon Howard/Ruf while exploring every opportunity to move Howard.  Franco is on the way and my opinion is much like they moved Albert Pujols to 1B that's what they will do with Franco unless someone bowls them over with an offer for Asche.

(2B) Chase it is most nights with Cesar and Galvis as able back-ups.  Down the road it might be Roman Quinn.

(3B) Asche for sure but Franco is waiting in the wings if someone of significance becomes available via trade.  Essentially that is why you always take the best player available regardless of position.  If Asche can land you an exciting right handed hitter that plays OF at a high level you would have to consider making that move but do it with caution.  Asche is the type of kid that Ryne Sanberg was, that Utley was meaning the make-up might far exceed the talent.

(SS) Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy.  You should have accepted a trade and at some point you might.  Not because I don't like you, I happen to believe you are the best SS in franchise history.  You make a move because you are such a polarizing figure in this town and because you could win another championship.  It won't happen here for you.

JP Crawford is the future its just a matter of when.  Is he Manny Machado where he could be up when he is 20?  Roman Quinn is destined to move at this point and not because he has been horrible defensively at SS (he has) but because JP was the 16th pick in the draft.  Galvis is a capable back-up but lacks the offensive prowess to be an everyday SS unless you surround him with multiple MVP type bats.

(LF) He is not on this team.  It's not Ruf and Brown should be in RF.  Find plug and play a dynamic right handed bat.  They don't grow on trees but that is what scouts get paid to do and why GM's get big bucks to play fantasy with OPM.

(CF) Plenty of options here with Revere being the most obvious.  I like Benny but again not a dynamic player because of his lack of power.  When I think of CF I think of Tori Hunter in his Twins days, I think Adam Jones, I think McCutchen heck even Victorino.  Cesar was decent in the field and I think he potentially develops some pop.  I like that he hits from both sides of the plate and maybe you get away with him there if you have 25-30 HRS on both sides of him.

(RF) No question for me it should be Dom Brown.  No Dom is never going to be an MVP he lacks the grit and swagger it takes to bring home that award but he is capable.  He has power, he has a hit tool, he sees a lot of pitches and will take his walks.  Average defensively yes but a plus arm.

(SP) Hamels/Lee is really all we have.  Gonzalez is an unknown and Kendrick/Pettibone just aren't playoff caliber pitchers (see Tigers pitching staff) pitching is everything to win WS titles.  Maybe Jesse Biddle becomes something near Lee and they should be looking to call him up in June 14 and get the development started.

Free Agents:  Matt Garza should be a priority but health is a concern.  If they are going to make a run at him they must make sure he is physically sound.

(BP) Papelbon is ok, Adams if healthy is ok, Diekman is ++.  Ken Giles is a strong possibility with his 95+ MPH right arm but here is another guy that needs to throw strikes.  Martin may flourish in a late inning role also so I see no need to expend any assets there in the off season.

(Bench) Frandsen,Galvis, Hernandez should all be automatic.  Mayberry as well.  I'll pass on Bernadina and look for a LH bat with more power.

For 2014 the team is an ace short of being in playoff consideration at least so I would exercise patience this off season and plan to acquire young talent.  Possibly take advantage of teams needing to move salary.  With another top flight draft pick in June contention is a few years away.

Knock Knock

House Keeping...that's who is there! 

Dubee the first shoe to drop.  9 Seasons is a long time and there is some thing to be said for a fresh voice.  Change for the sake of change isn't always good but if they can bring in a quality guy with no preconceived notions about who these pitchers are it might be a step forward.

The Phillies finished even better than I had thought 73-89 and it looks like that will be good enough for the 7th overall pick in the draft.  Obviously you can get a pretty good player there but also we can sign a Free Agent that received a qualifying offer without forfeiting our own draft pick.

The free agent class isn't much to get overly excited about.  Sure there are some pieces out there that would help a team right on the edge of a championship but added to this roster at this time probably doesn't make sense.

If Pence got 5/$90 what do you thing guys like Choo and Ellsbury will command?  Actually that is quite a steal for the Giants.  Pence finished 13th in OPS among all OF last season and his career numbers suggest you can consistently count on him for 20-25 HR's and near 100 RBI.  He's just a good player and a good kid.

Here is a name for you.  How about Marlon Byrd finished 8th among all OF in OPS last season...8th and he hits from the right side.

Anyway back to the FA class.  The Phillies are short in the rotation on paper unless Gonzalez turns out to be something special.  You may consider adding Garza but word has just come out that he is damaged goods.  Sure Hamels and Lee are good starting points and I would not completely rule out a trade of Lee this off season.

Enjoy the playoffs and we'll all watch with great anticipation how the off season unfolds.