Tagged: Ben Francisco

Phillies Trade Ben Francisco to Toronto

Ben Francisco is no more.

The Phillies traded the 30-year old Outfielder to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league reliever Frank Gailey who, coincidentally, is a local product, having graduated from West Chester University.

In 100 Games for the Phillies in 2010, Francisco batted .244/.340/.364 with 6 HR and 34 RBI. His crowning moment in a Phillies uniform was when he hit a Game-Winning Pinch-Hit 3-Run-Home-Run in Game 3 of the NLDS. Ironically, that will be his last at bat in the red pinstripes. The move isn’t shocking, as the acquisition of Laynce Nix pretty much put the writing on the wall for Francisco. With Mayberry in Left, Wigginton having the ability to play the corner spots and Brown waiting in the wings, there was simply no room for a $2 million Fifth or Sixth Outfielder.

Gailey, 26, split time between Single and Double A this season for the Blue Jays. In 45 appearances, Gailey went 5-6 with a 3.41 ERA, logging 74 Innings pitched.

This is a smart move by the Phillies at the non-tender deadline. With all the moves to upgrade the bench this offseason by Ruben Amaro, there was simply no room for Francisco. He was going to be non-tendered anyway, so it’s nice to see the Phillies get something for him. In another instance of irony, former Phillies reliever Andrew Carpenter was outrighted off the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster to make room for Francisco.

In an interesting twist, Troy Renck of the Denver Post speculates that the Phillies moving Francisco opens up a chance for the Phillies to acquire Outfielder Ryan Spilborghs from Colorado. He notes the Phillies have been interested in him for years as a right-hander off the bench. Spilborghs, 32, came off his worst season in 2011. In 98 games for the Rockies, Spilborghs batted .210/.283/.305 with 3 HR and 22 RBI. Spilborghs is a non-tender candidate.

Phillies sign Nix to 2-Year Deal

As many have already quipped, the Phillies have finally filled the hole Jayson Werth left when he joined the Nationals last year: An outfielder with an awkwardly placed ‘Y’ in their name. The Phillies signed Outfielder Laynce Nix to a 2-year deal on the eve of the 2011-12 Winter Meetings. Nix made $700,000 last year on a one-year deal with the Nationals, so the annual value of this deal shouldn’t be that far off. The move not only ends the Phillies pursuit of former Minnesota Twins Outfielder Michael Cuddyer, but should also end Raul Ibanez’s and Ben Francisco’s tenures with the Phillies. There is simply no more room on the Phillies roster for Francisco, and they aren’t going to waste over $1.5 Million on a player that will stay at AAA.

Nix just turned 31 in October, and played in 124 games for the Nationals in 2011. In 351 PA, Nix posted a .250/.299/.451 line with 16 HR and 44 RBI. The lefty hit .263 off of Right-Handed Pitchers in 2011, but was atrocious against fellow lefties, batting a measly .111.

It’s only December 4th, but the Phillies are just about finished their offseason shopping. Amaro recognized the Phillies biggest weakness in 2011, aside from the tendency for everybody not named Chase or Jimmy to stop hitting in the playoffs. The Phillies bench was lackluster in 2011. Brian Schneider and Michael Martinez was horrible, Ben Francisco failed to meet expectations, Valdez was nothing special, and Gload, while one of the best pinch hitters in the NL leading up to the All-Star break, was horrible afterwards.

Out of the Phillies 2011 Bench, the only players that seem like they could possibly return is Schneider, already signed to a 1-year deal, and Wilson Valdez. Martinez seems to be heading to AAA next year, Gload is leaving via Free Agency and Ben Francisco looks like he will be non-tendered. The new Phillies bench appears to be Nix, Wigginton, Thome, Schneider and Valdez. Not too shabby.

With the Winter Meetings upon us, the Phillies will turn all their attention to locking up Jimmy Rollins, or any shortstop for that manner, to a contract. The only other team that appears to be competing with the Phillies is the Brewers. The Giants appear to have dropped out of the J-Roll sweepstakes and are now pursuing Alex Gonzalez. Jose Reyes, with a 6-Year $111 Million deal on the table from the Marlins, appears destined for South Beach, so the Phillies should lock up J-Roll quickly. If Reyes signs before Rollins, J-Roll could use his position as the best SS on the market to make it a pain for the Phillies.

Aside from that don’t expect much more out of the Phillies offseason. Do not be shocked, however, if the Phillies resign a healthy Brad Lidge to a 1 year deal. He can be a mentor for the young prospects coming up, and was lights out after he returned from injury in 2011. It seems like a perfect low-risk high-reward signing, as Lidge is realistic and doesn’t expect much in the way of offers.