By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Last off-season, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired center fielder Ben Revere. At that time, it looked like Revere would be a part of their long-term plans.
Nearly a year after being traded to Philadelphia, the young center fielder could be on the move again. Should a trade happen, it would be his third team for the speedy center fielder in a little over a year.
The Phillies are willing to trade Revere for pitching help. In December 2012, he was traded to the Phillies from the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Vance Worley and minor league prospect Trevor May.
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With the Revere trade, sources have not indicated whether they would want a starting pitcher or relief pitching in return. However, the Phillies struggled this season with their starting pitching, even with Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Roy Halladay in the mix, so one would have to think it would have to be for a starting pitcher.
It is quite clear that the Phillies are targeting Cincinnati Reds free agent center fielder Shin-Soo Choo. His agent Scott Boras is seeking a deal for the 31-year-old worth more than the $125 million dollar deal with Jayson Werth when he left the Phillies for the Washington Nationals.
With the general manager’s winter meetings getting close, Choo is going to be a hot commodity there. The free agent is already being considered the best center fielder on the market.
The Phillies have already had internal discussions about Choo, according to the source. And if they can steal Choo away from the other teams that are going to go after him, then they will deal Revere afterward.
Revere has been a defensive center and is coming off of a broken right foot that he suffered on a foul ball in July. It has been five months since he suffered the injury, and he is expected to be fully healthy as spring training starts in February.
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Revere also has a cheaper price tag, as he is making less than $600,000 per year. Yet, Choo when he signs, is expected to make $12-20 million per season, depending on the contract that he signs.
Yet, even with his high price tag, Choo would give the Phillies an impact power-hitting center fielder. He would give the team an instant boost in the lineup that saw Chase Utley and Ryan Howard struggle last season.
Last season, he had 21 home runs, and has hit 20-plus home runs three times in his career. For the Phillies, they were led by Domonic Brown, who had 27 home runs last season.
Besides Brown, the Phillies did not have a 20-home run guy. Utley was the nearest with 18 home runs, while Darin Ruf had 14 home runs and John Mayberry Jr. and Howard had 11 home runs each.
There is no guarantee that Brown can produce 27 home runs again.
If the Phillies are unable to sign Choo, then the source said that they will turn their attention to acquiring Texas Rangers free agent outfielder Nelson Cruz or trading with the Miami Marlins for young outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton’s deal could cost the Phillies a hefty price, but Ruben Amaro Jr. has been known to make the big trade, as he did with Halladay before. And Cruz is coming off of a 50-game suspension for being linked to Biogenesis.
Amaro Jr. will have a lot of work to do this winter, and it all starts with adding a bat this winter, along with starting pitching.
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