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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: the NL East is strange

By Alan Carpenter

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Wilmer Flores #4 of the New York Mets is tended to by training staff after fouling a ball off his face in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros in game two of a double-header at Minute Maid Park on September 2, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Wilmer Flores #4 of the New York Mets is tended to by training staff after fouling a ball off his face in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros in game two of a double-header at Minute Maid Park on September 2, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 02: First Base Coach Mickey Morandini #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies stands over Pedro Florimon #18 of the Philadelphia Phillies after he hurt himself at first base during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on September 2, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 02: First Base Coach Mickey Morandini #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies stands over Pedro Florimon #18 of the Philadelphia Phillies after he hurt himself at first base during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on September 2, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

The Phillies

I still haven’t figured out whether the Phillies have an actual plan with their own rebuild.

The only thing that seems to make any sense whatsoever to me is that they might be willing to simply buy their way out of baseball purgatory.  Seems their kids aren’t doing nearly as well as hoped.

The Phils Opening Day payroll this season was a tick above $100 million.  Their contractual obligations for 2018?  $5.85 million.  That’s it.

Meanwhile, their payroll has been as high as $177.7 million (2014), so you know the franchise has bucks available to spend.

One thought they’ve expressed out loud has been Giancarlo Stanton.  Certainly, they could afford him, though I have no idea what prospects the Fish would demand in return.

The Phillies really need him… and that park would be great for his hitting.  Except they need a lot more to go with him.

But Stanton really doesn’t need the Phillies… unless he simply wants to escape Miami for 3 years and opt out of the deal just when the Phillies might be getting better.

So when the Marlins say that there is a team they think will be able to get Stanton from them, it’s not the Phils they are referring to:  it’s actually the Giants.  The Phillies are relegated to also having “reached out” to the Marlins… along with the Cardinals and Rangers.

(No, I have no idea how the Giants can pull this off since their farm system is pretty well depleted, but that’s their problem).

So while they are ‘involved’ in the process, I really can’t see Stanton accepting a trade to the Phillies.

Which leaves them…pretty much on the street corner with a hat in hand and a sign reading “Will Pay for Free Agents”.

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