The Philadelphia Phillies have hired former general manager Ed Wade as a special consultant.

Wade was a GM for parts of 13 seasons for the Phillies (1998-2005) and the Houston Astros (2001-11). He was fired last month after the Astros posted a franchise-worst mark of 56-106 this year.

During his time as GM in Philadelphia, Wade’s staff drafted Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels, Ryan Madson and Brett Myers, all of whom were contributors on the 2008 World Series championship team. He also acquired Jim Thome, Shane Victorino and Billy Wagner.

In Houston, Wade made several key trades with the Phillies. He sent Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence to Philadelphia in various deals.

Wade will assist in salary arbitration consultation, while also scouting at both the major and minor league levels.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have hired former general manager Ed Wade as a special consultant.

Wade was a GM for parts of 13 seasons for the Phillies (1998-2005) and the Houston Astros (2007-11). He was fired last month after the Astros posted a franchise-worst mark of 56-106 this year.

During his time as GM in Philadelphia, Wade’s staff drafted Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels, Ryan Madson and Brett Myers, all of whom were contributors on the 2008 World Series championship team. He also acquired Jim Thome, Shane Victorino and Billy Wagner.

In Houston, Wade made several key trades with the Phillies. He sent Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence to Philadelphia in various deals.

Wade will assist in salary arbitration consultation, while also scouting at both the major and minor league levels.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The Philadelphia Phillies have hired former general
manager Ed Wade as a special consultant.

Wade was a GM for parts of 13 seasons for the Phillies (1998-2005) and the
Houston Astros (2001-11). He was fired last month after the Astros posted a
franchise-worst mark of 56-106 this year.

During his time as GM in Philadelphia, Wade’s staff drafted Chase Utley,
Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels, Ryan Madson and Brett Myers, all of whom
were contributors on the 2008 World Series championship team. He also acquired
Jim Thome, Shane Victorino and Billy Wagner.

In Houston, Wade made several key trades with the Phillies. He sent Brad
Lidge, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence to Philadelphia in various deals.

Wade will assist in salary arbitration consultation, while also scouting at
both the major and minor league levels.

 

The Philadelphia Phillies fortified their bench Sunday, acquiring utility man Ty Wigginton from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash.

Wigginton posted a .731 OPS for the Rockies in 2011 while playing third base, first base, left field and right field. And the 34-year-old seems to be a perfect fit for the Philadelphia roster.

Wigginton could be the Phillies’ Opening Day first baseman next year, if Ryan Howard isn’t ready after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon.

The Phillies also have been looking for right-handed hitters to play left field – Michael Cuddyer has been one target – so it’s possible Wigginton could pick up some starts there if general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn’t acquire a fulltime left fielder.

Also, Wigginton played 40 games at second base for the Orioles in 2010. So, he gives Philadelphia some insurance there if Chase Utley’s right knee tendinitis/chondromalacia becomes a concern in 2012.

Philadelphia Phillies
First-half record: 57-34
Standings: 3 games up on Braves in NL East

Needs

Bullpen: Ryan Madson should return to form after he comes back from a hand injury, but the Phillies can’t rely on either Brad Lidge (shoulder, elbow) and Jose Contreras (elbow).  Adding another late-game reliever should be this team’s priority.  Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be an experienced closer, not with the way that Madson has stepped up.

Outfield: I think the Phillies can pass on an adding an outfielder.  Rookie Domonic Brown is hitting .371/.436/.400 through 35 at-bats this month, and even when he has struggled at the major league level, he’s never looked overmatched.  It wouldn’t hurt to bring in another part-timer — preferably a backup center fielder who could also serve as a defensive replacement for Raul Ibanez in left — but Ben Francisco and John Mayberry Jr. make for a nice pair of backups as is.

Infield: I’d rather see the Phillies go get themselves a legitimate backup for Chase Utley and Placido Polanco.  Wilson Valdez is a nice defender, but he’d be an awfully weak option as a regular if either Utley or Polanco gets hurt at the wrong time.  Omar Infante would be a great pickup if the Marlins decide they’re out of it.  Jeff Keppinger and Mike Aviles would also work.

Target

Luke Gregerson (RHP Padres): Gregerson makes more sense for the Phillies than Heath Bell: he’s an extreme groundball pitcher and he wouldn’t stretch the team’s budget.  He certainly won’t come cheap, not when he’s under control through 2014, but the Padres figure to be open to moving him if the right offer comes along.  They have plenty of needs, and they’ve never been shy about trading relievers to fill them.

Proposed deal

Gregerson for RHP Brody Colvin

Colvin entered the year as the Phillies’ top pitching prospect, but he’s fallen behind Jarred Cosart while missing some time and amassing a 4.16 ERA and a 43/22 K/BB ratio in 62 2/3 innings for high-A Clearwater.  He’d still be a really nice get for the Padres here, and he could be part of a promising 2013 rotation that’d also potentially include Cory Luebke, Casey Kelly and maybe Simon Castro, with Keyvius Sampson and Joe Ross on the way up.

By Grant Brisbee

– Editor

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Jun 6, 2011 – The Philadelphia Phillies were just enjoying the return of Chase Utley when shortstop Jimmy Rollins bruised his knee cap on Saturday, injuring himself on a slide into second base. Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted that Rollins was walking around with a noticeable limp before Sunday’s game, which left him unable to come off the bench. Now from MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, we have this:

Rollins had MRI and x-ray today on right knee. X-rays negative. No results on MRI. Still has swelling. Don’t think it’s a DL situation yet.

So the negative’s a positive, and the Phillies will keep an eye on Rollins while reinserting Wilson Valdez into this lineup, this time as shortstop. They keep pulling Valdez back in. Organized crime is the starting lineup in this analogy, Michael Corleone is Valdez, and Sofia Coppola’s “acting” is the Phillies’ offense with Valdez in it.

Rollins has a .340 on-base percentage in 2011, though he slumped a little bit through May. Still, the sooner he’s back in the lineup, the better the Phillies will be.

Read More: Jimmy Rollins (SS – PHI), Chase Utley (2B – PHI), Wilson Valdez (2B – PHI), Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays