Jayson Werth may be dealt, but don’t look for it to happen anytime soon. The Phillies aren’t simply going to ship their power hitting rightfielder unless they get the right package in return — think a solid No. 2 or top No. 3 pitcher as ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted yesterday. Can you say Dan Haren?
One place he could end up is New York if the Yankees land Cliff Lee. That deal appears to be falling apart, however, as the Rangers and Reds are on the verge of stepping up their offers, according to reports this afternoon.
If Lee did end up with the Evil Empire, he could be moved for Javier Vazquez, although we fail to see how that dramatically improves the team.
The Phillies would rather move Ibanez instead of Werth.
Even if Vazquez was available, don’t expect the Phillies to jump at the chance to trade Werth. As Olney tweeted this afternoon, “Heard this: The Phillies’ preference is to move Raul Ibanez, rather than Jayson Werth, but it’s hard to imagine anybody biting on that.”
That’s hardly earth shattering news. Who wouldn’t want to move Ibanez right now? With another year and $13 million owed to the left fielder after this season, the Phils would likely jump at the chance to move him and use his money to resign Werth in the offseason. And, yes, they could combine both players’ salaries to afford Werth since Domonic Brown is ticketed for Philly next year at a minimum salary.
The bottom line is that Werth could be dealt especially if Philly falls further out of the division race. But, he won’t be dealt until later this month, if at all.
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