BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Phillies trade for utility man Ty Wigginton

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Monday, November 21, 2011

Phillies trade for utility man Ty Wigginton

Clubbin’ Clarisonics! What makeup!

The Phillies continued to change the look of their bench by acquiring versatile Ty Wigginton from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash on Sunday.

Wigginton, 34, bats right-handed and plays infield and outfield. He joins Jim Thome as additions to the bench this off-season.

“I like three things about him,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “I like his makeup. I like that he fits our club in that he can play first base and third base. And I like that he gives us another guy with power off the bench. We had been looking to add depth to our bench.”

Repoz Posted: November 21, 2011 at 04:16 AM | 27 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: phillies, rockies

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1. Textbook Editor Posted: November 21, 2011 at 04:26 AM (#3998219)

sigh

2. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: November 21, 2011 at 04:33 AM (#3998232)

I honestly don't know how to read that sigh.

3. Social media assassin (Templeusox) Posted: November 21, 2011 at 04:40 AM (#3998240)

The sigh of someone whose team traded for a below replacement level player I would assume.

4. McCoy Posted: November 21, 2011 at 04:48 AM (#3998252)

Apparently the Phillies are collecting past bobbleheads.

5. AJM Posted: November 21, 2011 at 04:50 AM (#3998256)

Ha!

6. The Gurus DO NOT BourbonSamurai Posted: November 21, 2011 at 05:06 AM (#3998272)

In his day Wigginton was an all right bench guy. I haven't watched him in a few years.

7. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 21, 2011 at 05:12 AM (#3998282)

The sigh of someone whose team traded for a below replacement level player I would assume.

Yea, I'm guessing the PTBNL is not Brody Colvin. They probably didn't give up much, and the FA market for replacement level utility infielders seems all out of whack this winter (Jamey Carroll, Clint Barmes) so getting a replacement level bench infield bat for pretty much nothing is a good depth move, especially with Howard out.

8. JJ1986 Posted: November 21, 2011 at 05:18 AM (#3998287)

Wigginton can't really play 3B and he didn't even stand at 2B last year. He's not much of a utility infielder.

9. Fancy Pants is braggadocious about his Handle Posted: November 21, 2011 at 05:32 AM (#3998301)

the FA market for replacement level utility infielders seems all out of whack this winter (Jamey Carroll, Clint Barmes)

It probably seems out of whack, because you don't understand what a replacement level utility infielder looks like.

10. Tom Nawrocki Posted: November 21, 2011 at 05:35 AM (#3998303)

Wigginton wouldn't embarrass you as a bench guy, but the Rockies inexplicably let him start a bunch of games at third last year. I'd a lot rather have Jamey Carroll or Clint Barmes than Wigginton.

11. Social media assassin (Templeusox) Posted: November 21, 2011 at 05:39 AM (#3998307)

I'd argue paying a less-than-replacement level infielder $2.5M is a pretty inefficient use of your roster and your money. Especially since he can't play the middle-infield at all and he can't play the corner infield well. Just because you know a player's name does not automatically make him worth trading a flyer for.

12. escabeche Posted: November 21, 2011 at 05:41 AM (#3998309)

Does the fact that the Baltimore Orioles couldn't find a use for this guy tell you anything?

13. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: November 21, 2011 at 05:55 AM (#3998314)

This is such a great move three years ago!

14. JRVJ Posted: November 21, 2011 at 01:45 PM (#3998354)

Most of the smart Philly commentariat is supporting this move, under the rationale that it's only $2MM for one year, it gives the Phillies more options on the bench and it means the Phillies will not be carrying either Valdez or Martinez on their 25 man roster.

THere's some further comments to the effect that this is being driven by Michael Cuddyer (I hope I didn't butcher that) asking for more money or years (or both) that the Phillies feel comfortable giving him.

15. JE

Posted: November 21, 2011 at 02:16 PM (#3998363)

Wait until Marty Noble chimes in.

16. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: November 21, 2011 at 03:34 PM (#3998383)

Who are the Phillies other 1B options while Howard recovers?

17. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 21, 2011 at 03:35 PM (#3998386)

Who are the Phillies other 1B options while Howard recovers?

Jim Thome and John Mayberry Jr.

18. Textbook Editor Posted: November 21, 2011 at 03:41 PM (#3998390)

#16, Mayberry from the right side. Thome from the left side for interleague games only (supposedly). There's also been some talk of Utley playing 1B a little bit (he's played there before), with Polanco moving to 2B and ??? (now Wiggington, I guess) playing 3B.

But really, if Ty Wiggington is your answer, you're asking the wrong question.

The sigh was for me having to listen to local fans praise the move as being for a "gritty guy" who will fit right in, get his uniform dirty, etc. These are the same folks who were clamoring Aaron Rowand to return last year when Brown started having problems, etc.

19. Textbook Editor Posted: November 21, 2011 at 03:47 PM (#3998397)

Coke to RoyalsRetro

20. i'm not STEAGLES and you shouldn't be either Posted: November 21, 2011 at 04:09 PM (#3998411)

he looks like toast, and at his age, about the best you can hope for is one last gasp of productivity, but echoing 14, it's a 1 year deal; the phillies can easily absorb a 1 year deal.

21. gef the talking mongoose Posted: November 21, 2011 at 05:26 PM (#3998488)

he looks like toast,

Light brown & covered with butter & possibly jelly or jam?

22. Tricky Dick Posted: November 21, 2011 at 06:33 PM (#3998592)

Wigginton used to be a very good hitter against lefthanders. His offense seems to be aging fast, so who knows what the future holds. But even with the offensive decline, his OPS against LHBs is still almost .800. But he has always been a bad fielder, and at his age he will be a liability whereever he plays.

23. Jick Posted: November 21, 2011 at 08:52 PM (#3998756)

Now that Kevin Youkilis's Baseball-Reference URL has been deprived of its offensiveness, I nominate "Wiggity" as the most amusing.

24. Something Other Posted: November 22, 2011 at 12:28 AM (#3999005)

versatile Ty Wigginton

he looks like toast, and at his age, about the best you can hope for is one last gasp of productivity, but echoing 14, it's a 1 year deal; the phillies can easily absorb a 1 year deal.

Sure, but why this 1 year deal? It's likely to do nothing but cause the team to pitch away 100-200 PAs before releasing Wiggy, and when your backup to an injured guy includes Thome, you can't just punt the roster spot on a proven sub-replacement level player. The Phillies might need some actual production from this waste of a roster spot, and if they're spending 2m+ they can do better than this. And should.

25. i'm not STEAGLES and you shouldn't be either Posted: November 22, 2011 at 01:04 AM (#3999033)

Sure, but why this 1 year deal? It's likely to do nothing but cause the team to pitch away 100-200 PAs before releasing Wiggy, and when your backup to an injured guy includes Thome, you can't just punt the roster spot on a proven sub-replacement level player. The Phillies might need some actual production from this waste of a roster spot, and if they're spending 2m+ they can do better than this. And should.

toast may actually have been an overstatement. there's been no deterioration in his ratios (GB/LD/FB, IF/FB, XBH%) and the decline in batting average the last two years may have been linked to a BABIP that was well below league average.

there may actually be cause for optimism about his ability to contribute.

26. Heinie Mantush (Krusty) Posted: November 22, 2011 at 01:12 AM (#3999035)

Between Papelbon and Wigginton, the Phils seem to be the most win-now team since the Bonds-era Giants, no?

27. i'm not STEAGLES and you shouldn't be either Posted: November 22, 2011 at 03:03 AM (#3999091)

Between Papelbon and Wigginton, the Phils seem to be the most win-now team since the Bonds-era Giants, no?

they've actually got a bit of an eagles thing going on. they've got a veteran lineup and a mostly veteran rotation, but in the bullpen, after papelbon, everyone they have is on a rookie deal. the backbone of the bullpen is basically gonna be bastardo, stutes, schwimmer, herndon, aumont, de fratus, savery, and diekman, and none of them have more than 2 years of service time on the active roster.

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Monday, November 21, 2011

Phillies trade for utility man Ty Wigginton

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