Mailbag: Madson moving into rotation?

01/30/2006
I know Arthur Rhodes had a decent year for Cleveland last season, but I was hoping to get more in return for Jason Michaels, who has been a quality player for the last few seasons. Why didn't the Phillies continue to pursue trading Bobby Abreu for a top-line starter? Instead, they dealt Michaels, an adequate replacement for Abreu, for a setup man, which they already had in Ryan Madson. -- Tammy R., Pennsauken, N.J.
You guys have been busy this weekend, and this was easily the most popular question received over the past 72 hours. It came down to the fact that Madson was going to fill whatever role the Phillies couldn't in a trade, and Abreu and Michaels were the two chips. If Abreu landed the top-notch starter, Madson would be the eighth-inning setup man. If Michaels went for a back-end reliever, Madson would become the No. 5 starter. It was never a case of Abreu going for a top-notch reliever or Michaels going for a second-tier starter.
Option B played out, because no team was willing to give away its ace (for Abreu) in an inflated market for starting pitching. I'm not completely sold on Rhodes, either. He's older and missed time in 2005 because of physical and family-related issues. He was good when healthy, though, easing some concerns over his subpar 2004 season, and that was enough to satisfy the Phillies. If they're right, he'll provide an effective bridge to closer Tom Gordon.
I'm also a fan of Michaels, who had become a nice player and pinch-hitter who feverishly worked counts and hustled on every play. The X-factor to this trade could be Madson, who had been an effective starter in the Minor Leagues through 2003, then pitched his way onto the Phillies as a reliever in 2004.
General manager Pat Gillick and his staff deduced that Madson represented the best option for the rotation, and they may be right. The right-handed Madson has plenty of movement on his pitches and possesses a devastating changeup. Hitters such as Chipper Jones and Scott Rolen are on record as saying that Madson is one of their least favorite pitchers to face.
The last relatively big-name pitcher on the market is Jeff Weaver. At this point, I'd rather see the Phillies have Weaver and Abreu than trade Abreu for a Freddy Garcia or Mark Buerhle. I've even heard that the Mets may pursue Weaver after trading Benson. Weaver may not be a No. 1, but he, Lieber, and Myers could be a nasty 1-2-3. Why haven't the Phillies gone after this guy? -- R.K., Springfield, Pa.
Gillick said last week that the Phillies never had any interest in Weaver, Kevin Brown, Jose Lima, Josh Fogg or Pedro Astacio, the most popular suggested names in mailbag questions. The team had interest in Wade Miller, who signed with the Cubs, but didn't like something they saw in the medical report. In Weaver's case, his salary demands of roughly $40 million over four years was out of Philadelphia's price range.
Will the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation be given to Ryan Franklin and Madson, or will they be given to whomever has the best Spring Training? Also, who is favored to start Opening Day? -- John B., Port Royal, Pa.
Madson and Franklin would have to struggle mightily to not make the starting rotation, while someone else would have to pitch exceptionally well. The candidates there would be Rob Tejeda or Gavin Floyd. As for Opening Day, my money is on Lieber making his seventh career season-opening start.
How much of an impact do you think Aaron Rowand and Gordon are going to have? Could the Phillies have done better in the free agency market? -- Bobby S., Allentown, Pa.
Rowand will provide tremendous defense and an aggressive style in every aspect of his game. His offense will likely be somewhere between his 2004 and 2005 campaigns, and his leadership and wisdom gained from winning a World Series should also go a long way. Gordon's biggest problem is he's not Billy Wagner, but he also comes at just half the price. The Phillies hope for 40 saves and a healthy and full season from the 38-year-old.
How does Julio Santana figure into the bullpen this year? I think he deserves a shot to be our setup man. He had a great strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio last year. -- Eugene S., Easton, Pa.
Santana figures into the bullpen mix in a seventh-inning role, and that was the case before the team acquired Rhodes. Of course, injuries and ineffectiveness could change the equation. Though his name hasn't been brought up a lot, the Phillies intend to take a long look at Santana this spring.
Does Matt Kata have a future with the Phillies? -- John S., Hazleton, Pa.
Gillick identified Kata as a darkhorse candidate to make the roster this spring in last week's online chat with fans. The reality, however, may be that the team has too many guys just like Kata in Abraham Nunez and Tomas Perez, both of whom have more lucrative contracts. Kata managed just six at-bats for the Phillies after being acquired from the Diamondbacks last season, and had only 31 at-bats with Arizona before that. A darkhorse candidate may be putting it kindly.
Steelers or Seahawks? -- Bill W., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Steelers all the way, baby! Judging from your hometown, I'll assume your allegiance is the same. They're playing so well right now. Final score: Steelers 24, Seahawks 10.

Source: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/