During the Winter Meetings that begin on December 7 in Cole Hamels‘ hometown, the brain trust of the Philadelphia Phillies will explore roster-improving avenues at an insane pace. Then, Ruben Amaro Jr. will return to Philly with some possibilities to revamp his squad for 2015 and beyond.

There will be a published Storyline and/or Red Alert each week. This review is an additional and updated posting. Please, scroll down for the update section or this edition of Genuine Insight: Two DHs in the NL.

This article represents the thinking of a baseball man in my opinion. Reading people is the answer to their decisions: past, present and future. Also, there is a humanizing element. Reviews are weekly during the offseason with few exceptions.

GENUINE INSIGHT

Two DHs in the NL:

Knowing the timeline of the offseason eliminates a healthy slice of uncertainty regarding front-office decisions. By December 19, management will have made some personnel changes, but don’t expect anything earthshaking. That stated, Amaro will resolve his pitching and hitting issues with an eye toward 2017.

This article covers 12 players who will be in the conversation during the next three weeks. The arms are first and the bats are second.

Toeing the Rubber:

According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, the Phils are rebuilding. Locally, that means a fire sale, while with their new stadium for 2017 in mind the Atlanta Braves are also rebuilding (their word)–a different definition? No, willing to listen is not eager to gut the team–would some old familiar faces in March really be a disappointment?

Influencing the reader’s perception of tomorrow, the screaming headline had this quote from a rival.

“They’re trying to blow the whole thing up,” the executive said. “Everyone is for sale.”

Unless another organization is going to pay the Phillies’ asking price, Hamels will be the Opening Day starter for Ryne Sandberg. Currently, the team wants the top three prospects or something comparable from a trade partner, but those franchises can negotiate with three free-agent studs: Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and/or James Shields. In other words, they have no reason to mortgage their future for Hamels, and the decision-maker doesn’t expect an acceptable offer. Keep in mind, the southpaw will be 33 years old as the staff’s leader in ’17, and the club hopes to again be competitive that summer.

By May 31, Cliff Lee will need a clean bill of health and his usual league dominance for trade rumors before a July departure. Then, a contender will be amenable to move a decent pair of prospects for the ace. On the financial side, Lee will still have a guaranteed $21 million on July 31, but that won’t be a problem. This time, the swap talk regarding him will be worth listening to.

Free-agent Kyle Kendrick has received some interest from the Miami Marlins, who want an innings eater. Firstly, though, they want to ink a left-handed power hitter to bat behind Giancarlo Stanton, contractually lock up Jose Fernandez, and acquire the best starter they can afford. Only after they resolve these priorities, will they turn to Kendrick; so, Amaro may beat them to the right-hander.

The head honcho will not move Jonathan Papelbon this winter, but the closer will not finish the season here. The riddle is that other general managers consider $6.5 million each for ’15 and ’16 (a vesting option) to be too expensive, while they believe $7 million per tour for Huston Street is a bargain. In other words, other front offices want a steal and think Amaro is desperate regarding his job and the fan base.

The Toronto Blue Jays are looking for a left-handed reliever, and they could acquire Antonio Bastardo in December instead of mid-July. But the questions for Phils’ management are their expectations for Jake Diekman and the trust they have in Mario Hollands to repeat his rookie performance.

Status of Regulars:

In September with a partial slip of the tongue, Amaro inadvertently revealed that Chase Utley would be the last aging veteran he’d think about dealing. On the other side of second base, Jimmy Rollins nixed a trade to the New York Mets according to recent reports. Why? The elder statesman wants to influence the next gang of red pinstripes.

Carlos Ruiz will only change his work address if the brain trust acquires a young catcher from Double-A or higher this winter. However, if a backstop is part of any package, Amaro will probably also part with Domonic Brown to complete that deal.

Marlon Byrd is valuable as a right fielder for Philly and a trade chip for December or July. If other general managers could get him without giving up much, they would gladly take him for $16 million and two years. In other words, they are willing to benefit from Amaro’s good signing. That stated, the embattled GM will be in no hurry to unload the right fielder for marginal talent.

Update for an AL Home:

Since the end of the season, many franchises now have DH openings. The Baltimore Orioles, the Seattle Mariners, the Kansas City Royals and the Blue Jays have no designated hitter–the Chicago White Sox added power-hitting Adam LaRoche as a DH. At $5 million per campaign for ’15 and ’16, Ryan Howard will continue his career in the Junior Circuit, while the Phillies eat $50 million. Meanwhile, the 2015 estimate (year two of arbitration eligibility) for Ben Revere is $4 million, which will be attractive to a club without a DH.

After Chicago’s creative signing, Nelson Cruz is the only slugger in the mix. Seattle–wanting a right-handed stick–is considering Cruz and Torii Hunter, while Toronto is seeking a left-side bat. The Royals must think about other options like Howard because Hunter is mostly considering the Orioles, the Mariners and the Texas Rangers. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays are open to new designated hitters. But keep in mind, some organizations will wait until late January for an unsigned bargain, and seven teams have no need for a designated hitter.

The prediction here is that the Rays are the most likely landing spot for Howard.

Current Article: Storyline: Rumor Has It, Phillies Faithful

The Numerical Bible:

Other than David Ortiz, Chris Carter and Victor Martinez, the other DHs are not bombers. Toronto dealt Adam Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers, while Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko retired after the season. If you look over these roster spots from 2014, you’ll see potential partners for a swap or two.

Howard, 35: 153 Gms., 648 PA, a .223 Avg., a .310 OBP, a .288 BABIP, 23 HR, 95 RBI, a .156 ISOP, a -0.3 WAR, a 0.2 OWAR & a .690 OPS for $25 million.

Revere, 26.5: 151 Gms., 626 PA, a .306 Avg., a .318 OBP, a .311 BABIP, two HR, 28 RBI, a .055 ISOP, a 2.0 WAR, a 2.8 OWAR & a .686 OPS for $1.95 million.

AL East DHs:

Ortiz, 39: 142 Gms., 602 PA, a .263 Avg., a .355 OBP, a .256 BABIP, 35 HR, 104 RBI, a .255 ISOP, a 2.4 WAR, a 2.8 OWAR & an .873 OPS for the Boston Red Sox at $11 million ($13 million AAV).

Cruz, 34: 159 Gms., 678 PA, a.271 Avg., a .333 OBP, a .288 BABIP, 40 HR, 108 RBI, a .254 ISOP, a 3.9 WAR, a 4.2 OWAR & an .859 OPS for Baltimore at $8 million.

Carlos Beltran , 37.5: 109 Gms., 449 PA, a .233 Avg., a .339 OBP, a .301 BABIP, 15 HR, 49 RBI, a .169 ISOP, a -0.5 WAR, a 0.3 OWAR & a .702 OPS for the New York Yankees at $15 million.

, 37.5: 109 Gms., 449 PA, a .233 Avg., a .339 OBP, a .301 BABIP, 15 HR, 49 RBI, a .169 ISOP, a -0.5 WAR, a 0.3 OWAR & a .702 OPS for the New York Yankees at $15 million. Lind, 31: 96 Gms., 318 PA, a .321 Avg., a .381 OBP, a .369 BABIP, six HR, 40 RBI, a .159 ISOP, a 1.6 WAR, a 2.2 OWAR & an .860 OPS for Toronto at $7 million.

David DeJesus, 35: 83 Gms., 273 PA, a .248 Avg., a .344 OBP, a .289 BABIP, six HR, 19 RBI, a .155 ISOP, a 0.3 WAR, a 0.8 OWAR & a .748 OPS for Tampa Bay at $4.25 million.

AL Central DHs:

Martinez, 36: 151 Gms., 641 PA, a .335 Avg., a .409 OBP, a .316 BABIP, 32 HR, 103 RBI, a .230 ISOP, a 4.4 WAR, a 5.6 OWAR & a .974 OPS for the Detroit Tigers at $12 million.

Butler, 28.5: 151 Gms., 603 PA, a .271 Avg., a .323 OBP, a .310 BABIP, nine HR, 66 RBI, a .107 ISOP, a -0.3 WAR, a -0.2 OWAR & a .703 OPS for Kansas City at $8 million.

Kennys Vargas , 24: 53 Gms., 234 PA, a.274 Avg., a .316 OBP, a .340 BABIP, nine HR, 38 RBI, a .181 ISOP, a 0.4 WAR, a 0.7 OWAR & a .772 OPS for the Minnesota Twins at $.5 million.

, 24: 53 Gms., 234 PA, a.274 Avg., a .316 OBP, a .340 BABIP, nine HR, 38 RBI, a .181 ISOP, a 0.4 WAR, a 0.7 OWAR & a .772 OPS for the Minnesota Twins at $.5 million. Konerko , 38.5: 81 Gms., 224 PA, a.207 Avg., a .254 OBP, a .247 BABIP, five HR, 22 RBI, a .111 ISOP, a -1.2 WAR, a -1.1 OWAR & a .572 OPS for Chicago at $2.5 million.

, 38.5: 81 Gms., 224 PA, a.207 Avg., a .254 OBP, a .247 BABIP, five HR, 22 RBI, a .111 ISOP, a -1.2 WAR, a -1.1 OWAR & a .572 OPS for Chicago at $2.5 million. Ryan Raburn, 33.5: 74 Gms., 212 PA, a .232 Avg., a .250 OBP, a .245 BABIP, four HR, 22 RBI, a .097 ISOP, a -1.1 WAR, a -1.2 OWAR & a .547 OPS for Cleveland at $2.25 million.

AL West DHs:

Carter, 28: 145 Gms., 572 PA, a .227 Avg., a .308 OBP, a .267 BABIP, 37 HR, 88 RBI, a .264 ISOP, a 1.7 WAR, a 1.8 OWAR & a .799 OPS for the Houston Astros at $.51 million.

Morales, 31: 98 Gms., 401 PA, a.218 Avg., a .274 OBP, a .244 BABIP, eight HR, 42 RBI, a .120 ISOP, a -1.7 WAR, a -0.3 OWAR & a .612 OPS for Seattle at $14 million (prorated to $7 million for half a season).

Dunn , 35: 131 Gms., 511 PA, a .219 Avg., a .337 OBP, a .286 BABIP, 22 HR, 64 RBI, a .196 ISOP, a 0.0 WAR, a 0.7 OWAR & a .752 OPS for Oakland at $15 million.

, 35: 131 Gms., 511 PA, a .219 Avg., a .337 OBP, a .286 BABIP, 22 HR, 64 RBI, a .196 ISOP, a 0.0 WAR, a 0.7 OWAR & a .752 OPS for Oakland at $15 million. C.J. Cron , 25: 79 Gms., 253 PA, a .256 Avg., a .289 OBP, a .300 BABIP, 11 HR, 37 RBI, a .194 ISOP, a 0.0 WAR, a 0.2 OWAR & a .739 OPS for Los Angeles at $.5 million.

, 25: 79 Gms., 253 PA, a .256 Avg., a .289 OBP, a .300 BABIP, 11 HR, 37 RBI, a .194 ISOP, a 0.0 WAR, a 0.2 OWAR & a .739 OPS for Los Angeles at $.5 million. Moreland, 29: 52 Gms., 184 PA, a .246 Avg., a .297 OBP, a .315 BABIP, two HR, 23 RBI, a .102 ISOP, a -0.5 WAR, a -0.3 OWAR & a .644 OPS for Texas at $2.65 million.

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