Deals Made Under Duress?

I think someone needs to call the police. There is a hostage situation that needs to be reported. Someone needs to head out to the Main Line and check on the homes of the Phils' owners because I think they may have been kidnapped. How else can you explain their actions of late?

First, they gave Brade Lidge an extension, when they normally would have just let the guy leave town. Then, they make a 2 year $20M offer to Pat Burrell. I thought they'd just let him leave for nothing. However, last night's move takes the cake. I almost fell over when I read this report from Ken Rosenthal on Fox Sports.com:

The Phillies were working multiple fronts before acquiring right-hander Joe Blanton from the A's. Among the possibilities that reached a standstill: A blockbuster for Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday and closer Brian Fuentes.

The talks probably will not revive, major-league sources said, even though the teams continue to scout each other and the Phillies used different players to obtain Blanton than they would need for Holliday and Fuentes.

Rival executives say that the Rockies are asking high for both, and that a deal for Holliday, in particular, is unlikely. But a combined package would make sense for several clubs — notably the Dodgers, who just lost closer Takashi Saito.

For Holliday and Fuentes, the Phillies probably would need to part with a package of Shane Victorino, left-hander J.A. Happ, Class AA right-hander Carlos Carrasco and Class AA catcher Lou Marson. Another of their better prospects, Class AA righty Antonio Bastardo, has a slight tear in his labrum.

Holliday would play right field, with Jayson Werth taking over full-time in center, then return to left next season if Pat Burrell departed as a free agent. After that, Holliday, too, would become a free agent.

The Phillies would prefer not to move Marson, who looms as the eventual replacement for the disappointing Carlos Ruiz. Payroll also would be an issue; Holliday and Fuentes are owed almost $6 million combined for the rest of the season, Victorino only about $190,000. The addition of Blanton already has added about $1.5 million.

I am flabbergasted. What has come over the Phils' ownership group? As detailed brilliantly in this Philadlephia Magazine article, they are notoriously cheap and don't care a whole lot about winning. They are more concerned with not stirring the pot and keeping a low profile. The only thing I can think of with this sudden change of philosophy is that some deranged phan has taken the owners hostage and is placing undue influence upon them to make these decisions. Either that or one of the owners, probably billionaire cigar magnate John Middleton, is pressing the issue and wants to see the Phils really make a push for a championship.

Can you imagine a lineup that goes J Roll, Chase, Holliday, the Big Man, Pat Burrell? Christ, I think Brett Myers can even be a successful Major League starter with the run support he'd get. Adding Fuentes to the 'pen would further solidify one of the better groups in the National League. I really hope the Phils come back to this move and do what they have to do to sweeten the deal. We need this to happen. The 25 year curse would finally come to an end!

The more I think about this, it makes even less sense to me. What is the motivation on either side of this deal. Oh well, I'm just going to roll with it and see what happens. I think we can all admit that it is fantastic to know that the Phils are even considering this move.