MLB Trade Rumors: Phillies Interested in Yankees Ramiro Pena

The Philadelphia Phillies need an infielder is a bad way.  Not only have they lost starters, but even their reserves have gone down.  The club has said it is willing to look outside the organization in order to increase its infield depth, and George A. King III of the New York Post is reporting that the Phillies are interested in New York Yankees utility player Ramiro Pena.

Since it became clear that second baseman Chase Utley was likely to begin the season on the Phillies disabled list, Philadelphia has been linked to several available infielders.  The Phillies initially said they were prepared to start the season with rookie Freddy Galvis manning second base.  However, with Michael Martinez’s broken foot and third baseman Placido Polanco’s lingering injury, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. came out and said that he’s inclined to acquire an infielder from outside the organization.

It’s been speculated that players such as Jason Bartlett, Orlando Hudson, Mike Aviles, Chris Getz, Alberto Callaspo and Maicer Izturis have been on the Phillies radar.  However, Philadelphia is reportedly no longer as ready to deal starting pitching as injuries and ineffectiveness have cut into their depth.  The Phillies are also not interested in taking on significant contracts.

This has led some to believe the Phillies will target a reserve player rather than a starter this spring and go with Galvis at second.  Pena would fit the description of flexible utility man, a role he’s held with the Yankees over the past three years.

During his time in New York, Pena has manned second base, shortstop and the hot corner.  Most of Pena’s appearances have come at third and short as he’s been used to spell veteran players Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.  Pena doesn’t figure to offer much at the plate, as his career major (.554) and minor (.649) league OPS’s would indicate.

For more on the Phillies and Yankees, be sure to check out That Balls Outta Here and Yanks Go Yard.

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