Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Despite the fact that the GM Meetings have been underway for a bit here in the early week, we haven’t heard too much in the way of tangible rumors. The only news to speak of was the fact that the Philadelphia Phillies signed Marlon Byrd to a two-year contract. Wouldn’t you know it, though, the second big piece of news also comes out of Philadelphia, and it came light in the night on Tuesday.
The Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays are apparently working on a deal that would send young outfielder Domonic Brown to Toronto in exchange for Jose Bautista. This information comes via Howard Eskin in Philadelphia:
#phillies GM Ruben Amaro deep in serious talks w #bluejays to acquire OF Jose Batista. Can also play 3rd. Phils would deal OF Dom Brown plus
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) November 13, 2013
It remains to be seen what other pieces could potentially be involved with such a deal, but if things do transpire as expected and Dom Brown is shipped out of town, it would end a tumultuous period in the young outfielder’s career. With the way things have gone in the City of Brotherly Love, he could benefit from a change of scenery. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Phillies would be making the right move from their perspective.
In fact, such a move would be even more proof that Ruben Amaro, Jr. needs to be looking for a new job as of yesterday. He’s made a mess of the Phillies, and this offseason will likely serve as a last ditch effort to save his job. Sending a young outfielder, with potentially huge upside, coming off of a breakout season, out of town in exchange for a 33-year-old outfielder who has had durability issues the past two years isn’t exactly screaming competency out of Philly’s general manager.
Stay tuned as more details continue to trickle out. It almost certainly won’t be a one-for-one swap, and more pieces could be going both ways.