Phillies: Trading with a division rival

If the Phillies find a particular team to do business with, what will the cost and the risk be for general manager Matt Klentak to consider, and will it be an opportunity worth taking?

Rolling the dice:

While the Philadelphia Phillies seek rotation arms, a hated foe is willing to move one or two for a second baseman or a reliever. However, these talented hurlers have injury-plagued histories, and one’s character is questionable.

IN OTHER WORDS: “Be cautious of bears at all times, even when being mauled by a tiger.” – Craig Benzine

Acquiring a dependable starter for Cesar Hernandez is a long shot for the front office this winter. But the New York Mets need a second sacker and have three possible candidates the red pinstripes might have a mild interest.

On the other end of the bargaining table, the Metropolitans have right-handers Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler plus southpaw Steven Matz. But all three are no strangers to the disabled list, while Harvey has a reputation for partying.

If Klentak envisions one returning to form, can he chance to lose Hernandez? And would the Phillies be better off if Tommy Joseph goes to New York instead?

Moving pieces within a division isn’t a GM’s popular decision because it can come back to haunt him. Additionally, is there any club you like your gang of Phillies beating more than the Mets?

General manager Sandy Alderson of the Metropolitans prefers only making trades he can win. In fact, he victoriously picked up Noah Syndergaard from the Toronto Blue Jays and Wheeler from the San Francisco Giants.

Both were excellent deals for Alderson before Wheeler’s arm problems. But keep in mind, other organizations are desperate for pitching, and Alderson’s strategy may indeed work to his benefit again.

Including Alderson, no executive has a perfect track record, and New York has other needs. So, even a platoon player might be of interest to our northern neighbors.

One question: Do you hate their team, their fans or both?

ONLY YOU: “Listen up, because I’ve got nothing to say and I’m only gonna to say it once.” – Yogi Berra

Three gambles:

While Alderson should be selling low on Matz due to his health and 2017’s numbers, he will probably take advantage of the pitching market.

Or try to. But his stumbling block will be that Matz hasn’t proven he’s healthy since Aug. 17 or for an entire 162.

Last year, the portsider was active from June 10 to Aug. 17. He had opened the campaign with an irritated left elbow. And he ended it with an irritated nerve in his left elbow.

In 2016, this problem surfaced after his outing on Aug. 14 due to left shoulder tightness. As for 2015, he missed two months because of a partial tear of a left side lat muscle.

If Matz can produce as he did in ’16, he’d be a two-slot starter and a bounce-back candidate with a 93- 94-mph sinker. For instance, his last performance for 2016 was “7 1/3 scoreless one-hit” innings.

Matz, 26.5:

• 2017: 13 Gms., 66 2/3 Inn., 2-7 and a 6.08 ERA.
• 2016: 22 Gms., 132 1 /3 Inn., 9-8 and a 3.40 ERA.
• 2015: 6 Gms., 35 2/3 Inn., 4-0 and a 2.27 ERA.

Spending two seasons on the disabled list due to Tommy John surgery, Wheeler finally was healthy enough for three months in ’17. Like Matz, he must prove he’s ready after finishing last summer on the DL with a stress reaction in his right arm.

When he stayed on the diamond, Wheeler was a decent mid-rotation arm, but the last three campaigns haven’t worked out that way. But although he’s a long shot, he still has a 94- 95-mph four-seamer.

Wheeler, 27.5:

• 2017: 17 Gms., 86 1/3 Inn., 3-7, and a 5.21 ERA.
• 2014: 32 Gms., 185 1 /3 Inn., 11-11 and a 3.54 ERA.
• 2013: 17 Gms., 100 Inn., 7-5 and a 3.42 ERA.

During the last two years, Harvey hasn’t been dependable, but he still has a 94-mph four-seam fastball. Basically, he was on the disabled list for half of ’17 (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) and ’16 (a stress injury to the scapula bone in his right shoulder). A change-of-scenery candidate?

Harvey, 28.5:

• 2017: 19 Gms., 18 Starts, 92 2/3 Inn., 5-7 and a 6.70 ERA.
• 2016: 17 Gms., 92 2/3 Inn., 4-10 and a 4.86 ERA.
• 2015: 29 Gms., 189 1 /3 Inn., 13-8 and a 2.71 ERA.
• 2013: 26 Gms., 178 1/3 Inn., 9-5 and a 2.27 ERA.

Risky business:

On another baseball site, comments about moving Harvey went from he’ll be a stud for another club to he doesn’t want to be a Met. Of course, the talk revolved around a swap of the right-hander for second baseman Jurickson Profar from the Texas Rangers. A has-been for a never-was.

Although both were highly touted prospects, they have injury-riddled histories. However, those fans posted with their hearts or with their heads. Some blamed cheap ownership, while another begged Alderson not to be stupid.

BEARS REPEATING: (Phillies vs. Mets on April 2 in NYC) “The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.” – Mark Twain

After some locals switched from viewing Hernandez as a reserve to receiving a decent starter for him, they pointed to his running game–or lack thereof–as this winter’s reason to deal him. In other words, the second sacker who wasn’t going to be a regular will forever be a liability on the bases.

Like anyone on the skill-required job, ability plus experience equals better results, and the Phillies won’t trade the top second baseman on the market to take a flier on a hard-throwing possibility. In fact, even Joseph for one of these flamethrowers is too much to give up.

Last August, National League opponents saw first sacker Dominic Smith, but the left-handed hitter struggled during his 183 plate appearances.

He batted .198 in 49 games with nine homers and 26 RBIs. That stated, Alderson recently had a harsh conversation with Smith.

While Joseph could platoon with Smith in New York, they do have Wilmer Flores as a fallback. Yes, a multi-player deal is possible but not probable.

What is the one thing we don’t want in any trade with the Mets? Making them better!