Old news, and Phillies denied it was true. Of course they also claim they're trying to compete.

Ryan Howard benching is a good sign...

Bastardo ruining his trade value

In after Bastardo ruining his trade value round 2

This came out about two months ago.

Is it possible that Byrd is the only player moved? How isn't RAJ collecting unemployment yet? They need to fire him now and begin the search. That way come seasons end the search is complete and a list of possible replacements is already created. They might be doing this now behind the scenes but I have serious doubts.

It is absolutely ridiculous that RAJ still has a job. I remember someone earlier in the season saying ITT that they wanted no major injuries/excuses so that management has to own the fact that the $175m baseball team they put together is just not nearly good enough. Well, that's more or less what happened. Cliff has been hurt for a bit, but every team is going to have a couple injuries, definitely not barring a team with an average age > 30. There's really nowhere to turn this year to excuse the incompetence.

And yeah, I think it's definitely possible we only make 1-2 trades at the deadline. I think the organization said they'll hear offers for anybody, but I'm guessing they want to keep Hamels and Utley, barring an offer they can't refuse. Other than that:

Byrd - <-- Trade this guy. Seems like there should be plenty of suitors, only signed for 1 more year with a vesting option for another. On pace for career high HRs (he's a lock to be on the juice, right?). Not to mention that he's 36 and has no chance of being part of the future here.

Bastardo - Raising his ERA a full point in the last 2 games definitely didn't help, but hopefully teams will remember that those were his first ERs in July (and also forget the rest of the year).

Burnett - Had a great outing last time, one more before the deadline I think? Only team I've heard in rumors is the Pirates.

Rollins - Worth every penny of $11m this year. Would he waive his NTC to go out west?

Howard - Even with the Phillies picking up most of the ~$70m we still owe him, we'd still have to find a team who wants a 34yo 1B with a negative WAR.

Papelbon - Despite a solid year, haven't heard anything to suggest that teams are serious about him. If we can find someone & pick up some money, then great, because it looks like Gilles may be the real deal anyways.

Lee - Can't imagine these last couple starts have helped him much. Giving up a lot of hits, and hasn't been getting batters to swing and miss much. He did show some improvement, so there's that? Also, he'll clear waivers so the deadline isn't as important. Still seems like a December trade is more likely.

Try 2011.

The "admin error" happened in 2011 but it was first reported two months ago... The link you posted three days ago was from the beginning of June.

Dear god, help us all.

Rumors circulating that the Dodgers are interested in Hamels... I would insta-move him for Joc Pederson and another top prospect if possible.

Don't move Hamels.

Rumor has it RAJ may not be making ANY deals. As in 0. Apparently he's waited too long to move guys like Papelbon and Burnett. The teams that wanted them have already filled most of their needs and these guys contracts scare the **** out of people.

The other rumor I'm hearing is that RAJ will be back next season.

Would be surprised if Bastardo doesn't go. Would not be surprised if he's the only one, for now.

LOL

So they did nothing?!?! Lol indeed

"Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon says GM Ruben Amaro told him a few days ago that the Phillies will continue to compete next few years".

Guess it's hard to tell whether we should be LOL'ing because they didn't make any trades or because they built such an untradable group of overpaid oldheads. Probably both. Either way

LOL

can't wait until they fire RAJ and then promote Ed Wade to GM again

Lol because he thinks they will compete in coming years, or lol because "continuing" implies that they currently are?

When is enough gonna be enough with this clown amaro?

Cliff Lee looks like he just blew out his elbow

This day is so Phillea

lol

Come Sunday the Phillies might only be 8.5 games out... LOLOLOLOLOLOL

So your saying not getting anything done because you are asking for too much for ****ty players on ****ty contracts that you signed them to, but you can't really scout anyway makes you a bad GM?

Oh, now you have doubled down by not owning how ****ty your team has been this year and think you can compete with a team that has been terrible while being pretty much healthy for the first time in 4 years.

The good news here is that these contracts are so bad everybody should be able to clear waivers.