Philadelphia Phillies

Losses: P Cliff Lee, 3B Pedro Feliz, P Pedro Martinez, C Paul Bako, P Brett Myers, P Chan Ho Park, P Scott Eyre, IF Eric Bruntlett

Gains: IF Placido Polanco, P Roy Halladay, C Brian Schneider, P Danys Baez, IF Juan Castro

Analysis: At first glance, other than the one pitching swap, it doesn't look like the Phillies lost much of anything. Myers and Martinez were only used for parts of the season, although they both had their moments. Placido Polanco is already comfortable in a Phillies uniform, though we'll have to see how he transitions to 3rd. Paul Bako and Brian Schneider are interchangeable in my book, as are Bruntlett/Castro (though they might lose some triple-plays), and in the bullpen, they already seemed to have the replacements lined up for the most part. The only potential problems I could foresee: One has more to do with Brad Lidge's surgery than it does with the players they lost. Though it'd be nice to have Chan Ho Park in the pen when Ryan Madson is closing, I'm sure the Phillies are more than capable of filling the spot. Also, without Eyre they are down to one lefty in the pen. But when Madson is in the 8th, he's a great cross-over guy; Baez has been in the past as well. So all-in-all, they upgrade with Halladay over Lee, come out about even with Polanco/Feliz (Feliz played GREAT defense at 3rd, but Polanco will provide OBP that Feliz didn't), Schneider/Bako, Castro/Bruntlett. Martinez and Myers had to go as there is already a glut of SPs and Chan Ho Park is certainly replaceable. Have to give the Phillies a +.

More moves: I would imagine they are done. If there is a cheap bullpen arm out there to fill the spot that I outlined, maybe they'll jump, but I doubt it.

2010 Thoughts: Well you are looking at a team that won the World Series in 2008, made it back there in 2009 and added Roy Halladay. They are a cut above the rest of the teams in their division and in the entire National League, save maybe the Cardinals. I am a fan of Placido Polanco, but I question his place in the order. He's a great 2 hitter, but I don't see them moving Shane Victorino out of that spot. This will probably leave Polanco to hit 8th behind Carlos Ruiz, and I'm not sure that they're better off without Feliz in that case. That being said, the line-up will still be great. Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Ruiz, Polanco, Pitcher's Spot. I don't know anyone that is going to want to deal with that kind of line-up. If Polanco and Ibanez start to show age then they will only be a pretty awesome bunch. The pitching staff is very solid if not spectacular. The X-factor here is the return of Cole Hamels. Now, I know he pitched last year, but they want COLE HAMELS, the one that led them to a WS in 2008 and snarkily referred to his division rival as "choke-artists" (as someone who listened to that interview, he really didn't do anything, the hosts were begging him to say it. They gave him all the words.) If Hamels is back to form as a 1-2 punch with Halladay, then there isn't much the rest of the league can do. Happ is a solid starter in the making. I think he'll be the 3rd in the rotation, and Blanton/Moyer will be sufficient at 4-5 with this offense. The pen, like I mentioned, is right-hand heavy, but Romero has been great against lefties in the past (and the division has lost some of its left-handedness this off-season). The rest of the arms are solid. It will be up to the Madson-Lidge (when healed) to return to form as the 8-9 MasterLock.

Prediction: 1st place in the NL East without too much competition. They should take on the Cardinals in the NLCS and we'll see if Cardinal pitching can take down the defending Pennant Champs.

-APT