Morosi: Hamilton, Soriano Are Fits for Phillies

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Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings are getting underway in Nashville, Tennessee, and you know what that means:
business is about to pick up. The Phillies are buyers, and there are plenty of
big names available. In fact, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports tied the club to a pair
of All Stars over the weekend.

In your requisite Josh Hamilton update, Morosi takes on
conventional wisdom and argues the aging, injury-prone slugger has a huge
payday coming
despite various flaws. Just look at some of the free-agent
contracts some supposedly damaged goods have signed already this year and last,
and it’s not hard to envision Hamilton landing somewhere in the neighborhood of
$120 million over five years. And, yes, Morosi believes the 2010 AL MVP could
get that here.

Morosi thinks Hamilton fits big-market clubs such as the
Phillies, Yankees, and Red Sox, based on both need and budget. That’s not
exactly confirmation the 31-year-old lefthander could be one of Ruben Amaro Jr.’s
targets at the meetings, but it certainly limits Hamilton’s options if
accurate.

That’s not the only highly decorated outfielder Morosi
describes as a fit. Apparently the Chicago Cubs finally might be able to move
on from Alfonso Soriano,
their prized free-agent addition in 2007, according to
a blog entry. Now 36, Soriano last appeared in the mid-summer classic in ’08,
and at eight-years, $136 million, he has been a huge bust for the franchise.

Why would the Phillies have interest? Soriano only has two
years remaining on his contract, so while he’s getting up there in years, it’s
no long-term commitment. The right hander is still hitting for some power as
well with 32 bombs a season ago, and set a career high with 108 RBI. Take the
seven-time All Star away from the comical Cubs, drop him into a quality lineup,
and those numbers might be better still.

Soriano would have to waive a no-trade clause, but I’m sure
that won’t be a problem. No word on what it might cost to facilitate a swap, but it
sounds like the asking price could be high. While a compelling thought, with so
many options left on the market, it leads us to believe this avenue is
somewhat unlikely.

There are plenty of other moves out there to be made with a lot less less sizzle, but plenty of impact. That said, don't sleep on the blockbusters.

>> Don’t doubt. Hamilton to get huge deal [FOX]
>> Cubs will discuss Soriano; Phils a possible suitor
[FOX]

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