Nov 20 2008
Couple of Moves Made Today
The Phillies made a couple of minor, yet somewhat significant moves on Thursday.
They purchased the contracts of right handed pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Drew Naylor, catcher Joel Naughton and left handed pitcher Sergio Escalona from their Minor League affiliates.
All four players were added to the team’s 40-man roster. This is more than likely in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft, which takes place at the Winter Meetings in December.
The other move of the day was a trade of two former first round picks. The Phillies sent outfielder Greg Golson to the Texas Rangers for outfielder John Mayberry Jr.
Golson was chosen by the Phillies in the first round of the 2004 draft while Mayberry was taken by Texas in the first round of the 2005 draft.
Golson hit .282 at Double-A Reading in 2008 with 13 homeruns and 23 stolen bases. He was a September callup to the Phillies and went 0 for 6 at the plate. He was part of the Phillies World Series celebration after winning the title in October.
Mayberry hit .264 with 20 homeruns and 71 RBIs between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma.
Phillies GM called the trade a swap of power and speed. Mayberry can also play first base. He brings pop to the corner outfield positions. He was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster following the trade.
Golson was expendable with the quick development of Dominic Brown, D’Arby Myers and Michael Taylor, who are all spending time in the lower ranks of the Phillies organization but should climb the ladder in 2009.
Mayberry is more advanced out of the group. He spent the majority of the 2008 season at Triple-A while Golson spent his entire 2008 season in Double-A ball.
Golson was the Phillies first pick in the first round of the 2004 draft. That draft also produced J.A. Happ, Lou Marson, Jason Jaramillo and Joe Bisenius. All of those names could make an impact with the big club in 2009 or 2010.
Happ already has while Bisenius had a cup of coffee in 2007 and was called up in 2008 but did not pitch in a game. Marson hit his first career homerun on the final day of the 2008 regular season against the Nationals and Jaramillo has yet to make his Major League debut.
