It has to take a mental toll on a guy when his team is constantly trying to trade him away but never does.  Like a boss who makes you miserable so you’ll leave but with no real options, you end up staying.  Not the most friendly atmosphere for him to play in, that’s for sure.  So his improvement this past year, to start to live up to his initial promise, is a bit of an enigma.  Will he continue it in 2008?  Can he start to be the player people expect him to be despite the lack of belief in him from management?

2007 stats:

472 at bats, .256 batting average, 121 hits, 77 runs, 97 RBIs, and 0 stolen  bases.

(though he does have an On Base Percentage of .400, which isn’t too horrid as he did have 114 walks with 120 strikeouts)

career stats:

3999 at bats, .258 batting average, 1032 hits, 581 runs, 741 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases over a career that started in 2000 with the Phillies.

2007 is his best year for walks and strikeouts,  thus his OBP got much better.  Still, I would consider him on the lower tier of outfielders.  he’s never been outstanding at any category in particular but perhaps he can pull it up next year.  we’ll see!

What would he be thinking if he accepts the offer from Phillie?  To get out from under the spectre of having used performance enhancing drugs?  I don’t think the fans in Phillie will embrace this guy and he would be there on a platoon basis, filling in for Burrell in left occasionally and splitting right field duties with Jason Werth. (why oh why, did the Phillies trade away Michael Bourn???  don’t get me started on that one…)

Perhaps because of the suspension looming he’ll take the platoon spot just to be on a team.  Though there is also the Padres who are looking at acquiring him.  Though he’d platoon in left field with Scott Hairston if he does that.  So he’s a platoon guy no matter what!

Say it isn’t so! I made the mistake of having Mike Cameron on my non-keeper $$ league last year and it was just bad news. He just didn’t do much! Replace Rowand with what??? Lose him to the Giants? sigh. It seems crazy to me…  Does he have any clue what a pathetic team that is for 2008?

Rowand, 2007:

612 at bats, .309 batting average, 189 hits, 105 runs, 89 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases

Cameron, 2007:

571 at bats, .242 batting average, 138 hits, 88 runs, 78 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases

gee, who would you choose for your fantasy team?  hmmm.  that’s a tough one.  NOT.  Obviously Cameron wins it hands down in Phillie-land.  Sheesh.  I can only hope he gets better or at least can do something out there!  Assuming the Phillies manage to get him, though…

This 27 year old right handed pitcher has a career ERA of 4.34 with 773 strikeouts, 59 wins and 47 losses to his name.  He made his first career start as a Phillie in the majors on July 24, 2002.  He’s racked up those stats in the 4 years since as a Phillie only.

What is tricky is his role on the team for 2008.  In 2007 he tried out the closer role and did a fantastic job when he was “on.”  But with the team picking up Brad Lidge and with one more year on Tom Gordon’s contract, he will definitely be in the starting rotation again this year.  How will this impact his fantasy value?  Since he hasn’t pitched as a starter since April 2007–he became the Phillies closer May 4th while Tom Gordon was on the disabled list (DL).  He was the ace or second best pitcher on the staff in 2006 and Cole Hamels has moved up into the #1 spot on the team.

Could Myers be better this year?  Could he come back from his year on the closer circus and be a good starting pitcher again?  His stats aren’t fantastic but they’re good.   However I wouldn’t want to waste an early round pick on him.  He would be a great bargain in the 24th round, for example, as he will most likely be undrafted or underrated due to being injured and a closer in 2007.  His April was subpar so he wasn’t stellar before he became a closer, either.  As long as he stays healthy, he could be a definitely bargain as a starting pitcher.

But as we all know, it’s impossible to tell with pitchers!  Get an ace or two, hope for the best and rotate the rest of ‘em in and out.

For the Phillies, this means they can still try to make a deal with him up through the hearing in February.  Aaron Rowand is looking for a 5-year deal and hopefully the Phillies can give it to him!  He has been a great spark for the offense in the past two years and seems to fit in with the team well.  He appears interested in returning, though he is also generating interest from the Dodgers, Rangers, and possibly Yankees.  That would be interesting turn indeed if he went to the Yankees…