Friday nightor maybe early Saturday morningthe World Series will end and the next phase of the never-ending baseball calendar will be upon us.
Dozens of players will automatically become free agents after the World Series and they will officially hit the open market five days later when the open signing period begins. For the first five days, teams retain exclusive negotiatingsigning rights with their own free agents.
The Phillies have a handful of free agents, led by shortstop Jimmy Rollins and closer Ryan Madson. The Phils would like to re-sign both players and have been in contact with their representatives. Though both players have expressed a willingness to return to the teamRollins has been more explicit than Madson in expressing his desire to stayit is expected that both will hit the open market to gauge their worth.
The free-agent market will have some big names on it. Sluggers Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder will be out there. In addition to Madson, closers Heath Bell, Joe Nathan and Jonathan Papelbon will be out there. The shortstop market features Jose Reyes and Rollins. Rollins has publicly said hed like a five-year deal. The Phillies, sources say, are reluctant to go that many years. Rollins could end up waiting to see how the market for Reyes shapes up before signing.
Freddy Galvis update
Shortstop Freddy Galvis has resumed playing in the Venezuelan winter league after missing a week after having a procedure to drain a ganglion cyst in his wrist.
Hes fine, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. Jimmy Rollins had the same thing last winter. Its not a big deal.
MLB
Amaro said Galvis, who turns 22 next month, may only play until about Dec. 1.
Thats been the plan all along, he said. Its not etched in stone. It may change. Were still discussing if he might play longer. But thats what he did last year and it worked well. It gives him some time to get into his off-season conditioning. Hes still a young kid whos getting stronger.
Galvis, who could get a look in spring training if Rollins signs elsewhere, was just 3 for 17 in his first six games for Zulia in Venezuela.
Hes doing fine, Amaro said. We havent kept super-close tabs on him. Were just letting him play. Manny Trillo is one of his coaches so we can get feedback from him. We may send a scout to see him at some point. But hes doing fine.
Amaro said second baseman Harold Garcia, who blew out his knee at Double A Reading in April and missed the remainder of season, was almost ready to begin playing for Zulia. Garcia is on the Phillies 40-man roster.
Minor matters
With Double A manager Mark Parent leaving the organization to become bench coach for the Chicago White Sox, the Phillies will have to move some managers around in their minor league system. The work could be more extensive if Triple A manager Ryne Sandberg gets a big-league job. As of early Friday, no team had asked permission to speak with Sandberg, but its early in the off-season and that is expected to change.
When the dust settles, Mickey Morandini, who managed at short-season Williamsport in 2011, will likely move up to a full-season club, either Lakewood or Clearwater. Andy Tracy has been hired by the club and will manage somewhere in the system in 2012. The former big-league first baseman appeared briefly for the Phils in 2008 and 2009.
Ross Gload update
Pinch hitter Ross Gload has decided against having surgery on his ailing hip because it could be risky. The free agent will treat the injury with other methods. Amaro said the Phillies were still assessing Gloads future with the club.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com