MVN: Most Valuable Network

This series is predicated on educated guesses, past history of the team/general manager, rumors that have been out there for a while, and actions that I feel could be taken. This exercise is me playing GM to inspire conversation and a new way of approaching things. Moves that I complete as previous GMs of teams will carry over here. Trades only include principal, significant players.

World Champions!

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies for a well-deserved World Series title. Pat Gillick, a long-time general manager, got to ride off into retirement in style while Jimmy Rollins proved he could back up his words.

The club is relatively set and only has one outstanding issue: that of Pat Burrell. Burrell is highly likely to leave (and does, to the Braves, in this series) so the Phillies will look for a replacement. First things first:

Philadelphia Phillies resign SP Jamie Moyer.

Really, this should be a no-brainer. Yes, Moyer's second job is serving as Father Time, but he's still kicking it with the best out there and could be the best bargain in the National League in terms of dollars and years committed for just the 2009 season. It's a perfect role.

Philadelphia Phillies sign SS Alex Cintron.

One thing that tremendously worried me about this club was their staggering lack of depth in Triple-A, one that could really have hurt them had they been hit by the injury bug hard. (Really, TJ Bohm? Really?)

Cintron isn't an All-Star by any stretch of the imagination, but he'll help the depth question.

Philadelphia Phillies resign RPs Scott Eyre, Tom Gordon.

Eyre came over from the Chicago Cubs late in the year and ended up playing a pivotal role in their march to a World Series. He and the team should be very motivated to agree on a pact to have him return. Gordon, coming off a season-ending injury, is a low risk, high reward move that could lengthen their bullpen should he make a successful return.

Philadelphia Phillies sign LF Garret Anderson.

They're going to need an outfielder with Burrell leaving, and no other palatable options are out there to replace him capably by the time the other outfielders find new homes. Anderson is the best of the rest for the Phillies. Anderson certainly has a few more years left in him, but the Phillies will definitely miss Pat's bat. Some good that can come out of this is that the Phillies can restock their minor leagues by getting a compensatory pick for losing Burrell.

On paper, it does seem like the Phillies take a hit, as they essentially stand pat besides downgrading from Burrell to Anderson. However, the club can reasonably expect a better year from Ryan Howard and a full year of J.A. Happ. They'll be right in the thick of things next year.