Grand Imperial Poobah: What If Amaro Stays Quiet?

By Stan "The Grand Imperial Poobah" Hochman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- (Editor's Note) Stan Hochman, a Daily News sports columnist for 55 years, has been appearing on 94WIP's morning show for over a year now, settling disputes (and starting new ones) as the "Grand Imperial Poobah." He brings that persona to CBSPhilly.com/poobah on Tuesdays and Thursdays and we welcome input on which issues you want the Poobah to take a good, hard look at. Send requests and ideas for The Poobah to WIPpoobah@gmail.com. 

Without further ado, here's The Poobah.

Phil E. Phan: If the Phillies don't do anything significant before today's trade deadline, what does this tell us about Ruben Amaro Jr.'s skills as a general manager?

Poobah: With less than 24 hours remaining before the trade deadline, Amaro was still sitting on his hands, and his hands were tied. He was shackled by all those too generous contracts he handed out to too many players, no-trade clauses, options that kick in with easily attainable incentives, etc.

The media hounds him about other teams making deals for outfielders, for pitchers, for closers and he says, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Well, ugliness is in the eye of the beholder too, and few teams want to take on big, clumsy contracts for older players with diminishing skills. It was Amaro who gave those players those big, clumsy contracts.

If he manages to pull off a trade, it might involve Marlon Byrd, an outfielder with some pop, but Byrd will want an added year before he goes to a team on his "banned" list. He might be able to swap reliever Antonio Bastardo, who can be very, very good or very, very bad on any given appearance. A.J. Burnett sounds like a guy planning to retire at the end of the year. Cliff Lee hasn't shown enough coming off his stint on the disabled list to warrant major interest. And if he trades Cole Hamels for three Dodger prospects he might as well clean out his office and start checking the "help wanted" ads.

Listen: The Poobah on the 94WIP Morning Show on Thursday, July 31st

You can hear Stan "The Grand Imperial Poobah" Hochman on the 94WIP Morning Show every Thursday at 7:20am E.T. Send the Philadelphia sports issues you want The Poobah to tackle to WIPpoobah@gmail.com

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