Trading Rowand is not the answer

By Michael Rushton
Phanatic Magazine

Every now and then, an argument will break out amongst The Phanatic staff. Sometimes it is over which type of pizza or beer (or both) to get. Sometimes it is Eagles versus Steelers. Sometimes it is PA against NJ.

Sometimes these arguments morph from these very pages. So, allow me to respectfully disagree with my friend and colleague, Tim McManus.

Trading Aaron Rowand is not the answer. In fact, trading Rowand may in turn doom the remainder of the season.

Trading the center fielder may net you a number two starter -- which is what Mark Buehrle is. And given the state of the Phillies rotation, Buehrle would look very good in a Phillies uniform.

But if you make that trade, in one form or the other, you are making it to win this season. And you can't do that without Rowand.

Say the Phillies pull the trigger on a deal that sends Rowand out of town for pitching help, and by some chance they make the postseason. Where is the playoff experience to help guide the club to the promise land? Remember, Rowand has a World Series ring and plays every day, hence, he can lead by example throughout a whole series.

Who else on the roster can do that? Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins are good players, but are raw when it comes to the postseason. They have never been in the trenches of the playoffs.

Rowand is the type of player that wins championships. Rowand-type ballers are the reason the Spurs (see Tony Parker), Ducks (see Scott Niedermayer) and Cardinals (see David Eckstein) won titles.

Rowand is a pending free agent you say? That's easy. Sign him to an extension now and take that equation right out of play. Rowand's numbers and heart have already earned him an extension. The Phillies shouldn't be ready to hand Michael Bourn the starting duties yet. Feel Rowand out on a two-year deal with a player option.

After all, the White Sox thought they could deal Rowand and throw then-rookie Brian Anderson, who, by the way, is not on their active roster at this time.

Not trading Rowand may hurt Philadelphia's chances to compete this year, but a rash of injuries and continued underachievement (Pat Burrell and Pat Gillick's bullpen) has already done that. Holding onto Rowand -- and seriously addressing the bullpen this offseason -- will go a long way in keeping them competitive for a few more years.

Without Rowand, the Phils season will just crash face-first into the fence.