Phillies get another bullpen reinforcement in Jones

By John Manuel
July 30, 2004

Looking to bolster their bullpen, the Phillies didn't stop after acquiring Felix Rodriguez from the Giants. They added another veteran on Friday, getting Todd Jones and high Class A outfielder Brad Correll from the Reds for righthander Josh Hancock and Triple-A shortstop Anderson Machado.

An all-star in 2000 who got knocked around while toiling for four clubs over the next three seasons, Jones has had a revival in 2004. The 36-year-old righthander is tied for the major league lead with eight relief wins and ranks third in the National League with 22 holds. His fastball is registering in the low 90s, and he complements it with a splitter. He was 8-2, 3.79 with one save in 51 appearances for the Reds, with a 37-25 strikeout-walk ratio, .243 opponent average and four homers allowed in 57 innings. Jones has 185 career saves to go with a 47-44, 4.04 mark in 717 games.

Hancock, 26, had just been called up by the Phillies three days before the trade. The Red Sox drafted him in the fifth round out of Auburn in 1998, and traded him to Philadelphia for Jeremy Giambi in December 2002. Hancock has good command of three pitches: a fastball that can reach the low 90s, a curveball and a changeup. He has gone 0-2, 6.05 in nine big league games (three starts) over the last three seasons. He had spent most of 2004 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barres, where he had gong 8-7, 4.01 in 18 starts. He had a 65-21 K-BB ratio in 108 innings, with opponents batting .263 with 10 homers. He should get a chance to crack the always-changing Reds rotation, and he profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Machado, 23, signed out of Venezuela in 1998. He has been one of the Phillies' better infield prospects since 2000, when he was one of the high Class A Florida State League's youngest everyday players and finished the season in the Double-A Eastern League playoffs. But he just hasn't hit enough, even with good patience that resulted in a minor league-high 108 walks in 2003. He missed all of April this year following an appendectomy in March, and has batted just .229/.339/.365 with six homers, 26 RBIs and 11 steals (in 17 attempts) in 77 games at Scranton. His career numbers aren't any better: .230/.337/.339 with 33 homers, 241 RBIs and 172 steals in 698 contests. There are no problems with his defense, as Machado stands out with his smooth actions, plus arm and excellent range and instincts.

Correll, 23, was drafted in the 29th round in 2002 out of Limestone (S.C.), an NCAA Division II program. He has provided decent production in the lower minors but doesn't project to offer enough to play in the big leagues as a left fielder. He signed as a third baseman before moving to the outfield in 2003. He was hitting .285/.357/.407 with nine homers and 63 RBIS in 101 games at high Class A Potomac. For his career, he has batted .278/.343/.425 with 29 homers, 187 RBIs and 25 steals in 300 games.