News Room: 11/03/08

Sorry, I went out to dinner tonight and I was not able to update until late.

Phillies Announce Amaro, JR as new GM.
As if we didn't see it coming, the Phillies announced that Ruben Amaro, Jr. is their new general manager. There is one surprise and maybe it is what Pat Gillick meant by, "We'll do it again next year." Gillick has decided to stay with the Phillies in an advisory role.

Amaro, Jr. will likely be suitable and some Phillies insiders felt that he was the one pulling the strings behind the many moves this year. Amaro, Jr. is definitely suitable and well-trained for the job. He's been an assistant GM since 1998 and he has been groomed by Ed Wade and Pat Gillick. The latter training will likely help him the most. Ed Wade and Mike Arbuckle did fairly well with the draft, but in terms of signing talent via free agency or making trades, he sort of fell off. Something Gillick was very good with, especially in August prior to the waiver trade deadline.

There is bad news. Mike Arbuckle who was responsible for heading the committee that drafted Rollins, Utley, Howard, Hamels, and etc will not be returning with the team. He told David Montgomery that he wanted to be the GM and that he will look for other opportunities.

The Flyers are talking to Brendan Shanahan
The Flyers are looking to add a forward who plays well in his own zone. They have inquired about winger, Brendan Shanahan. The Flyers will have to make a move to sign Shanahan because they are right up against the salary cap. I wouldn't expect it to happen, so don't get your hopes up.

Shanahan can still play and he'd likely only receive a contract for the rest of the season. He's 39 years old and he might accept less than $1 million, but I think the Flyers will be fine if they find a way for their forward to stop being pussies in the neutral zone.

Iverson is back in the Eastern Conference
The Sixers will get to see Allen Iverson multiple times this year because he was traded to the Pistons. In what looks to be a salary dump move for the Pistons next year, they traded all-star guard Chauncey Billups, reserve forward Antonio McDyess, and project Cheikh Samb.

To be honest, I'm not sure why Detroit made the trade, unless it was for the above mentioned reason. We'll see what happens.