Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Rumors: Phillies Shane Victorino Keeps Buzzing

Shane Victorino had the World Series on his mind back in April. A lot has changed since then for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Victorino’s name keeps being mentioned with the Pirates and it popped up again today in this report by Jim Salisbury.    We want you to note that Victorino is heating up lately, but more on that after we review where we came from on the Flyin’ Hawaiian.

Back on July 8, we wrote this about Victorino….

"Could Victorino just need out?  Was he pissed about his failure to get a contract done before the season?    Could he be the type of player who can turn it on in the second half, and land that four or five year deal he covets?Maybe.  But why couldn’t he just do that in Philly? Sorry, but it reminds us of a Derrek Lee situation.Are the poor numbers of this season simply a case of bad luck for the Flyin’ Hawaiian?  Some will point at his .260 BABIP and scream that fact to the hills.  But we look at his lowest line drive percentage ever, and hit the warning sirens.If you look closer, 2011 was his previous low water mark for hitting line drives, although he had a monstrous season.  We’re afraid a trend is coming.   His on-base percentage is also down 40 points from where he finished in 2011.Victorino is seeing fewer and fewer fastballs, so maybe jamming him into the Pittsburgh lineup would help force the pitch selection by the bad guys on the bump?  We’re not so sure.  Victorino’s slugging percentage has taken a dive.  It’s down from .491 to .373 this year.Perhaps Dan Fox and the gang sees something we don’t.Perhaps Clint Hurdle sees Victorino swinging at the more pitches outside the zone  than he has since 2006, and feels he can fix him.Perhaps Neal Huntington knows the cost will be so damn low it will be worth a shot in the dark.But when we look at it from a numbers standpoint, it’s hard to see the Pirates targeting Victorino.  There are simply too many warning signs screaming to the contrary.  Now, could it be a package deal with Cole Hamels in the mix?  We’re trying to sniff around and find out.  Something like that would make sense, we guess, but Victorino alone?There’s a reason the Phils are ready to unload Victorino, a player who was looking to get paid before the season.  There has to be a reason that deal never happened. serious"

In the past ten games, while Victorino hasn’t hit a long ball, he is hitting .361.  He has seven extra base hits this month, four doubles and three triples.  His on base is up to .312 and the slugging is .403 for the month.  But he hasn’t hit a bomb since June 8 against the Orioles.

Sorry, the Bucs aren’t gonna pay a lot for that muffler.  According to reports, the Phillies want relievers and among the teams in the mix the Phils have asked for:  Wade Davis from the Rays, Logan Ondrusek of the Reds, Josh Lindblom from L.A., and Brad Lincoln of the Bucs.

It’s not surprising teams have said, thanks, but no thanks.  The Victorino price tag can’t be much with his poor offensive numbers.

It’s hard to believe he is going to be a Philadelphia Phillies player much longer, the only question is which team is going to be able to negotiate a deal with Phils GM GM Ruben Amaro, Jr.