Trade Rumors: Beltre To Replace Feliz?

NEW YORK - The Philadelphia Phillies dump Brett Myers and will likely dump Pedro Feliz on Monday. What's next for the team?

Talk about a new third baseman is centered on three names, if the Phillies don't pick up Feliz' contract for $5 million next year.

Chone Figgins, Mark DeRosa and now Adrian Beltre are in the mix.

Beltre's name is popping up a lot because he put up weak numbers playing in pitcher-friendly Safeco Park in Seattle. The same park that held Raul Ibanez hostage.

Beltre signed a big deal with Seattle after having a monster year with the Dodgers. He didn't hit nearly as well in Seattle, bur he is a great defensive third baseman.

The Phillies and former GM Pat Gillick have a strong connection to Seattle.

And Beltre would not require the Phillies to surrender a top draft pick to Seattle.

On Myers, he was reportedly told by Ruben Amaro on Friday that the Phillies would not offer him a contract.

Amaro said at a press conference that the Phillies would look for a pitcher to sign to a minor-league contract, as a possible starter for depth.

Translation: he was a veteran pitcher coming off an injury that the team can sign to a cheap, incentive deal, a la Pedro Martinez.

Another Seattle player, Erik Bedard, would top that list. The Phillies have tried for years to get Bedard, and he is coming off two injury-prone seasons in Seattle.

Kelvim Escobar of the Angels is also coming off two years of injuries.

One name not in the mix is Ben Sheets, the former Milwaukee ace who missed all of 2009. The Red Sox are expected to overpay Sheets in a gamble.

The Philadelphia Phillies are in a good position to make a trade, or sign a good free agent relief pitcher. Here’s a look at several names being talked about.

There is talk the Phillies are looking at Angles’ third baseman Chone Figgins and Cardinals’ third baseman Mark DeRosa.

Figgins would give the Phillies a true leadoff hitter and DeRosa is a former Penn quarterback who is highly regarded as a leader, with some home run power.

Figgins would be expensive, but he is a switch hitter and excellent defensive player. Jimmy Rollins would then move down the seventh spot in the Phillies batting order.

Both Figgins and DeRosa are Type B free agents, meaning the Phillies don’t lose a draft pick if they sign them.

The team may also look for a utility player to replace Eric Bruntlett and Miguel Cairo.

Other Phillies free agents aside from Myers include Pedro Martinez, Scott Eyre, Paul Bako and Chan Ho Park.