Is DeRosa worth pitching talent?

From: Gonzalez, John

To: Fox, Ashley; Sheridan, Phil

Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

What do you make of Jim Salisbury's winter meetings report that the Phils are looking to enter into a three-way trade that would bring Cubs multipurpose man Mark DeRosa to town? The complex trade would apparently ship one or two Phils prospects - possibly including J.A. Happ - to Chicago. Those players would then be added to a new package and dealt to San Diego for pitcher Jake Peavy.

DeRosa can play second and left field, giving the Phils some insurance while Chase Utley is on the mend and filling an outfield void. But are you crazy about parting with pitching - and helping the Cubs add a major piece - in order to do so?

From: Fox, Ashley
To: Gonzalez, John; Sheridan, Phil
Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

What would be worse? Helping the Cubs add a major piece - and boy would their rotation be nasty with Peavy - or helping the Braves? Peavy's going to dictate, in part, where he ends up, and playing for his home-state Braves seems like a viable option. So let's see, you can see Peavy maybe once during the regular season, or four or five times against a division rival. Let him go to the Cubs. Besides, what did they do in the postseason?

DeRosa seems like a good-enough acquisition. He can play any number of positions, including second and left. He could probably even fill in next time Andy Reid wants to yank McNabb for a half.

From: Sheridan, Phil
To: Fox, Ashley; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

The first thought that strikes me: Why not skip over the Cubs and just try to make a deal directly with the Padres for Peavy? He has a no-trade clause and would have to waive it, but he just may be willing to do that to join the World Utley Champions. The Phillies aren't nowhere anymore.

Giving up Happ for a 27-year-old stud pitcher seems more appealing than including him in a deal for the 34-year-old DeRosa. But then, we know how much the Phillies brass loves the Penn guys.

But hey, it's fun to be talking about how the local championship ball club can plug a hole or two.

From: Gonzalez, John
To: Fox, Ashley; Sheridan, Phil
Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

I agree. DeRosa would be a fine addition, but I'm just not crazy about giving up pitching to get him.

In other Phillies news, Jimmy Rollins appeared at a WWE event in Philly on Monday. Unlike Pacman, he didn't participate in any matches. He just sat ringside and made faces.

What a missed opportunity. I went to pro-wrestling school a few years back for a story I was working on. Thereafter, I tried to convince John Cena to hit me with a folding chair, but he wouldn't do it. Wimp.

If you're wondering - and I know you are - my pro wrestling name would be Gonzilla.

From: Fox, Ashley
To: Gonzalez, John; Sheridan, Phil
Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

Phil, wanna take this one? It's over the plate.

From: Sheridan, Phil
To: Fox, Ashley; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

I'm just going to go ahead and say I'm really, really glad Jimmy Rollins didn't get in a wrestling ring.

Re: John Cena. Evidently he didn't have to work with you every day.

From: Gonzalez, John
To: Fox, Ashley; Sheridan, Phil
Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

True enough. But I suspect he was worried about retribution, too - say a flying elbow from the top rope or a laptop upside his head.

"And you can . . . believe that!" (That was going to be Gonzilla's catchphrase.)

From: Sheridan, Phil
To: Fox, Ashley; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

I prefer: "The 'Zilla gonna killya!"

From: Gonzalez, John
To: Fox, Ashley; Sheridan, Phil
Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

LOVE that.

From: Fox, Ashley
To: Gonzalez, John; Sheridan, Phil
Subject: Winter meetings and the WWE

I'm officially out of this conversation.