The Phillies new GM Matt Klentak has been busy this week making moves for pitchers and answering questions about a potential trade for his own pitcher, Kenny Giles.
Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said this week, "There are a number of players on our roster that teams like. It doesn't mean that we are going to trade them." And: "I don't want to categorically say that we are or we aren't going to do anything."
In other words, 'I may trade him/anyone if I am offered enough in exchange.'
Reasonable enough from the first manager in a long time hired by the Phils to helm a rebuild. Yet, more than a little negligent in the tenuous process of grooming fans.
Kenny Giles has become a fan favorite. Not surprising. The team is a last place team. Giles is a first-class performer. Giles offers desperately needed relief on the field-- and for fans. His teammates appreciate it too. They call him, "100 Miles Giles" (because he throws, at times, 100 mph). He's called upon to save major league games by his coach. He does, night after night, with almost impeccable consistency.
Over the last two seasons, the only relief pitchers with a better ERA than Giles' (1.56) are Wade Davis (0.97), of the recently crowned World Series-champion Kansas City Royals, and the New York Yankees' Dellin Betances (1.45).
He is 24, but his poise says otherwise. He has just completed his second year in the big leagues, but his resume bests most of his newbie teammates.
The Phillies' roster overhaul has left just four active pitchers with at least three years of major-league service time. Five of the team's 12 pitchers are rookies.
Shedding Giles would be lucrative if a significant package would be the return. For example, two or three top-tier prospects from a team that needs only a closer to run deep next season. However, the Phils need to caution against dealing Giles at any cost, because he is controlled for years to come at a modest salary due to his youth. He is a rare thing. A closer excelling at the major league level from day one, igniting fans and teammates alike, capable of galvanizing the next generation.
Saturday, the Phils signed right-hander Dustin McGowan to a one-year deal. He had been released April 1 by the Los Angeles Dodgers after posting a 6.75 ERA in seven spring training appearances. The 33-year-old began last season as a starter for the Toronto Blue Jays, going 2-2 with a 5.08 ERA in eight starts before being converted to a reliever in May. He went 3-1 with a 3.35 ERA in 45 games in relief, holding opponents to a .215 average.
On the same day, Klentak made his first trade as Phils GM young tenure as the Phillies' general manager, adding a veteran pitcher to its young starting rotation.
The rebuilding Phillies acquired righthander Jeremy Hellickson from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitching prospect Sam McWilliams. Hellickson, 28, joins a rotation expected to include righthanders Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff and lefthander Adam Morgan.
Bizzarely, Hellickson is the pitcher who inadvertently ended Phils Third baseman Maikel Franco's Rookie of the Year bid this past season. Franco, the most exciting new Phillies player in a while, was hit by a Hellickson fastball back in August which broke his wrist and abruptly ended his season.
Now the pitcher and victim are teammates.
Hellickson, a former rookie of the year and gold glove winner, has a career 3.96 ERA over six major league seasons, the first five with the Tampa Bay Rays. He posted a 4.62 ERA over 27 starts last season, his first with Arizona. He is entering his final season of arbitration eligibility and set to become a free agent after next season. He made $4.28 million last year.
"We like what he has done in his career," Klentak said. "He's a good fit for us. He's been a steady performer the last five years and he has some hardware on his mantel, a rookie of the year (2011) and Gold Glove (2012). I think one of the things on top of the obvious is that he's a veteran guy but still just 28 years old. He'll pitch at 29 this season, so we're excited that he's still in his prime. And more than anything, he's a competitor. He wants the ball. We've talked about building an environment and we think he'll be a very positive influence on our staff."
Hellickson posted a 2.95 ERA in 2011, his rookie of the year season with Tampa Bay, and a 3.10 ERA in 2012 but has a 4.86 ERA over the last three seasons. He is known as a fly ball pitcher, having allowed 20 or more in each of his four full seasons. That is a troubling tag for a pitcher headed to Citizens Bank Park. Furthermore, despite improving his strikeout rate and improving his walk rate from 2013 onward, his results got worse. Additionally, from 2011 to 2013 Hellickson's 'hard-hit rate allowed', according to FanGraphs, increased from 23.2 percent to 34.9 percent. All this spells a hard road uphill for a successful year with the Phils.
The Phils also got James Russell, who turns 30 in January, posted a 5.29 ERA over 34 innings with the Chicago Cubs last season but posted a 2.97 ERA over 572/3 innings the previous year. He has spent most of his six major-league seasons with the Cubs but logged 241/3 innings for the Atlanta Braves in 2014.
Nine days prior, they claimed Dan Otero, a 30-year-old reliever, who had been a highly-productive contributor in Oakland from 2013-14. The control artist put up a cumulative 2.01 ERA in 125 2/3 innings in that span, with 5.2 K/9 against 1.5 BB/9. He was used particularly heavily in ’14, when he made 72 appearances and logged 86 2/3 frames.
Though he maintained that K:BB ratio in 2015, however, Otero was torched for 35 earned runs in 46 2/3 innings. There was some poor luck in the BABIP (.354) and strand rate (59.5%) arenas, but the righty also saw his groundball rate drop to below 50% while allowing a 14.9% HR/FB rate.
Wednesday, the Phils announced that they had signed five players to minor-league contracts. All of the players received an invite to major-league spring training camp and they are expected to provide depth at the Triple A level during the season.
Two of the players – right-handed pitchers Chris Leroux and Reinier Roibal – spent time in the Phillies' minor-league system during the 2015 season.
Here’s a quick look at the five players:
RHP Chris Leroux, 31 – The reliever had a 3.90 ERA in 85 1/3 innings in the Brewers' and Phillies' organizations in 2015. He has pitched in the majors for the Marlins, Pirates and Yankees.
RHP Reinier Roibal, 26 – Used mostly as a reliever in 2015, he posted a 1.64 ERA in 31 games while pitching for the Phillies’ Clearwater and Reading clubs. He has averaged 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings in four minor-league seasons.
INF Emmanuel Burris, 30 – The veteran infielder has played in 287 major-league games with the Giants and Nationals. He hit .279 and had a .341 on-base percentage for the Nats’ triple A Syracuse team in 2015.
RHP Frank Herrmann, 31 – He appeared in 95 games for the Indians from 2010 to 2012. He pitched in the Angels' and Pirates' organizations last season and registered a 3.76 ERA in 52 2/3 innings. He had 53 strikeouts and 10 walks.
INF Ryan Jackson, 27 – He has spent time in the majors with the Cardinals and Angels. He has hit .272 with a .343 on-base percentage in 680 minor-league games.
What Klentak is consistently saying thusfar is, ' We're going to throw a bunch of young talent into the organization and onto the field and find out what sticks to try to form a nucleus that excels. Don't expect results soon'
"Players will dictate when this team is ready to be as good as they can possibly be, and players will develop at different speeds, at different rates. Some will be better than we thought they would be and some will underwhelm us... and what I do know is at the first sign that this team is ready to be good and take that next step-- and I hope it's April-- I know that we will do everything we can to support that group and create a core that's going to last a long, long time."
Klentak seems earnest and focused on following through on the long path that leads to eventual glory. However, he hasn't faced Philly fans or seasons of losing. He seems to be bracing himself, and fans, for a long term vision, while allowing us, if not himself hope that the long term might start soon.
In other words, 'I may trade him/anyone if I am offered enough in exchange.'
Reasonable enough from the first manager in a long time hired by the Phils to helm a rebuild. Yet, more than a little negligent in the tenuous process of grooming fans.
Kenny Giles has become a fan favorite. Not surprising. The team is a last place team. Giles is a first-class performer. Giles offers desperately needed relief on the field-- and for fans. His teammates appreciate it too. They call him, "100 Miles Giles" (because he throws, at times, 100 mph). He's called upon to save major league games by his coach. He does, night after night, with almost impeccable consistency.
 |
| Giles offers desperately needed relief on the field-- and for fans. |
He is 24, but his poise says otherwise. He has just completed his second year in the big leagues, but his resume bests most of his newbie teammates.
The Phillies' roster overhaul has left just four active pitchers with at least three years of major-league service time. Five of the team's 12 pitchers are rookies.
Shedding Giles would be lucrative if a significant package would be the return. For example, two or three top-tier prospects from a team that needs only a closer to run deep next season. However, the Phils need to caution against dealing Giles at any cost, because he is controlled for years to come at a modest salary due to his youth. He is a rare thing. A closer excelling at the major league level from day one, igniting fans and teammates alike, capable of galvanizing the next generation.
Saturday, the Phils signed right-hander Dustin McGowan to a one-year deal. He had been released April 1 by the Los Angeles Dodgers after posting a 6.75 ERA in seven spring training appearances. The 33-year-old began last season as a starter for the Toronto Blue Jays, going 2-2 with a 5.08 ERA in eight starts before being converted to a reliever in May. He went 3-1 with a 3.35 ERA in 45 games in relief, holding opponents to a .215 average.
On the same day, Klentak made his first trade as Phils GM young tenure as the Phillies' general manager, adding a veteran pitcher to its young starting rotation.
The rebuilding Phillies acquired righthander Jeremy Hellickson from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitching prospect Sam McWilliams. Hellickson, 28, joins a rotation expected to include righthanders Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff and lefthander Adam Morgan.
Bizzarely, Hellickson is the pitcher who inadvertently ended Phils Third baseman Maikel Franco's Rookie of the Year bid this past season. Franco, the most exciting new Phillies player in a while, was hit by a Hellickson fastball back in August which broke his wrist and abruptly ended his season.
Now the pitcher and victim are teammates.
"We like what he has done in his career," Klentak said. "He's a good fit for us. He's been a steady performer the last five years and he has some hardware on his mantel, a rookie of the year (2011) and Gold Glove (2012). I think one of the things on top of the obvious is that he's a veteran guy but still just 28 years old. He'll pitch at 29 this season, so we're excited that he's still in his prime. And more than anything, he's a competitor. He wants the ball. We've talked about building an environment and we think he'll be a very positive influence on our staff."
Hellickson posted a 2.95 ERA in 2011, his rookie of the year season with Tampa Bay, and a 3.10 ERA in 2012 but has a 4.86 ERA over the last three seasons. He is known as a fly ball pitcher, having allowed 20 or more in each of his four full seasons. That is a troubling tag for a pitcher headed to Citizens Bank Park. Furthermore, despite improving his strikeout rate and improving his walk rate from 2013 onward, his results got worse. Additionally, from 2011 to 2013 Hellickson's 'hard-hit rate allowed', according to FanGraphs, increased from 23.2 percent to 34.9 percent. All this spells a hard road uphill for a successful year with the Phils.
The Phils also got James Russell, who turns 30 in January, posted a 5.29 ERA over 34 innings with the Chicago Cubs last season but posted a 2.97 ERA over 572/3 innings the previous year. He has spent most of his six major-league seasons with the Cubs but logged 241/3 innings for the Atlanta Braves in 2014.
Nine days prior, they claimed Dan Otero, a 30-year-old reliever, who had been a highly-productive contributor in Oakland from 2013-14. The control artist put up a cumulative 2.01 ERA in 125 2/3 innings in that span, with 5.2 K/9 against 1.5 BB/9. He was used particularly heavily in ’14, when he made 72 appearances and logged 86 2/3 frames.
Though he maintained that K:BB ratio in 2015, however, Otero was torched for 35 earned runs in 46 2/3 innings. There was some poor luck in the BABIP (.354) and strand rate (59.5%) arenas, but the righty also saw his groundball rate drop to below 50% while allowing a 14.9% HR/FB rate.
Wednesday, the Phils announced that they had signed five players to minor-league contracts. All of the players received an invite to major-league spring training camp and they are expected to provide depth at the Triple A level during the season.
Two of the players – right-handed pitchers Chris Leroux and Reinier Roibal – spent time in the Phillies' minor-league system during the 2015 season.
Here’s a quick look at the five players:
RHP Chris Leroux, 31 – The reliever had a 3.90 ERA in 85 1/3 innings in the Brewers' and Phillies' organizations in 2015. He has pitched in the majors for the Marlins, Pirates and Yankees.
RHP Reinier Roibal, 26 – Used mostly as a reliever in 2015, he posted a 1.64 ERA in 31 games while pitching for the Phillies’ Clearwater and Reading clubs. He has averaged 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings in four minor-league seasons.
INF Emmanuel Burris, 30 – The veteran infielder has played in 287 major-league games with the Giants and Nationals. He hit .279 and had a .341 on-base percentage for the Nats’ triple A Syracuse team in 2015.
RHP Frank Herrmann, 31 – He appeared in 95 games for the Indians from 2010 to 2012. He pitched in the Angels' and Pirates' organizations last season and registered a 3.76 ERA in 52 2/3 innings. He had 53 strikeouts and 10 walks.
INF Ryan Jackson, 27 – He has spent time in the majors with the Cardinals and Angels. He has hit .272 with a .343 on-base percentage in 680 minor-league games.
"Players will dictate when this team is ready to be as good as they can possibly be, and players will develop at different speeds, at different rates. Some will be better than we thought they would be and some will underwhelm us... and what I do know is at the first sign that this team is ready to be good and take that next step-- and I hope it's April-- I know that we will do everything we can to support that group and create a core that's going to last a long, long time."
Klentak seems earnest and focused on following through on the long path that leads to eventual glory. However, he hasn't faced Philly fans or seasons of losing. He seems to be bracing himself, and fans, for a long term vision, while allowing us, if not himself hope that the long term might start soon.
