Free Agent Targets the Phillies Should Go After This Offseason
The Philadelphia Phillies’ 2019 season is down to its final month, and barring some sort of miracle – the Phillies actually playing consistently good baseball for a stretch or the Chicago Cubs struggling and losing their hold on the second Wild Card spot – they will miss the postseason for the eighth straight season.
The good news is reinforcements are available in terms of a fairly strong free-agent class. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top-five free agents general manager Matt Klentak and company should go after this offseason, in order of how they should target them.
Gerrit Cole
The Houston Astros righty is having another phenomenal season, posting a 15-5 record with a 2.81 ERA, a microscopic 0.95 WHIP, and 266 strikeouts. The Phillies starting rotation has been a disaster this season, with Aaron Nola as the only starter with an ERA below 4.00.
Inserting Cole into the rotation behind Nola (or ahead if the Phils don’t go with team seniority) would strengthen a glaring weakness in this team, and give the Phillies quite the fearsome one-two punch at the top of the rotation.
Cole is clearly the best starting pitcher available this winter, and every contending team will be vying for his services. But if John Middleton was serious about his “stupid money” comment from this past offseason, he needs to make sure the Phillies give Cole whatever it takes to make sure he’s in red pinstripes for the 2020 season. With just a few days remaining before his 29th birthday, Cole could just be entering his prime now.
Madison Bumgarner
It was quite the surprise this trade deadline that the San Francisco Giants did not trade Bumgarner. Perhaps they were holding onto him to give manager Bruce Bochy one last shot at a postseason run. But now that that’s out of the question, MadBum is sure to walk and go to a contender.
He’s not the same pitcher he was a few years ago when the Giants were winning all of their World Series, but he’s certainly better than anyone on the Phillies not named Nola.
This season, Bumgarner is 9-8 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 177 strikeouts. You wouldn’t take that in the rotation behind Nola? And with his postseason pedigree, he would be a huge asset to a pitching staff that has no playoff experience.
While not as expensive as Cole, he’ll still command a large payday. If the Phillies can’t get Cole because a certain team in New York with a struggling rotation throws all sorts of money at him, MadBum is a great option B. And while he has declined over the past few seasons, he’s nowhere near the decline of Jake Arrieta. Think more of what happened to Cole Hamels last season when he was traded to the Chicago Cubs; pitching for a contender will bring out the best in his competitive side. Speaking of Hamels…
Cole Hamels
The Phillies should seriously consider a reunion with their former ace this offseason. After being traded to Chicago last season, Hamels has re-energized his career. Last season, in 12 starts for the Cubs, he had a 2.36 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. For the Cubbies this season, he’s 7-5 with a 3.69 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 122 strikeouts.
Again, he’s clearly an upgrade over anyone not named Nola. When he was with the Texas Rangers after the Phillies traded him in 2015, his numbers took a big hit. Possibly it was because he wasn’t pitching for a contender. Signing with the Phillies this offseason would be a great way to end his career.
First, he’s back with a contender and his numbers shouldn’t suffer on a floundering team. Second, it would bring a ton of goodwill to a Phillies staff and front office that desperately needs it after a disappointing 2019 campaign. Third, complimenting him with Nola and some combination of Cole/Bumgarner would give the Phillies a solid number one through three starters who are worthy of leading the Phillies to the postseason.
Hamels is in the twilight of his career. One would have to imagine that he would also relish an opportunity to re-sign with Philadelphia. At 35 years old, he won’t command a huge contract. Klentak could easily give Hamels a three-year, $50 million deal and still sign a bigger name starter. Put the probability of a Hamels reunion at high.
Zack Wheeler
Noticing a trend here? This time, it’s the 29-year-old right-hander of the New York Mets.
Out of all the names listed here, Wheeler’s is the most intriguing. Scouts agree that he has the stuff to be a solid pitcher, and he frequently shows flashes of brilliance. But that brilliance is then overshadowed by his blowups. Sound familiar? It should, because that’s what has been said of Nick Pivetta and Vince Velasquez.
But we know what Pivetta and Velasquez bring, and it’s not good. Why go into yet another season hoping and praying that this is the year one of them figures it out? It’s not worth it. Instead, Wheeler is a smarter, higher reward option for the Phillies.
True, his 2019 season hasn’t been terrific – a 9-7 record with 4.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 160 strikeouts – but he’s shown throughout his career that he’s a better pitcher than that. In fact, in three of his five seasons in the bigs he’s put up an ERA around 3.50.
As Albert Einstein once said, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Expecting Pivetta and Velasquez to pitch well for a full season in the rotation next year is insanity. Instead, the Phillies should take a reasonably priced flier on Wheeler and pair him with someone like Cole or Bumgarner.
Dellin Betances
The New York Yankees reliever hasn’t pitched yet this season with a shoulder impingement, but he is one of the most electric relievers in the game. For his career, Betances has a 2.36 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 619 strikeouts in 381 innings pitched.
The Phillies patchwork bullpen has been as a big of a disappointment this season as the starting rotation, and Betances would provide a little bit of comfort knowing that the lead isn’t in jeopardy when he comes into the game. In fact, he could even slot into the closer’s role and move Hector Neris to a set-up role. Whatever they do with him, Betances would be a big upgrade. The Yankees know how important he is, so expect them to try and re-sign him quickly.
Whatever the Phillies do this offseason, it’s clear they need to focus on their pitching staff. The offense should be much better next season, and in fact, they’ve been greatly improved since Charlie Manuel took over as hitting coach last month.
A strong pitching staff will take some pressure off the offense, and make the Phillies a stronger threat. With some big-name arms available this offseason, now is the time for more of that “stupid money.”
Featured Image: via Twitter
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