Phillies fans may remember Chad Gaudin from the 2009 World Series. Or they may not. The fouth starter for the 2009 Yankees never did get a start in the playoffs, but he does have a 2009 World Series ring. Gaudin could be the latest pitcher the Phillies are targeting, according to a report yesterday.
Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reports:
Two pitchers to keep an eye on are Ryan Madson and Chad Gaudin. Madson, of course, was a stalwart in the Phillies’ bullpen during the club’s run of five straight NL East titles from 2007-2011. He departed via free agency after the 2011 season, but did not pitch in 2012 or 2013 because of an elbow injury. The Phillies have kept tabs on the 33-year-old right-hander this winter and haven’t ruled out bringing him to spring training for a look.
We already knew about Ryan Madson possibly coming back to the club, but Gaudin is a new name during this offseason.
At best, Gaudin has been Kyle Kendrick-like during his best seasons. Last season for the Giants pitching mostly in relief, Gaudin went 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA. The Phillies have very little starting ptiching or relief depth in their organizatin, so someone like Gaudin could make sense for the Phillies, who lost pitcher Adam Morgan to surgery in recent days.
My worry, however, is that Gaudin could take playing time away from some of the team's young arms, who finally need a chance to pitch. As we saw last year with the signing of Chad Durbin, some of the Phillies' young relief corps lost time to pitch. But, with the unproven Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez being counted on to start, the Phillies need arms and Gaudin could be it.
