Not unlike a growing stamp collection or numerous boxes of baseball cards that you’ve collected over the years, some have a personal memory, some end of mailed to the utility company or spinning in the wheels of your bike. But a chosen few end up with significant long-term benefits. This is what the Phillies have hoped for with their own collection of pitching arms during this rebuilding process.
It began on August 30, 2013. Often criticized for their lack of work in the International markets, Ruben Amaro sign a hard-throwing Cuban right-hander, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez. Initial terms of the contract were supposed to be four-year, $48 million, but a red flag on his medicals, delayed the signing by six-weeks and dropped the overall number significantly, to $12 million. Gonzalez has been horrifically ineffective and often-injured. If that $30 million adjustment was never made, we would probably be working with an interim general manager by now.
Gonzalez was capper of a 2014 season that brought such household names as Chad Gaudin, Barry Enright, Brad Lincoln, and P.J. Walters. Retreads such as Sean O’Sullivan, B.J. Rosenburg, and Seth Rosin also spent more than their deserved share of time taking home major league meal money.
It wasn’t until the off-season where the true prospects began coming into the organization. The trades of Antonio Bastardo and Marlon Byrd brought Jolely Rodriguez and Ben Lively. Neither were highly touted arms, but they are part of what will be the overall collection and the hope some statistical benefits will be seen two-to-three years from the time of acquisition. A step up in value was received in the Jimmy Rollins trade when Zach Elfin and Tom Windle came in return. Elfin has been solid in Reading and Windle, who failed miserably in the rotation, has seen big life returned to his fastball, since his move to the bullpen mid-season.
By this point most franchises would reach down into their systems and give some of their home-grown arms a try. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option for Ruben and his staff. Aaron Nola’s five starts aside, not since Cole Hamels in 2002, have the Phillies drafted an impact arm. 2010 was supposed to have ended the streak of futility with High School first-rounder Jesse Biddle. A local kid makes good for his hometown team. In this first three minor-league season, Biddle dominated and easily on his way to the top of the team’s major league rotation. Injuries, both physical and mental, have derailed not only his chances at stardom, but ever pitching on his hometown mound.
Adam Morgan was once a bright spot on the Phils system before shoulder problems cost him the better part of two-years of development and at least four MPH on his fastball. He was promoted to Philadelphia mid-season even though he had very unimpressive 4.74 ERA at Triple A Lehigh Valley. His fastball topping out at 89 MPH has had major-league hitters licking their chops, allowing 13 HR’s in just 67 innings of work. Unless a Tom Glavine like strike zone is in his future, Morgan will be nothing more than organizational depth going forward.
Nola seems to be the only given for the 2016 rotation. Jake Thompson, the top pitcher acquired in the Hamels deal, could see Philadelphia by mid-2016. Jared Eickoff (in the Hamels deal) has opened some eyes and will have a step up on a spot next season. But there are still many holes to fill as we say goodbye to the likes of Aaron Harang, Jerome Williams, Billingsley, and the injured Cliff Lee. David Buchanan, currently on the 40-man roster, pitched his way out of the team’s future plans with his 1.95 WHIP and 9.00 ERA over 10 starts before his demotion.
Starting pitching will be a shopper’s delight in this off-season’s free-agent market. The likes of David Price, Johnny Cueto, and Jordan Zimmerman will all be available. Zach Greinke will exercise his opt-out clause with the Dodgers and join that impressive list. The Phillies are likely a year or two away from pursuing such names and handed out $200 million deals, but they will need to address their starter needs via free-agency if they want improve on the team’s current ERA of 4.74 in 2016.
