2017 Season Phillies Discussion (News/Notes, etc.), continued

Lawman 2017-08-31 18:34:18 UTC #707

http://www.philliesnation.com/2017/08/altherr-herrera-nearing-returns-whos-the-odd-man-out/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

David_Criss 2017-08-31 18:39:43 UTC #708

Why is there all this Glavis to CF for Crawford talk? Galvis belongs in the infield. Crawford should be replacing Franco at 3B. Then next year in ST let Kingery, Crawford and Franco battle it out. The winner is knighted the starting 3B, at least until and/or if Galvis or Hernandez is traded.

Lawman 2017-08-31 19:03:51 UTC #709

David_Criss 2017-08-31 19:06:33 UTC #710

Surprised he was designated. Hate to see Stassi go, but only because of the story.

Austinfan 2017-08-31 19:17:40 UTC #711

That's outright bizzare, but a great pickup, depth this year, and they can audition him and see if they want to resign him.
He'd be one of those veteran RPs they need to add!

tom81 2017-08-31 19:20:52 UTC #712

Maybe they saw my post
https://www.philliesphans.com/t/2017-non-phillies-mlb-discussion/50107/72

phillychuck 2017-08-31 19:40:57 UTC #713

Claim and trade effort, probably. He makes sense for a lot of contenders. I have no idea if the Phils can get him to the point where some other non-contending team wouldn't block the transaction, though. In that case, it's ~10 innings of relief pitching for $600K.

One month close-up look at a guy they might want to sign long-term. I worry that Nicasio might be upset that the Phils claimed him and kept him away from a playoff team.

Philsmania 2017-08-31 19:50:46 UTC #714

With Nicasio, it's gotten to the point where the Phillies just need warm bodies to pitch. I would not be surprised to see two or three "pitching staff by committee" games in September, games in which they get one guy to go three or four innings and then hope for an inning or two each out of the next five or six guys.

phillychuck 2017-08-31 19:52:52 UTC #715

Nicasio is more than a warm body, though. He's actually good. Expensive 10 innings, though.

EDmuch 2017-08-31 19:54:18 UTC #716

That is right, Nicasio is actually good. I guess contenders figured Philly was as safe a place as Nicasio could be placed without impacting the playoff race. But this is a very real bonus.

Lawman 2017-08-31 20:31:47 UTC #717

I think he's a FE after this season, isn't he?

Slinging_Southpaw 2017-08-31 20:32:38 UTC #718

Probably not if they give him an audition to close games.

phillychuck 2017-08-31 20:33:30 UTC #719

I think you mean FA, and yes, he is. This gives us 1 month to look at him in person and about 10 innings of pitching for $600K. Maybe we get an inside track on signing him...

phillychuck 2017-08-31 20:34:35 UTC #720

Contenders didn't have a choice--we get first right of refusal in the waiver pool right now.

Austinfan 2017-08-31 20:57:19 UTC #721

At the very least, we get a good first hand look and can figure out what he's worth signing for.
Plus if he bonds with Garcia and Neris, he might want to stay.

EDmuch 2017-08-31 21:02:58 UTC #722

PC, good point.

schillingfan 2017-08-31 22:29:37 UTC #723

I'm not sure there is such a thing as a "good to very good" relief pitcher. They are so subject to overuse that they become "sore-armed" the next year. I'd be looking for a previously good relief pitcher coming off a bad year who isn't old.

phillychuck 2017-08-31 22:39:31 UTC #724

Nicasio has a lifetime 3.91 ERA with a 3.58 FIP, so he's been a bit unlucky career-wise.

This is his first full season as a reliever and his ERA went down by more than a run, so it looks like his stuff ticked up. He's also used to pitching more innings than he has this season as a former starter. Throws 94+.

I completely understand your point, but he would be a guy I'd take a chance on. But it's a long shot with his impending Free Agency.

Austinfan 2017-08-31 23:17:08 UTC #725

I'd rather overpay RPs on 1-2 year deals than SPs on 5 year deals.
Build a deep bullpen that's reliable and you can go with 3 young starters at the back of your rotation who can make it twice through a lineup.
It's just a lot cheaper to build and maintain a bullpen, now that it doesn't cost comp picks.

allentown 2017-08-31 23:29:55 UTC #726

That may be your preference, but that dooms you to be no more than half satisfied, because if we want to win, we are going to have to do both of these things. The good news is that, at least for the next 4-5 years we have ample $$$ and salary cap space to do both of these things. Most times our options will be more constrained. This, and the 1.1, are about the only advantages of having a very young, last place team in a large market.