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

[phillychuck]

I think the young starting pitching would look a lot better with a lights-out bullpen. I'd sign one 200-IP solid veteran starter, then try to put together a really tough bullpen. I guess Morgan and Neris belong, and moving one or two of the young starters (Velasquez?) with high strike-out numbers and two good pitches would help. Then you can buy a couple of good to very good relief pitchers, who aren't super-expensive due to their position. Then the young starters can concentrate on getting 5 or 6 good innings and handing things off.

I know that is anti-analytical thinking, but the value of good relievers with a young staff is the new market inefficiency.

[EDmuch]

To me the ideal off-season would include a trade that brought back a No.2 type starter and then sign Alex Cobb for 2-3 years at a significant salary. If the Rays do not QO him, Cobb is the kind of pitcher we could get by paying him more than others would off. Cobb made real progress this seaosn coming back from TJ. He could give us a good 2-3 years as a No. 3 type pitcher allowing the other young guys to battle it out for the 2 remaining slots. My money is on Pivetta to take one of those spots.

[Florida_Sunshine]

I agree with that approach.

It's funny, I don't mind pulling the plug too quickly on Franco but want to give our young pitching more time. Teams give up too quickly on their young pitching.

[Lawman]

Todd Zolecki (ToddZolecki)

Todd Zolecki (ToddZolecki)

[Lawman]

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

[David_Criss]

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]

MLBRosterMoves (MLBRosterMoves)

[David_Criss]

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

[Austinfan]

Juan Nicasio

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]

twitter.com

MLBRosterMoves (MLBRosterMoves)

.@Phillies claim RHP Juan Nicasio off waivers from @Pirates; designate 1B Brock Stassi for assignment.

11:59 AM - 31 Aug 2017

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

[phillychuck]

Phillies claim RHP Juan Nicasio

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]

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]

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

[EDmuch]

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]

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

[Slinging_Southpaw]

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

[phillychuck]

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

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]

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.

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

[Austinfan]

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]

PC, good point.