2019-2020 Phillies Offseason News and Speculation

[EDmuch]

Yandy Diaz is another example of the Rays coming out on top of a trade when they gave up Jack Bauer for Diaz. Diaz powers them to win a Wild Card game and Bauer is still struggling to earn an every day spot in Cleveland's lineup.

[flyers19rw]

Sort of wonder about Hamels. The last third of the year was tough for him. Actually the first half was inconsistent as well. When he was good, he was good; when he was off, he was poor. To look at him to be more than a four or five in the rotation is expecting too much. On a one year, incentive laden contract, he’d be worth a shot. Right now, I don’t know if he has more to offer than Smyly.

[bigegypt0417]

Drew Smyly was a -.03 WAR and Hamels was 2.5

It's not really a comparison if you are bringing him in to be a back of the rotation starter.

[Austinfan]

Problem is you're projecting NEXT season.

Smyly had a horrid start (which is how the Phillies were able to claim him) but his velocity improved as the season progressed, though his command was still shaky. It's not unreasonable that he'll take another step a year further from TJ surgery.

Hamels is getting closer to the end, but how close?

I'd add both at a reasonable cost.

[flyers19rw]

Actually, according to B ref, Smyly was +0.5 WAR with the Phillies. Check Hamels August and September numbers; they’re pretty ugly. Worse than Smyly’s.

[andyb]

That is still not great in 12 starts though, almost half of which were against teams in the bottom 5 against LHP. He really was not great against the decent hitting teams. Smyly is worth a minor league deal and that is about it. Might even prefer him to be a reliever but there I am not sure he is better than our other long LHP options (Suarez, Irvin).

[Squire]

https://twitter.com/ToddZolecki/status/1180124826641604608

Zo says Pitching Coach Chris Young won't be the 2020 Phillies Pitching Coach

[Squire]

https://twitter.com/matt_breen/status/1180126032755646464

Breen says Kapler decision next week but Klentak was never in jeopardy

[EDmuch]

I am losing faith in MIddleton if he cannot see that Klentak's actions limited Kapler's hand in dealing with this team.

[andyb]

I am losing faith in MIddleton if he cannot see that Klentak's actions limited Kapler's hand in dealing with this team.

Even if one agrees with not trading real prospects at the deadline, it is pretty clear we could have added another $10 to $12 million of salary to add some better relief pitchers than the ones we signed off the scrap heap. That would not have made the difference of course, but it is clear that Klentak failed to get something done with relievers that the Braves and Nats did get done.

My larger issue is with the trades of course, and the impact they had on the future roster and payroll.

[BostonRoss]

It seems that the playoff teams all have people who have broken out or improved significantly, and the Phillies do not. Maybe they're all just incapable of that, but why not find out if someone else can bring the best out of them. Something needs to change.

[andyb]

It has been a slow couple of years in terms of adding Latin American talent to the major league roster. Seranthony seems the only significant addition of late and he of course got hurt. Trading Sixto means we probably don't have a significant Latin American addition for a few years until someone from the Morales and Rojas and Garcia groups hopefully emerges (holding out less hope for Ortiz at this point).

[Austinfan]

Which is why it's hard to judge Klentak right now, when he took over, they had a series of bad drafts and worse LA talent acquisition. He may have screwed up his first draft (but Senzel finished his rookie season with a wRC+ of 90 at age 24 and below average defense in CF, compare to Haseley at 23, but I'm told Haseley is a 4th OF?) but has done a solid job since.

I think Klentak simply didn't want to trade more prospects, the Segura and Realmuto moves may have been in response to pressure from Middleton to win now but if you're trying to build a contender, you don't start by stripping a thin farm system.

[andyb]

Why can't one judge Klentak on the moves he has made thus far? You just seem unable to have a critical view of anything. He has had 4 drafts so much of the system was added under his watch and those drafts included high picks. He has been among the top 10 spenders in Latin America yet we have not really had any top 100 prospect breakthroughs yet.

Haseley was a decent draft pick. He was supposed to be a "low floor" player and that turned out to be correct. It is also correct to say we don't know if he is more than a 4th OF yet. Or should we just call players you happen to like a success before they actually have that success? Just about everyone in baseball would trade Moniak straight up for Senzel so your argument there does not hold much water either.

Do you think the Phillies have an above average minor league system? If so, why?

[mdougherty12]

Which is why it's hard to judge Klentak right now, when he took over, they had a series of bad drafts and worse LA talent acquisition. He may have screwed up his first draft (but Senzel finished his rookie season with a wRC+ of 90 at age 24 and below average defense in CF, compare to Haseley at 23, but I'm told Haseley is a 4th OF?) but has done a solid job since.

I think Klentak simply didn't want to trade more prospects, the Segura and Realmuto moves may have been in response to pressure from Middleton to win now but if you're trying to build a contender, you don't start by stripping a thin farm system.

To be fair to Nick Senzel, he hadn't played in the OF, professionally or in college, prior to being put in CF in MLB in 2019. It sounds like there is a good chance that he'll be at 2B next year for the Reds.

[zambonir]

Okay I see this wasn't posted yet

While Gabe Kapler remains in limbo, Phillies' 2020 coaching...

From my post in the Fire Kapler thread

They have fired Young but are keeping at least four other coaches. Now, hopefully three of those coaches are Figueroa, Dickerson and the catching coach and there will either be some bigger changes (like bench coach) if Gabe comes back or the new manager will get to pick some of his guys. But it shows that even with Kapler gone Klentak is going to hire a manager who executes his vision, not one who is just given a roster and told to manage as he sees fit with the staff of his choice.

[andyb]

They definitely seem to be reducing the manager's role to more of a gameday role with all other priorities set by the front office. Unless that changes I assume Kapler, if fired, would be replaced by another younger manager, not a veteran more used to control of the coaching staff and other aspects of preparation.

[zambonir]

There could be a middle ground - a veteran manager who is willing to embrace the new way of doing things - but it would turn so heavily on the GM/manager relationship, and could go wrong so easily.

Certainly if Klentak has been able to save Kapler's job for the last five days, and has already saved his own, he's not going to be forced to hire an old-school manager he wouldn't choose himself.

[Austinfan]

Point is that was just a bad draft period, when Senzel is maybe the best player in the top 20 or so.

[nycphils]

Seems to me that the Phillies need to overhaul their strength and conditioning program in the minors - there have been a group of players over the last 5+ years who appear to have stagnated in large part because they lack playable strength and never progressed at all - Tocci, Gamboa, Brito, Randolph, Crawford jump to mind.

With another group of players who need progress - Muzzioti, Luis Garcia, Johan Rojas, Carlos de la Cruz - I hope they reevaluate.