2019 Phillies Season Discussion (part 2)

[andyb]

Hughes has a $3,000,000 team option with a small buyout for next year, so no big deal.

It does kind of underscore though the team's lack of acquiring some decent relievers at the deadline. Accumulating mediocre arms might help a bit if one or two of them hit, but basically there was a screaming need at the deadline and they could have done better (with only cash and 3rd tier non top 50 prospects).

[Austinfan]

Maybe. Klentak may have targeted a few guys who he considered better than "trash," but the price was too high, and the rest they thought weren't worth paying any assets to obtain. We just don't know.

[zambonir]

That five-game series against the Nats with a doubleheader is probably going to be unwatchable (but if so at least it will mean we're still in it).

Yeah, I assume Klentak tried to get Dieckmann or others and actually didn't like the price. Also, relievers. The Braves got three of them and they are all terrible so far (and yet it also hasn't really slowed them down).

[California_Dreamin]

FWIW Dept....fans in Cincinnati are genuinely upset about losing Hughes. Most of them didn't even know he had been put on waivers. Look, I still think Klentak is basically throwing bubblegum at a wall to see which ones stick but as a guy who philosophically is married to trying to find every inch of advantage, this might not be a bad move.

I guess it depends on who he sends down. I so like the 7 reliever, 5 man bench and really like Haseley in the lineup so if it ends up being a hitter other than Miller, it will likely bug me.

[zambonir]

Yeah Hughes is better than a dumpster dive. He probably would have cost the exact same trade price Andy suggests at the deadline, except the Reds hadn't fully waved the white flag at that point. Now they are just saving the $.

[Taudawg]

I think part of what we are seeing is Klentak assemble the 2020 bullpen through these moves. Hughes, Parker, Morin and Straily are all controllable through at least 2020. If 2 of the 4 can find their old form, they could be nice pickups. As we've seen, you can never have enough bullpen arms. This strategy could also build an inexpensive bullpen in comparison with what was budgeted this year.

[zambonir]

For sure. I can't imagine he'll be able to eschew the free agent market entirely if Robertson isn't back but we're shedding Nicasio, Neshek and Hunter, with Arano probably still out, so 1 or 2 of those guys, plus Alvarez (though he will be costing more) and Morgan, plus Seranthony and Neris, you add one proven arm and have one spot for an optionable younger guy (with more of those once the attrition happens again). Still not clear if Pivetta stays in the pen.

Probably can't keep all of them (including the starters) on the off-season 40 though. Kind of doubt Straily gets there (or is even viewed as a reliever).

[California_Dreamin]

Speaking of Seranthony, it was reported by a poster on PhuturePhillies that he threw a bullpen session yesterday that gave Kapler "goosebumps." Anyone else hear about this...with the given caveat that Kapler also waxed poetic at some points this season about how well Hunter and Robertson were throwing and we all know how that turned out.

[bkeich]

Hughes seems like a nice pickup. He had a great season last year, a good season this year until July 24, since has gotten crushed in 7 innings, such is the life of a reliever.

Simple pitcher, keeps it down and he is an above average reliever with limited stuff, gets the ball up and he is throwing batting practice.

[zambonir]

Dickerson and Haseley both in the line-up tonight. I don't imagine Hughes is on the 25 until he reports so they have a couple of more days to figure out next move.

(Edit)
Zolecki says Morrison probably goes back down.

[andyb]

Zolecki says Morrison probably goes back down.

Probably with a guarantee to be back up on September 1st. He might have been a hedge if they needed a bench bat while Dickerson was hurt.

[julio]

Zolecki says Morrison probably goes back down.

Zolecki hasn't tweeted this. He said it on some broadcast?

Regardless... Morrison doesn't appear to have options, so he would have to be DFA'ed and outrighted... which means his contract could be claimed by another club.

[zambonir]

Sorry, I was having trouble cutting and pasting the link on my tablet (I guess this happens to others here sometimes )

Phils claim Hughes from Reds to add relief help

Dunno what this means exactly

Morrison joined the Phillies this week as an extra bench bat. He is not expecting to last long. Hughes probably will replace him on the roster Saturday. Morrison, however, signed an advance consent where he will remain on the 40-man roster, even if he is sent back to Triple-A. It means Morrison could rejoin the Phillies when rosters expand Sept. 1.

[andyb]

He actually needs to come off the 40-man roster to be sent down. Probably just means the last month major league guarantee.

[zambonir]

Well, that is why it's an odd thing to report. By definition he wouldn't be on the 40 if he is sent back to AAA, unless there is some kind of obscure provision/exemption we don't know about. Or does it mean, if he clears, that they will pay him as if he were still on the 40-man for the rest of his time in LHV (as well as major league $ once he comes back up)?

There's a chance they could lose him. There's a chance they could lose Miller. We shall see.

[julio]

My interpretation (I'm away from home and the rule book) is that what Zolecki probably means by an "advanced consent" is that Morrison has consented to accept an outright assignment (he would have the right, as a veteran player, to reject such an assignment) - but I don't believe that the player and the club can "agree" to avoid the waiver requirement - because that would essentially deny the other 29 clubs their rights.

[zambonir]

That seems logical. Tbh, writing in the heat of deadline, without actually knowing if that is what the Phillies intend, Zolecki probably didn't report it out too thoroughly. Seems like, if he clears, he's promised to report and the Phillies have promised to add him back to the 40 (which would increase his pay in AAA) without a call-up (yet).

It might be a promise they regret if they need to make room for two pitchers, however!

[California_Dreamin]

Not saying this gonna happen, this Phillie team still has some tremendous warts [starting pitching], but history is replete with teams that struggled most of the year, got hot when it mattered the most [anyone remember the 2011 Cardinals?] and then went a long way in the playoffs.

Most of those teams looked back on their seasons and talked of a moment or game that changed the entire course of their season, they went from doubters to believers.

If the Phillies become one of those teams they will look back to the last two nights as the source of that belief. Because we have just witnessed the two most exciting and memorable games in this so far disappointing campaign.

[zambonir]

It will obviously be the turning point in the season if they make a run (Charlie included).

At the same time, it was already a pretty good, if flawed team. It could also go bad again quickly. Things looked just as good, IMO, after the home split against the Dodgers (another walk-off win) followed by two series wins.

They mostly control their own destiny, in that they can keep the Mets at bay, and take care of the Nats themselves. But they also can't be losing games they shouldn't (like against the Marlins).

And they'll still probably lose to the Dodgers in four, but would be fun to find out.

[phillychuck]

CD, if my memory doesn't deceive me, the 1980 Phils struggled (around .500) most of the year. Got better when some of the young players (Bystrom, Moreland, and Smith) got larger roles, and Sparky Lyle helped out the pen. They were 3 over .500 at about this time of year, and finished 20 over (peaked at 21).