2019 Phillies Season Discussion

[el-pietro]

Honestly not sure where to put this, or even if I should post it but here we go....

Boras' mouth piece saying Keuchel is willing to sign a one year deal to get rid of the QO before going into free agency again. Links a number of cubs including the Phillies. I'm sure the FO is interested but I don't think they would go for it, he hasn't pitched and wouldn't be ready for another month plus even if he signed today. I think a trade in June/July is more likely.

Jon Heyman (JonHeyman)

[bkeich]

We would be giving up our 2nd round pick, is that correct? Not sure I would want to wait until June when the draft happens. Is it worth it, not sure, I am leaning towards no (2nd round pick lost for a part of 1 year rental on a pitcher who is hot/cold by year, but having missed all of spring training it would be awhile until he is really ready to go and even then he may not be "himself" until late in the season)

Yea, I am sure Keichel would love to sign a 1 year deal at this point. Just not sure anyone will do it.

[andyb]

It would be our 3rd round pick since the 2nd round pick is already gone for Harper. Plus a 2nd $500K off our international allocation. That compensation (at least the draft part) goes away after the draft starting on June 3rd.

[zambonir]

Oh, I would probably sign him to a one-year deal but I'd also wait two-three more weeks. What does Eickhoff got? Can Nola give us a couple of better starts? Compensation is worth less than what you'd have to trade for Hamels or Bumgarner or whoever (though you'd be taking on a lot less in salary by that point).

But despite being a lefty he's just never been the perfect fit for us as far as his stuff and now that Arrieta's looking really good they have the luxury of waiting.

Once he goes to extended spring training does he get paid? Because that's another thing to sort out. I mean, I think it's kind of dumb players don't get paid year-round or at least from Feb 1 to October 1 but that's just a matter of payment schedule. But you don't want to pay Keuchel 2,000,000 for 21 days where he still can't pitch for you, so his total contract should reflect that.

Honestly he probably needs a more desperate team, or an injury.

[zambonir]

Matt Gelb (MattGelb)

[bkeich]

Matt Gelb (MattGelb)

Odúbel Herrera is going on the injured list. Roman Quinn will join the Phillies here in Denver.

12:53 PM - 18 Apr 2019

And Aaron Altherr is having a party.

Hopefully Odubel isnt hurt too bad, if I was more of a cynic I might guess that he has a boo-boo and needs some time for it to heal, the first of many team boo-boos that keep Altherr on the team. Good (cynical definition) news is Quinn is unlikely to last long, what is his record, 20 days? 30?

They might actually have to trade Williams at some point just to get out of this situation, but too many major league players is a problem we havent had lately so it might take awhile to figure out what to do.

To say Williams is "on the trading block" is an understatement. We are almost in "must move him" unless the team is willing to demote him and listen to a very, very unhappy (and rightfully so) player.

For now, Altherr stays alive.

[zambonir]

I just don't think Altherr is valuable enough to fake-IL Herrera. What they couldn't do is play even one game in Colorado with two players unavailable.

Williams is gonna be unhappy whether he's in the majors not playing or in the minors playing, but if there was no trade market for him (at a good value) on March 27 there isn't gonna be one until July.

I think this still ends with Altherr traded, either pre-DFA or during the DFA. Assuming, as you note, that Quinn doesn't break again before then.

[julio]

I just don't think Altherr is valuable enough to fake-IL Herrera.

Please. Don't add even a shred of credibility to a complete conspiracy theory by attempting to rebut it. Just ignore it, and let it die in peace.

[andyb]

LHP tonight so Altherr starts. Then 3 RHPs. I wonder if we'll see Williams in CF (and in Denver it's a big CF) for at least one of those. Williams played a little bit of CF in Spring Training, so it is possible that he does play there a bit on a team without Altherr.

One never knows what injuries might happen in the future also. They might be able to string Altherr along for a little while longer. It is not just Quinn that might break.

[zambonir]

The coverage of Herrera's injury has said they don't consider Williams to be a CF option and yes, Coors would be a bad place to start. Surely he'll play LF once this weekend?

[Squire]

They've already announced that Quinn is starting tonight in CF.

[zambonir]

Yeah I don't think they seriously consider Altherr to be a CF either.

Ultimately they want Williams for his bat and Quinn for his defense, versatility and speed, it's not a hard decision. So long as there are injuries they don't have to make it.

Still short a bullpen arm with Gosselin up too.

[bkeich]

I just don't think Altherr is valuable enough to fake-IL Herrera.

Please. Don't add even a shred of credibility to a complete conspiracy theory by attempting to rebut it. Just ignore it, and let it die in peace.

I wasnt trying to start one, just pointing out that it was pretty convenient timing. Herrera was clearly hurt.

[bkeich]

LHP tonight so Altherr starts. Then 3 RHPs. I wonder if we'll see Williams in CF (and in Denver it's a big CF) for at least one of those. Williams played a little bit of CF in Spring Training, so it is possible that he does play there a bit on a team without Altherr.

McCutcheon did still play 139 games in CF in 2017, none last year (maybe they just didnt need him to??). He might still be a reasonable CF for a week, he was once pretty good at it.

Bad luck it is in Colorado, that is a big OF. We might need Quinn out there no matter what, even when it is not an advantageous hitting arrangement

I always thought that the Rockies would be smart just to play 3 CFs on their team (at least at home). 40 feet of extra OF is alot.

[tom81]

Coors field is huge, they may have called up their best fielding CF, Quinn, for this series even if Herrera was healthy. We are in win now mode.

[David_Criss]

Altherr survives one more day.

[David_Criss]

Jon Heyman (JonHeyman)

Dallas Keuchel is believed open to the right 1-year deal, then resetting. One under the radar team: maybe Milwaukee, which has been linked to Kimbrel and has been willing to give up draft choice at times (ie Grandal, Lohse). Phillies, Padres, Astros are among other possibilities.

8:39 AM - 18 Apr 2019

When are players going to dump Boras? Moustakas turns down a 17 mil QO only to make less than 17 mil in two years. Keuchel seems to be following in similar suit.

[andyb]

Coors field is huge, they may have called up their best fielding CF, Quinn, for this series even if Herrera was healthy. We are in win now mode.

That could actually be true. Of course that means they would have DFA'd Altherr for Quinn this series anyway. At the very least I could see them wanting Quinn out there for the last couple of innings on defense even if Herrera was healthy. Even a light injury that put Herrera at 90% might have been enough to get Quinn in Coors.

[andyb]

Fangraphs on Nola. His first pitch strike percentage is way down. The conclusion is a little murky. Combination of slightly worse control but also hitters who have adjusted to not being as aggressive against Nola. And he is also getting away from some things with offspeed pitches that worked last year (new catcher education?).

Aaron Nola’s Losing the Waiting Game

[Austinfan]

Comes diown to command, he's off on all three pitches, 2 seamer, curve and changeup, and seems to have lost confidence in the change.