2020 Phillies Spring Training News, Notes & Discussion

andyb 2020-02-15 18:15:23 UTC #21

Are we really sure it took Klentak and MacPhail to put their people in place? Obviously analytics evolve, but it really seems that the first wave of their hires were not successful. In some places they learned (like with shifts where they improved). In other places they were just wrong (like with the pitching coach and I am assuming many of the most recent minor league coaching additions).

It really feels like they just tried to emulate the Astros and the Dodgers and did it in a paint by numbers way. They tried to copy what those organizations were doing without a great understanding of what those organizations were doing. Then the pressure to win sooner rather than later led to spending more money in ways that might be counter to their organizational goals. Like the Santana signing. They got a good player for fair money but had zero plan for how to fit that good player into the organization they had. It is like they had an analytical idea of what their type of player should be, but no clue what to do to fit that player onto their roster.

They are learning. Just hope it is not too little too late.

flyers19rw 2020-02-15 18:38:08 UTC #22

The Phillies need to work through their roster to weed out the contracts that aren’t earning their value. At $20M, Arietta needs to have a huge season. The Didi/Segura combo is also running $28.9M this season. That’s almost one quarter of the team’s entire salary allocation tied up in three players. If they were capable of performing up to the expectations for WAR for that money it would be great. However I don’t see that happening. The Phillies will be fortunate to get three WAR combined from them. That’s poor return on investment and ties the hands of a club that needs to make moves.

David_Criss 2020-02-15 20:14:47 UTC #23

https://twitter.com/ToddZolecki/status/1228767504392171527

Kyle Garlick has been traded from the Dodgers to the Phillies for Tyler Gilbert. To clear a spot for Garlick on the 40-man roster, outfielder Nick Martini was designated for assignment. Looks like a pedestrian move.

andyb 2020-02-15 20:34:58 UTC #24

More power than Martini. They must have thought Gilbert did not have enough stuff to be more than a AAAA reliever.

BostonRoss 2020-02-15 21:56:51 UTC #25

The 2020 Phillies have so many question marks that it's hard to see them reaching their potential. They have many key players coming off injuries (Arrieta, McCutchen, Dominguez, Gregorius, etc.). They have young players who have not shown that they can sustain good manjor league play (Kingery, Haseley, and several pitchers). And they have non-injured veterans who are just too uncertain to predict (Hoskins, Neris, even Wheeler). And of ccourse the complete unknowns (Herrera, Quinn).

Too any of the question marks have to have positive answers for this team to win close to 90 games, and the odds of that many going right are slim.

zambonir 2020-02-16 00:08:21 UTC #26

I think that's extremely pessimistic. They should combine for 5-6 WAR. But they all make enough money that they should combine for 9-10.

I see Segura with 2.0 WAR at 2B (he'll hit a little better, and defense will be much better). I'd rather not see him on the roster after this season (if not sooner) but that's another issue.

Didi was coming off his injury, no reason to think he's cooked. Worst-case might be 1.2 WAR but he could also hit 3. He's gonna hit home runs.

Arrieta if healthy will still show up and give you 1-2 WAR. If he can actually pitch better (because he's healthy) 3 is not out of the question. Of course if he gets hurt, forget it. But they knew he wouldn't necessarily be productive in Year 3 of the deal. They were just supposed to have more pitching ahead of him at this point (without having to sign another FA).

BostonRoss 2020-02-16 00:32:25 UTC #27

It seems likely that one of the three 30+ guys coming back from injury isn’t going to be able to produce.

Dirk41 2020-02-16 04:24:21 UTC #28

Any chance we can flip Arrieta for something as a deadline rental?? It's hard to imagine a superstar, free agent player who has had a quieter time than he has on any team in town.

LoneStarPhan 2020-02-16 06:21:05 UTC #29

Dodgers get minor league LHP Tyler Gilbert.

Phillies DFA Nick Martini to open a spot on the 40 man roster.

zambonir 2020-02-16 06:46:25 UTC #30

Didi hasn't even turned 30 yet but of course you'd never lose money betting on that. I think Cutch is the big concern. What he was doing last year probably wasn't sustainable, and if he levels off to his 2016 level (104 OPS+) his defense (and position) won't be enough.

I am honestly less concerned about Arrieta. We were never buying an ace with that money, we were overpaying (but underpaying compared to what was originally expected on the free market) for a former ace to join a last-place team. He still put up 2.9 WAR in what was perceived to be a disappointing 2018. That would be incredible this season. But he still did 0.9 in 2/3 of a season last year. I'd settle for 1.5-2 if he stays healthy this year.

And I hope we don't need to trade him! Unless it's some kind of clever salary dump while we add a big bat and another starter (besides Howard).

rpmcmurphy 2020-02-16 14:24:41 UTC #31

I know nothing about Kyle Garlick, but his minor league stats are interesting. Good power numbers throughout the minor leagues. Old for a rookie (28), but solid AAA numbers. 40 home runs in a little over 600 AB over last 2 years. Hit .314 last year. Strikes out a lot, No idea of fielding ability.

Seems like a decent move. What do the minor league gurus think?

BostonRoss 2020-02-16 15:36:54 UTC #32

I can repost on Tuesday!

Austinfan 2020-02-16 16:18:40 UTC #33

Garlick to me seems like a Listi type, older than you'd like, but has shown enough to be a potential bench piece.
He's put up solid RC+ in the Dodger organization (ignore raw stats, too many hitter friendly leagues) but didn't shoot up their system and had a hiccup at AAA at 26.

Did well in a SSS in the majors last year, a good sign that he wasn't intimidated.
Could be a Coste like late bloomer, good depth for Lehigh and a potential bench player, has two options left so provides a lot of roster flexibility.

Gilbert was a victim of a numbers game, one thing the Phillies have are a lot of LH RP prospects at AA and AAA ball.

zambonir 2020-02-17 05:21:31 UTC #34

Over/under on how many years before he's a "special assistant"?

Philsmania 2020-02-17 14:19:33 UTC #35

Under the old regime, he would have been one already. Gillick, Bowa and Manuel only have those gigs (and Green had until death) because of their iconic organizational stature which Amaro lacks (as did Wade who eventually unceremoniously left the front office after 2017). If they won a title in either '09, '10 or '11, Amaro might be with them.

Philsmania 2020-02-17 14:20:27 UTC #36

Position players reported yesterday and begin working out today. We have a full spring training now.

Squire 2020-02-17 14:49:03 UTC #37

And this year's "Best Shape of His Life" Declaration belongs to ......Jean Segura.

VoteForKalas 2020-02-17 15:35:47 UTC #38

LOL,,,it is amazing how ridiculous that role is with the Phillies

Philsmania 2020-02-17 17:22:37 UTC #39

And with other organizations? I bet everybody does it. It's like when players get called out in the media. We just notice it happening here.

zambonir 2020-02-17 17:57:14 UTC #40

Yeah I was thinking of Wade. But the Phillies do own part of NBC Sports Philly so it's not like getting hired by ESPN or a truly independent regional network. (When they first headed into this new deal much was made about the fact that Comcast, rather than the Phillies, would produce and control the broadcast, plus Wheels retired, but I don't really see anything about the talent roster or tone that feels different.)