News of Former Phillies 2019/2020

[andyb]

Freddy Galvis - plate discipline?

Freddy Galvis Is Trying Something Different

Walk rate went from 4.8% to 11.8%. K rate from 24.6% to 15.7%. Swing rate had a huge decrease. Same overall result (700 OPS, pretty good defense), but the changes may end up buying him a few more years in his career.

[phillychuck]

Historically, plate discipline (in the 80s and 90s anyway) improved as players matured and figured out MLB pitching. That improvement seems to be less in 21st century baseball (just my anecdotal impression...).

[zambonir]

It's fair to say Freddy exceeded everyone's expectations for this point in his career. Would have been the same or more WAR for us at any of the three non-1B IF positions over the past two seasons.

[el-pietro]

What jumps out at me there is that this is his 9th season in the majors. I'm shocked to see that he played in parts of 6 seasons with the Phils. I thought it was more like 3 years.I'll always have a soft sport for Freddy, I never thought hed stick in the majors at all based on his minor league numbers, and while its clear hes a below average bat I'm delighted that hes done enough to stick around in the bigs this long.

[andyb]

The reason Freddy probably had to go is the MLB financial system. It is just rare that an arbitration eligible player signs a long term deal with the team he is with for less than his arbitration value. Freddy made $4.3 million his last year with the Phillies then got an arbitration increase to $6.8 million. He was worth that raise, but since even in his best years he was a 1-2 WAR player, he really was not a long term fit since at age 28-31 he would presumably get slightly worse over time. He is at $5.5 million this year. That means he made a little more than $16 million the last 3 years. The Phillies thought 6 years of Scott Kingery at $24 million had more upside (if the system would even have made it possible to offer Freddy 3/16).

Supply and demand and a mild dose of free agent competitive balance collusion has just robbed players like Freddy of money they probably deserved, and forced them to switch teams more often than they would have liked.

[zambonir]

True, we would have been hard-pressed to just re-sign him, and Cesar had the extra year of control. It's just that they turned out to be more of a wash than expected.

Of course nobody knew JP was going to fizzle (never mind it wasn't his fault) or that Kingery was even going to start 2018 in the majors when they dealt Freddy. Nor would anyone have wanted Freddy at 3B over Franco, even with the obvious defensive upgrade. As it happens Freddy also wound up having a much better (if still low) OPS+ than Franco last year.

[andyb]

Juan Nicasio back in the big leagues with Texas. Things not going too well however.
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1295566899334598656

[zambonir]

Edgar Garcia is now a former Phillie

Edgar García, who is mentioned in this story, is getting traded to the Rays for a PTBNL, according to a source. García was DFA'd last week. https://t.co/NZMahsVt5x

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) August 18, 2020

I don't love it, he's roughly the same age as Rosso, Sanchez, Llovera (to say nothing of Romero and Medina), were they really sure he couldn't help this bullpen now or next year?

[andyb]

The 40-man roster in a time of COVID with 28-30 active players kind of forces these decisions. I agree he had some promise. I also think he would be getting knocked around like everyone else if he were active this year. Garcia really needed to refine his pitches in AAA to beat the option clock and he was denied that opportunity unfortunately.

At least they got something for him. Surprised a little they could not get anything for Nick Williams.

[zambonir]

I'm just surprised he didn't get a look this season. He did all right in AAA last year (and had not put in much time there). I would have expected him to be more of a candidate coming out of spring training even. Not a lock, but in that Ramos/Rios bottom of the bullpen revolving door role. I guess Sanchez's value is he hasn't already failed once, whereas Garcia has.

But yeah, enough upside to get a token return. You'd think Williams would rate a PBTNL but roster space is tight and if he sticks he's no longer a ML minimum player next year, so that might be all the Reds were willing to potentially invest in him. And if he doesn't get out of the Reds' alternate site any team will probably have another shot at him for free this off-season.

[David_Criss]

TWOfer
Nicasio down, Luis Garcia up in Arlington.

Rangers Select Luis Garcia, Place Juan Nicasio On Restricted List

[zambonir]

I'd take Luis right now. Well, first half of 2019 Luis.

[allentown]

Unusual circumstances this year, but I really don't care. Edgar Garcia is a guy you have to keep. A team always has to have an eye to the future and protect its cheap, young talent and Edgar Garcia was the 10 K/9 sort of reliever they are going to need going forward.

[zambonir]

You could say the same about EDLS. I think they just decided Garcia's upside wasn't as good as they'd hoped last year, or at least, not as good as Rosso and Brogdon (who already already beat out Garcia for MLB spots) and Sanchez and Llovera and Cleavenger (and there are also guys like Jones who still have to be added to the 40 this year if they pitch). It also doesn't bother me that they want the experienced fungibles (Parker, McLain, Guerra). And some of those guys still gotta go if Arano and Robertson come back.

In a normal year you flip Garcia and Pivetta for present-day bullpen help, knowing you're losing some future upside. This year in addition to everything else they need 6 starters and are probably still reluctant to lose Pivetta (or Irvin) just in case.

It's also possible the PTBNL is fair value (or a trade asset itself), as in the original Luis Garcia/Alvarez deal. And ironic that we got Sanchez 'cause of the Rays' Rule 5 crunch.

[andyb]

Looks like Mike Morin is headed for TJ surgery after he got off to a nice start.

Marlins' Mike Morin: Transferred to 45-day IL

And while all of the Marlins COVID positives were cleared to resume baseball activities a few days ago (so his major league promotion could be brief), welcome to the majors Brandon Liebrandt.

LHP Brandon Leibrandt's Journey From Somerset To MLB

Pitched for the NJ Blasters this summer and the Marlins noticed and purchased his contract. Playing in one of these pseudo independent leagues this summer in Somerset.

[andyb]

And more on Leibrandt from the Athletic:

From independent ball to the bigs, a 'surreal' only-in-a-pandemic baseball tale

Apparently Mark Leiter is recovering from TJ surgery and pitching for the other team in this 2-team league.

[Philsmania]

Another broadside across Schilling's HOF chances?

Curt Schilling among Trump supporters linked to border wall fundraising effort...

[zambonir]

There have been some dubious (i.e. likely incorrect) tweets saying he was actually part of the indictment.

Of course, he's making dubious tweets of his own, which will probably hurt him more than the facts of the case. He also tweeted a defense of Thom Brennaman last night.

[Philsmania]

Marlins calling up Sixto Sanchez.

Marlins To Promote Sixto Sanchez, Jesus Sanchez

[Philsmania]

There have been some dubious (i.e. likely incorrect) tweets saying he was actually part of the indictment.

Of course, he's making dubious tweets of his own, which will probably hurt him more than the facts of the case. He also tweeted a defense of Thom Brennaman last night.

If the BBWA doesn't vote him in to Cooperstown, he may well have himself to blame.