Phillies Hot Stove 2022-23

[Philsmania]

Maybe they just wanted to get a better advance-purchase airfare after spending all that money.

Or in advance of getting his money, Walker rented a villa in Hawaii for two weeks.

[zambonir]

What up Philly!

— Taijuan Walker ( @tai_walker ) December 16, 2022

[zambonir]

Phillies reportedly interested in former Mets pitcher Seth Lugo – Phillies...

That seems about right. Made $4 million last year. I suppose he could get $6 million in this market (and that's what the Phillies paid Hand and Familia). Not sure his desire to start is realistic. In any case, no lack of choices for this spot, just have to pick one and hopefully get it right (no sure thing, that).

[andyb]

I suppose he is as good a 5th starter option as we have if we keep the 3 kids in the minors at the start of the season. And since he has experience in 2-inning relief he could really be a better version of Nick Nelson in that role and more capable of higher leverage situations.

He'd be a bit of a luxury though. I just would not promise him that we would let him start regardless of whether Painter is ready or not.

[phillychuck]

Wheeler
Nola
Suarez
Walker
Falter
Painter
Sanchez

I'm pretty happy with that as a top seven--I don't think Lugo slides in clearly ahead of any of them except maybe Sanchez. Certainly agree with Andy, I wouldn't promise him anything.

[zambonir]

The report (tweet) explicitly says the Phillies are only looking at him for the pen. If he wants to start it will be somewhere else. Tweet puts their interest in past tense for that reason too it seems.

Phillies showed interest in Seth Lugo but likely as a reliever. He prefers to start. Padres, Dodgers, Nats among other suitors.

— Jon Heyman ( @JonHeyman ) December 15, 2022

[xogfog]

And you didn't mention McGarry, which nobody seems to include him in any conversations regarding the 2023 team, but I don't think he has anything left to prove in the minors, he was successful at every level. Now, they may want to move him to the bullpen, but he has been a starter all through the minors, so I'm hoping he opens some eyes in spring training, but I would almost like to see him and Painter split games to keep both of them fresh and limit their innings.

[andyb]

Griff was not that successful in his brief time in AAA and did walk 53 batters in 87.1 IP overall. The stuff is there, but it is also pretty reasonable to expect he needs another half season in AAA to work on his control.

[zambonir]

I mean, he did go 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in AAA. I realize that was the dog days, and out of the bullpen. I think they prefer to keep him as a starter and it's just a question of whether he pitches his way into the big leagues as a starter by July, or gets asked to make the switch in anticipation of spending August and September in the big league pen.

I think last year showed it's still really hard to carry six starters or do the tandem thing without it eventually wearing down other pitchers (both starters and relievers) in the long run. And our new #4 only goes five innings. I suppose they could literally flip-flop two of the youngsters for a few months, if the options are managed correctly.

[phillychuck]

To be fair to McGarry, he had an awful first outing in AAA and was fine in the second. Very small sample size...

[zambonir]

He pitched seven times. His last outing was actually the worst one - three walks, 1 hit, four runs, no Ks no outs. But it seems true that he was okay in 2-6.

[andyb]

The main point is that he really has not mastered AAA yet. He could do that very quickly with his stuff, but it is probably something he needs to do, especially if they keep him starting this year.

Given that he only pitched 87 innings last year it would not be the worst thing for him to make 10-15 starts at AAA and then get promoted. If the Phillies do not need a starter at that point he might be a very useful 2+ inning reliever late in the year and still not go crazy on his innings.

Part of me wants to start all 3 of our kids in May to keep their innings within reason tough I know that is not realistic and the major league staff really needs to see all of them.

[Austinfan]

I want all three kids in Lehigh, getting hands on coaching, to start the season, with no pressure.
Let them come up when they're ready.
And there are other young pitchers to watch, when we're talking 5th starter, we can live with the best of Falter/Sanchez/Skirrow/Plassmeyer for a stretch.

[zambonir]

Looks like the Phillies' gamble on Song might not pay off (or it definitely will, if their goal was to just own his rights for multiple years, until he's finished his service). Bill would basically do away with waivers again, past, present and future.

Bill might nix NFL draft for Army star LB Carter

[zambonir]

Dombrowski has basically given Painter the same message he gave Stott last season: come to Clearwater to win a job. That's actually not how it worked out for Stott exactly (initially) but if Painter looks ready against the best major leaguers in ST he can win the job, and if it's close, may as well be conservative with him.

[fish]

Looks like the Phillies' gamble on Song might not pay off (or it definitely will, if their goal was to just own his rights for multiple years, until he's finished his service). Bill would basically do away with waivers again, past, present and future.

I’m trying to patch together his timeline and I need some help.

• he graduated the academy in 2019 and was required to serve active duty before he could petition to change his status and go pro.
• instead he signed up for flight school which he finished after 2 years and then enrolled in some other flight school program.

Is flight school considered active duty or are his enrollments pushing back his eligibility 2 years after he completes the training?

[andyb]

There is also this line in the article:

Melissa Carter said it's her "understanding" that her son will have to do two years of military service if the bill gets passed as written. (Army officials explained that after two years of active service, a graduate can apply for an alternative service option.)

I think the era prior to immediate waivers was sort of the David Robinson era where he served 2 of his 5 year commitment and then deferred the rest to reserve duty (and frankly PR for the Navy).

Since Song has already done his first 2 years and that was immediately after graduation, he has probably surpassed the new requirements. For the Phillies it would probably best if he cut a deal to complete his 3rd year and stay through the Summer and then get activated in the Fall so he could spend a month or two getting in shape before going to the Arizona League which could be his "minor league career" before having to make the major league roster in 2024.

[zambonir]

I had the impression he had to do the full five years without a waiver, but that he might have committed himself to more by becoming an aviator? The training does still "count," however (IMO).

But it also looks like the story has been updated with new quotes since I posted it and that athletes who already began their service expecting to have the waiver option will still have it. But then you have to get it. So why has it eluded Song to this point?

[andyb]

Gelb mailbag part 1. Really sounds like they want Painter as the 5th starter. Also seems they are done with the major league roster other than a few more AAAA invites. Hall or Cave are the most likely Bryce roster replacements with Maton getting the last regular bench spot.

Phillies mailbag: Andrew Painter's promise, Griff McGarry's role, trusting the...

[zambonir]

I feel like a lot can change between now and February and again between February and April but here was Gelb's take on the Harper replacement, which is pretty much what has also been said publicly.

Do they want to use the vacant DH spot to optimize their defensive alignment? That would mean Hoskins or Alec Bohm as the DH with Sosa at third base more. Do they want to use the vacant DH spot as a way to rotate regulars and manage workloads? That probably means Hall goes to Triple A to play every day. Do they want power above all else? If that is the priority, then Hall is in good shape.

The Phillies did win a waiver claim on Cave, who has a similar profile to Hall’s. He is 30 and has more defensive versatility in the outfield. He is much, much better against righties than lefties — although most of his production in the majors came during 2018 and 2019 with very little since.