Phillies Sign LH RP Matt Strahm

julio 2022-12-07 03:25:15 UTC #1

Left-handed reliever Matt Strahm and the Philadelphia Phillies are finalizing a two-year, $15 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. @Ken_Rosenthal and @MattGelb had them close.
— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 7, 2022

andyb 2022-12-07 03:45:09 UTC #2

Former starter with a starter's arsenal. Not the high velocity type we usually go after. Seems a little pricey for so little relief track record though I am guessing we think he has more to offer (at least in innings). And with a mostly right-handed rotation we really want LHPs in the 6th inning to turn a lineup around.

bigegypt0417 2022-12-07 03:58:17 UTC #3

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1600328871814889474?t=PzeUD4QAP06i-onAVnsZHw&s=19

phillychuck 2022-12-07 16:29:44 UTC #4

Reported on several outlets, 2 years, $15M. Seems like a bargain for a LHRP with decent control and more than a strikeout per IP.

zambonir 2022-12-07 16:50:45 UTC #5

He's pretty much a career relief pitcher, 2019 was a failed attempt to make him a starter. Injured in 2021. Definitely feels like a generous deal - he only made $3 million last year on a prove-it deal, so I guess he did! The second year is more of a concern I'd think, just so easy to end up with an injured or down year a guy. But, it's a player's market.

David_Criss 2022-12-07 17:09:01 UTC #6

That would bring the 40-man to 41.
Scott, Nelson, Nittoli, Ortiz, Vasquez could be possible cuts
Sands and McArthur, too could be designated to make room.

Guessing Knebel, Hand, Thor and Robertson are all out of the picture now. Are there any trades coming?

andyb 2022-12-07 17:30:30 UTC #7

He was mostly a starter in the minors too. Note that it looks like they piggybacked him a lot in the minors but his innings per appearance in most years suggested they were starting him. But more importantly he is not a 2-pitch pitcher. Like Ranger he has a starter's variety of pitches and does not rely just on velocity.

They must like his analytics, because it really looks like an overpay given his limited track record of success.

julio 2022-12-07 17:35:38 UTC #8

I don't know. Any conclusion of "overpay" has to be based on past salaries, past "market-clearing" contracts. "Overpay" assumes that market prices have not, in general, risen.

Well, unless you're arguing that Strahm's contract is an "overpay" compared to other free agent contracts being concluded in the current (i.e., this year's) market.

andyb 2022-12-07 17:44:55 UTC #9

Athletic article on Walker also has a line on Strahm.

"They committed a decent chunk of their bullpen budget to Strahm, a 31-year-old lefty whose average fastball velocity jumped a tick in 2022 when he spent a full season in the bullpen for the first time. He agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal, according to a major-league source. Strahm is the rare reliever who used five different pitches, and the Phillies could refine his repertoire. He had better numbers against righties in 2022"

Maybe if they simplify him to throwing 3 pitches he will pick up a little more velocity in the bullpen in a consistent role. That seems to be the thought here anyway.

Philsmania 2022-12-07 17:53:48 UTC #10

Was Robertson the last free agent reliever who we signed to two or more years?

Austinfan 2022-12-07 18:17:08 UTC #11

Strahm is interesting, FB (2 and 4 seam) up to 94, both curve and slider are plus pitches so he should be able to handle RH. His change is meh, that might be one thing they work on to give him a better option than the slider against RH (changeup that fades away is a big help for LHP).

But durability and stamina? Only pitched 44 IP last season in 50 appearances. Maybe they were babying his are coming off injury. Sidelined for a month with a bruised left wrist, so that's not a big worry.

Strahm had surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his right knee after the 2020 season. So not an arm issue.

zambonir 2022-12-07 18:29:14 UTC #12

I think that's absolutely right. In 2020 they went full-on bargain basement (Blake Parker, Hale, bringing Hunter back) before the disastrous trades and in '21 and '22 it was Bradley/Kintzler (one major one minor) and Knebel/Familia on one-year deals.

Hunter and Neshek were also signed to two-year deals that didn't work out great (Neshek worked better the first time).