Phillies Sign Matt Moore - 1 Year, $3 Million

[Patchmk88]

Source: Phils, Moore agree to 1-year, $3M deal

Interesting signing. He was once a top prospect and promising MLB arm until injuries. Pitched well in Japan last year.

[Austinfan]

Little writeup from Red Sox site:

Red Sox can find pitching value by scouting players in Japan

"In his brief stay with the Tigers, Moore’s velocity was 93.5 mph which was slightly higher than his great 2013 season. His main pitches are his fastball and a cutter along with a curve and change."

Four Asian league pitchers who could help replace Charlie Morton

[David_Criss]

How did he do in Japan. Surprised this is a guaranteed major league deal. Was the demand for his services that high that they couldn't get him on a minor league deal? They are definitely looking at low cost options, which is good to keep some money available for SS.

[Patchmk88]

Phillies To Sign Matt Moore

According to this he pitched well in Japan and got more work in then he would have in the US.

[Taudawg]

Probably had to be an MLB deal of around the 3.3 to keep him from staying in Japan. He has good stuff. If he is past the injuries, this turn out real nice.

[bkox]

How did he do in Japan.

6-3
2.65
1.103 WHIP
85IP
10.4k/9
2.5BB/9
0.8HR/9

[andyb]

Yeah, they just needed to exceed the something like 2.8 he got there.

This seems a reasonable buy low opportunity to me and he is left-handed. If our goal is to get 20 starts and 110 innings out of him to supplement what we likely will not get from Howard and Velasquez it is an inexpensive way to do. And he is left-handed. Hamels would be a more sentimental pick (and who knows if anyone will actually sign him to anything guaranteed), but Moore is younger and probably has a better chance of delivering innings.

Edit - Assuming this is a major league deal we now need 2 40-man spots. Likely a 3rd for a SS too. Quezada, Irvin, and Hamilton are perhaps the top 3 candidates. Though it makes adding both Chatham and Holder seem duplicative especially if we add another SS.

[zambonir]

Yeah, this does not replace Howard or Velasquez. They'll need 20 starts from all three guys. Fuld is already talking about 6-man rotations and tandem starts too, at least to start out. Everyone's gonna be on pitch or inning limits the first half of the season probably.

[andyb]

6-man rotations seem a dumb idea to me. The trend towards shorter starts means the bullpen gets taxed. I doubt whether you would want the guys in the 4-6 slots to pitch deeper into games, so if putting the last 3 guys in the rotation in a start every 6-8 days mode is your goal, then you are wasting a roster spot that could be used in relief.

Would prefer a 5-man rotation with occasional spot starts and a quick-trigger tandem role for whomever is in the 6th rotation spot. Basically we want that 6th starter on a course for 100 innings in the season even if they are not in the April rotation.

Injuries will necessitate the need for the 6th and 7th starters anyway. Planning to use 6 over the season seems dumb unless they are going to consistently go deep in the games (which beyond Nola and Wheeler and maybe Eflin, they are probably not going to do).

[julio]

All the reports I've been able to find say the signing was for $3 million, plus performance incentives. Why does our headline say $3.3 million?

I'll edit it if it's wrong - but I'll wait a bit; can anybody document the $3.3 million figure?

[bigegypt0417]

Here's an interesting article of the 6 man rotation...

The Costs and Benefits of Six-Man Rotations

[zambonir]

Yeah I believe that is a mistake, unless a bonus or option/buyout has been reported, which I haven't seen.

MLBTR points out that Moore's workload in Japan last year would have led the majors.

I would agree tandems seem to make more sense than a 6-man rotation - though in some ways they are de facto the same thing, as is having a 6th starter in reserve if he's not a minor leaguer. Anyway, people tend to talk the talk more than actually do it with that stuff. But it could be a temporary thing as well. If they go traditional, that means Howard or VV is in the bullpen until they're not (unless they option Howard of course).

They are probably still thinking about COVID scenarios too, but hopefully things will be far enough along that cancellations and doubleheaders don't return.

Fuld also said they intend to keep Jones, Suarez and Rosso stretched out, so that means getting Alvarez back (or another lefty) still seems important. Though maybe this signing changes things for Suarez.

[fish]

I'm completely ok with this signing- but don't count on him for more than 20 starts...and that's ok too- just keep adding depth.

[Patchmk88]

Sorry the first tween I saw about it said 3.3 and I didn’t edit after I went and snatched the actual article.

[flyers19rw]

Signing Moore is a solid move. The price seems about right. Probably less expensive and as good as some of the other options that are out there-Fiers, Sanchez, Porcello, Richards, Walker, Hill, etc. Leaves money to sign Didi. If/when that gets done, its off to ST to let the chips fall where they may.

[andyb]

Gelb seems to like the deal. Small nugget is we offered a contract to O'Day also this week.

The Phillies need innings. Enter Matt Moore. Will they add another starter?

[zambonir]

If they couldn't beat the Yankees on O'Day ($2.5 million) and Loup got $3 million seems like they'll be hard-pressed to re-sign Alvarez (or aren't even trying for now).