John Lannan Becomes a Free Agent

Image Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The John Lannan era in Philadelphia is (probably) over.

When the Phillies signed the veteran pitcher before the 2013 season, many Phillies fans were left scratching their heads.  John Lannan?  Isn’t this the guy who the Phillies have been beating up on for years now?  Doesn’t this guy suck?

Defenders of the move pointed out that his statistics against teams that weren’t the Phillies were actually pretty solid.  Besides, he’d only be counted on as the fifth starter, and if he could simply turn in some quality starts when his turn came around, the team would be in good shape.  Unfortunately, that was just another thing that didn’t quite go according to plan for the 2013 Phillies.

Lannan’s season never really got going.  After an abbreviated start against the Reds in April, he was placed on the disabled list with a strained tendon in his knee.  After he returned in June, he was inconsistent.  He turned in back-to-back excellent starts against the Nationals and White Sox, but couldn’t sustain that success.

Finally, after an August start where he gave up five earned runs in less than two innings, Lannan was returned to the disabled list and underwent season ending surgery on his knee.

Unsurprisingly, the Phillies outrighted Lannan from their roster, and after he refused a minor league assignment, he became a free agent.

Neither side ruled out the possibility that the team might re-sign him and have him compete for a job in Spring Training.  Despite his issues this season, Lannan has never been injury prone, and considering the Phillies’ woeful lack of pitching depth, it probably wouldn’t hurt to amass as many capable arms as possible.