2015 Phillies Rotation Candidates
By Matt Veasey
Williams was outstanding in 9 late season starts for the Phillies in 2014.
(Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)
Last August, the Phillies signed Jerome Williams off waivers from the Texas Rangers. The Phils were Williams 3rd team of the season, after he started the year with Houston. Fortunately for the Phillies, something clicked for Williams when he got to town.
In 9 starts over the final month and a half, the 9-year veteran went 4-2 with an excellent 2.83 ERA and 1.134 WHIP, allowing just 48 hits in 57.1 innings pitched. He went at least 7 innings on 5 different occasions, and generally rescued a floundering rotation.
Williams has made 128 starts and has 64 relief appearances with 7 different teams. After making 20 or more starts in each of his first 3 seasons all the way back in 2003-05, he has only done that once since, in 2013 with the Angels.
It’s hard to imagine Williams picking right up where he left off last year, and continuing to be a late-career revelation. But stranger things have happened, and off that 2014 finale he has certainly earned the status of entering spring holding a rotation spot to lose.