Phillies Trade Chips: Jeanmar Gomez
The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to make a few deals before the MLB non-waiver trade deadline arrives in just over a week, and their closer is attracting interest.
During the off-season, Phillies GM Matt Klentak dealt away closer Ken Giles in exchange for a large haul of prospects that included current starting pitcher Vincent Velasquez.
While some Phillies fans were initially disappointed in losing ‘100-Miles Giles’, whom they saw as one of the few exciting, young drawing cards with the cub, those have been mitigated by the exciting success and promise of Velasquez.
However, the trading away of Giles left the team with a gaping hole at the closer spot. For a young team such as the Phillies, coming off the worst record in baseball in 2015, to work hard for a lead only to have the bullpen blow it late can be crippling to morale.
The Phils needed someone to step up and claim the role. To help the process along, Klentak brought in veteran David Hernandez, who entered spring training as the favorite for the 2016 Phillies closer spot.
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However, Hernandez faltered in the spring and early season. Other candidates also faltered when given an opportunity at seizing the job in spring training and over the first week of the season.
And so, somewhat because he had always shown himself to be a reliable option when called upon in the 6th and 7th innings, right-hander Jeanmar Gomez was given a shot at closing.
When he stepped on to the mound at CitiField in New York against the Mets on April 9th to try to protect a 1-0 lead, Gomez had exactly one career Save, coming back in 2014 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
That early April evening, Gomez set the Mets down in order to record his first Save as a Phillies pitcher. It was just the beginning of what became an unexpected but sensational run.
Over the next five days, Gomez would save four more games. Running with his opportunity, he would register eight during the month of April to go along with a pair of extra-inning Wins on his record.
No closer is perfect, and Gomez would finally blow a Save opportunity on May 4th. But he did what the good ones do, putting it quickly behind him to register Saves in each of his next seven opportunities.
Gomez now has 26 Saves on the 2016 season. He has career-best 2.76 ERA and 1.117 WHIP marks in 45.2 innings over 43 games. He has allowed just 40 hits, and has a solid, if unspectacular, 29/11 K:BB ratio.
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Gomez is not flashy. He does not come in and blow hitters away. Mostly he gets them to pound his cutter into the ground. If he doesn’t end up getting you to flail away at some offering for a strikeout, he gets you beating a ball into the dirt for a ground out.
His success as a closer, but also the fact that he has always been a reliable reliever in general, is making Gomez an attractive trade chip for the Phillies and acquisition target for opponents as the deadline approaches.
So, who might be the best match for such a deal, and what kind of price might the 28-year old, seven-year big leaguer bring back in return. Let’s look at a handful of possibilities.
Next: GOMEZ RETURNS TO THE BURGH
GOMEZ TO THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Gomez spent two seasons with the Bucs back in 2013-14, mostly as a reliever. He did receive eight starts for Pittsburgh during his first year after coming over in a January 2013 trade from the Cleveland Indians.
Gomez had been a starting pitcher with the Tribe from 2010-12, making 38 starts over his first 42 big league appearances with Cleveland, with whom he had signed as a 17-year old amateur free agent out of his native Venezuela back in 2005.
With the Pirates, Gomez went 5-2 with his lone career Save, had allowed just 135 hits over 142.2 innings. He signed as a free agent with the Phillies in January of 2015.
The Bucs have an NL All-Star in closer Mark Melancon, so Gomez would slot into a setup role in Pittsburgh, as well as be around for spot Saves when Melancon goes too many consecutive days, or as insurance in case of an injury.
Frankly, I’m listing Gomez as a Pirates possibility because of two things: the team’s familiarity and likely comfort with his history, and a number of rumors that the Bucs have been looking at him.
However, Pittsburgh has at least a quartet of righties between ages 27-30 who have done reasonably well in a setup and middle innings role in Arquimedes Caminero, Neftali Feliz, Jared Hughes and A.J. Schugel.
If the Pirates are interested, Phillies fans need to understand that even with his success this year and solid track record, Gomez may not bring back anything of major value.
There are financial considerations for any acquiring team, as he is arbitration eligible after this season, and can become a free agent after next season.
Think about someone such as Max Moroff, an infielder who some see as a future utility infielder, while others see him as a potential big league 2nd baseman. The 23-year old could have value to the Phillies in either role as they continue their rebuilding program.
Next: GOMEZ LEAVES HIS HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO
GOMEZ TO THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Another team that does not necessarily have an absolute need for a right-handed setup man, but yet another that is said to have been scouting Gomez of late.
The Giants use right-hander Santiago Casilla as their closer, and have a group of righties who have been reliable in Hunter Strickland, Sergio Romo, Derek Law, and George Kontos.
But if the Giants, as rumored, feel that Gomez would be an upgrade on those pitchers as a primary setup man and spot-closer, then a deal could be struck to send him out to the NL West leaders.
Think along the lines of 23-year old Austin Slater out of Stanford. Slater would add depth to the Phils system in a similar way to Moroff, becoming a contender for a future Phillies utility role. He has played 2nd base, and is now also being used in left field.
Next: GOMEZ DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
GOMEZ TO THE TEXAS RANGERS
Yet another team rumored to be scouting Gomez, the Rangers have righty Sam Dyson in the closer role at present, and he has functioned well in that role. Shawn Tolleson is also still around, though he faltered at times when closing earlier in the years.
Texas also gives righty bullpen innings to Tony Barnette, who has been solid, literal rehab project Matt Bush, who has been really strong, Keone Kela, and veteran Tom Wilhelmsen.
But Gomez would appear to be a nice fit here. He could slip back to his key 7th-8th inning role if the Rangers think that Bush is matured enough to take on the primary setup role. Or Gomez could setup himself, ready to step in for Dyson when needed.
Would the Phillies have interest in overlooking the past PED suspension of Travis Demeritte to make a deal? Would the Rangers, who have other internal options, be willing to deal his offensive upside? Could be a good fit, a nice roll of the dice for Klentak, and a reasonable price for Texas.
Next: GOMEZ TO EMERALD CITY
GOMEZ TO THE SEATTLE MARINERS
Are the Mariners contenders? Are they buyers or sellers? This could be one of the more interesting teams to watch at the deadline and for the balance of the season.
They sit at 49-47, just 5.5 games behind Texas in the AL West race and 4.5 games back of the final AL Wildcard berth.
Gomez could come in and take over the closer role from Steve Cishek, slot in as his setup man and insurance, or become the 7th inning guy with occasional late work if the M’s believe that young Edwin Diaz, their closer of the future, is ready for a key role on a contender.
Righties Joel Peralta and Joaquin Benoit are both here and have plenty of experience, but neither has been completely reliable this year, and Gomez would upgrade over both.
I would think that a price such as Paul Blackburn, a 22-year old righty just obtained as part of the Mike Montgomery deal with the Cubs, would be something the M’s could afford to part with, and who would be attractive to the Fightin’ Phils.