Phillies: Low Cost Starting Pitching Options in Free Agency
As a rebuilding team, the Phillies are not expected to have an incredibly high-profile offseason. Most (if not all) top-tier free agents will not appeal to this team right now, as they will likely be in decline by the time the Phightin’s are contending again.
While the majority of playing time should go to young players on the rise, there is still the need for experienced pitchers to eat innings, mentor the kids, and most especially, lighten the workload on the young arms.
Since we aren’t expecting blockbusters deals in Philadelphia this offseason, I’m going to focus on the low-cost, low profile free agents on the market.
Today, I’ll be addressing Starting Pitchers.
Honorable Mentions
The majority of the Phillies low-cost options underperformed massively this past season. Most of them are above the age of 30, as well, which makes them less likely to be in the Phillies long-term plans.
Ryan Vogelsong, Jesse Chavez, Kris Medlen, and Joe Wieland (to name a few) are all bounce back candidates that the Phillies front office might have their eye on.
None of these guys is going to be an ace, nor are they guaranteed to return to form. What they will do is consume innings for a low salary, and right now that’s what the Phillies need.
Jeremy Hellickson, Philadelphia Phillies
This one is kind of given. If Hellickson hadn’t told Phillies beat reporter Todd Zolecki that he “would love to be back next year,” I probably would not be writing this. But he did, so I am.
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The former Rookie of the Year did exactly what the Phillies wanted of him during his lone season with the club, throwing 189.0 innings of 3.71 ball. So why not bring him back for another year?
The first matter of business, though, will be the qualifying offer that Hellickson is almost sure to receive. Given that Rich Hill is the only FA pitcher to have a better season than Hellickson, the Phillies would be foolish not to extend a qualifying offer.
If he takes the offer, they get him back at $17.2 million (not great, but won’t hinder the low-payroll Phillies). Should he sign elsewhere, the Phillies get a compensatory draft pick, most likely to be in the first round! Either way, the team gets something they want.
Estimated Offer – Accepts Qualifying Offer (17.2 million) or 2 years/$30 million
Andrew Cashner, Miami Marlins
Cashner was a highly regarded prospect due to his blistering fastball, which could frequently hit the upper-90s. After sustaining injuries to his neck and hamstring, we’ve seen Cashner’s velocity (and performance) dip over the past two seasons.
Keep in mind that as recently as 2014, Cashner posted an ERA of 2.55. Should the Phillies fail to re-sign Hellickson, Cashner would not be a poor second choice. Despite a history of getting hurt, Cashner features exactly the kind of upside the Phillies are looking for.
If he can pitch to his potential, at least up to the All Star break, there will be a plethora of contending teams eager to pick him up. Or maybe he goes full on ace-status, as the Padres hoped he would when they gave up Anthony Rizzo for him.
In that case, the Phils would be wise to hold onto him. Whether he thrives or flops, he won’t cost the team much regardless.
Projected Offer – 1 year/$10 million
Edinson Volquez
Ever since a breakout year in 2008, Edinson Volquez has been trying to recapture that magic. After spending the 2014 season with Pirates’ “pitching guru” Ray Searage, Volquez was finally able to tap into the early success he experienced back in Cincinnati.
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The two years he spent in Kansas City following his resurgence turned out to be a wash. He posted a solid 3.55 ERA over 200.1 innings in his first season with the Royals, but failed to maintain that level of play.
Volquez is a low-cost option because his ERA ballooned to 5.37 this year, and he posted the second-lowest strikeout rate of his career (6.61 K/9).
Because of struggles, it seems likely that the Royals will buy Volquez out of his contract for a cool $3 million, rather than employing him for another year at $10 million.
What he can do for Philadelphia is eat up around 190 innings, and hopefully get his ERA somewhere between 3.50-4.50 again. For what they’ll pay him, that’s better than another season of Jeremy Hellickson.
Estimated Offer – 1 year/$8 million