Phillies Grade the Trade: How’d Matt Klentak do at the trade deadline
Another Phillies trade deadline has come and gone with more young players joining the organization through the minor leagues
After years of buying the biggest and the best players on the market, the tables have turned on the Phillies organization. Once poaching players from the Astros Philadelphia was trying to swing veterans to Houston for young talent.
In his second season as the Phillies general manager Matt Klentak pulled off four trades involving veteran players at the deadline. More moves are expected during the August waiver trade period where nearly every player on the roster will be placed on revocable trade waivers to gauge interest around the league.
For now, let’s focus on how Klentak did in July with the four “marquee” moves that will hopefully benefit the organization down the road.
Perhaps the most regal move made by Klentak was sending Pat Neshek to the Colorado Rockies. It’s a move we predicted hours before it became reality, and considering what Philadelphia gave up for Neshek during the winter it may be a great trade down the line.
Jose Gomez looks to be the biggest piece coming over, and is already rated as the organization’s 19th-best prospect. Rated as an above average hitter with plus-defense the 20-year-old Gomez provides much-needed middle infield depth to the lower levels of the Phillies organization.
The Phillies will need to consider protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft this year, but at 20-years-old the chances of a team selecting and playing him on a major league roster are slim.
J.D. Hammer has the Phillies marketing department salivating with ideas for giveaways, promotions, licencing and all kinds of merchandise. Hopefully, Hammer can develop a great curveball and sign a deal with Home Depot or Arm & Hammer. Perhaps some foam hammers or an appearance with Flyers legend Dave “The Hammer” Schultz?
In all seriousness, Hammer is an intriguing, young bullpen arm that hopefully develops into a late inning pitcher. He may fade out this time next year or rise through the organization only to disappoint.
To finish up the deal the Phillies add another young pitcher, Alejandro Requena. Not only is this a great name, but the kid dominated Single-A with a 2.85 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 19 starts. He’s also just 20-years-old with room to develop and doesn’t need Rule 5 protection.
Colorado Rockies. PAT NESHEK. A. . RHP
Little was expected of Neshek, who ultimately became the Phillies lone All-Star and the most entertaining relief pitcher in recent memory. To get a top-20 prospect and two young pitchers in return for a rental reliever in his late-30s is admirable.
Klentak makes what may become a top-five roster move in his career as the Phillies general manager when all is said and done.
It’s puzzling to see the Baltimore Orioles as buyers 6.5 games out of a difficult division, but the Phillies took advantage of a front office in denial.
Jeremy Hellickson could have brought back much more for the Phillies last year when he flashed some resemblance of his Rookie of the Year campaign in Tampa Bay. Klentak wanted the equivalent of a first round pick, which the Phillies were likely to receive if Hellickson had turned down the qualifying offer, a move that was expected around baseball.
After taking a step back towards his days with the Diamondbacks the Phillies were able to acquire two interesting pieces for the veteran righty. They finally added a left-handed pitching prospect to the farm system, something I’ve looked for in recent years through the draft, with Garrett Cleavinger.
Flashing late-inning reliever pitches in Single-A and Advanced-A ball in 2016 Cleavinger was beginning a rapid rise through the Orioles organization. Playing all of 2017 in Double-A Cleavinger’s ERA doubled and his strikeouts are projected to take a dip in an equal number of innings.
Just 23-years-old and a third-round pick three years ago the Phillies hope they can mold Cleavinger into a lefty specialist for a future playoff run.
Perhaps the least interesting addition through the four deadline deals was the lone Major League player brought in, Hyun Soo Kim. In the final year of a two-year contract with Baltimore, the South Korean outfielder helped balance out the salary owed to Hellickson for the remainder of the season. Kim walked three times in his Phillies debut on Monday and could ultimately replace Daniel Nava as the fourth outfielder once a healthy Nava is inevitably moved in August.
If Kim shows something down the stretch as a bat off the bench the organization could theoretically offer him a short-term deal as a fourth outfielder and a veteran bat.
But most interesting is the international signing money, something several teams swapped during the deadline. More players are coming out of Latin America these days, and having the excess money designated for international free agents is next level thinking for the Phillies.
B-. . SP. Orioles. JEREMY HELLICKSON
Losing out on a more lucrative Hellickson last year bumps Klentak’s grade down, but the international signing money keeps it afloat. Cleavinger is a lottery ticket Philadelphia hopes to cash down the road, and Kim may win a ballgame or two late in the season.
It’s a quiet trade many will likely forget but have big time impact depending on how the international money is used.
How Matt Klentak got more than a sack of baseballs for the injured Howie Kendrick is beyond me, especially with the bruised hand suffered most recently.
Kendrick was a strong addition made by Klentak in the offseason costing the organization Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney, certainly nothing to cry over losing. If he’d been healthy and able to sustain the .340 batting average the Phillies may have an All-Star worth a package of premier prospects.
Unfortunately, two trips to the disabled list for separate injuries kept the big deal from coming to fruition, but the return for Kendrick is fairly impressive.
McKenzie Mills is a projectable left handed starter with an unknown ceiling and already rated as the organization’s #24 prospect. With 118 strikeouts in 18 starts Mills has the putaway pitches needed to win a ballgame. The lack of control will ultimately hurt him as he moves through the organization, but if he can reel it in the Phillies may have a number two or three starter.
For now he’s a back end starter that can flash impressive stuff from time to time.
Also coming in is the international signing money, which we’ve already noted as something that may help the Phillies even more down the line as their scouting in Latin America improves.
A+. . OF/INF. Nationals. HOWIE KENDRICK
After the bruised hand it felt as if moving Kendrick would be impossible, but somehow Klentak got the job done. Mill’s has solid upside and considering the Nationals are only getting a rental player with an extensive injury background it’s a great move by Klentak.
It’s a trade that may pay off in big ways down the line, and the Phillies should be pleased with the return.
Rounding out the Phillies trade deadline moves is Joaquin Benoit crossing the state of Pennsylvania into Pittsburgh. An 11th-hour deal finalized with the Pirates, Philadelphia moved the second of their two veteran bullpen arms acquired over the offseason.
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Benoit was hot and cold as a setup man for the Phillies, and was openly critical of manager Pete Mackanin’s use of the bullpen. The return wasn’t expected to be much with a 4.07 ERA and five home runs allowed in 42 innings of relief.
Luckily the Pirates needed a veteran arm after trading Tony Watson, creating a perfect marriage in the final hours of the deadline.
The 23-year-old McGarry has excelled in A+ ball this year was a closer with 14 saves and an ERA of 1.34 through 31 games. He’s another lottery ticket the Phillies may never see at the next level, but will gladly take a chance on at the low price of Benoit.
. RP. Pirates. JOAQUIN BENOIT. B
It’s a solid move once again by Klentak to get something for a 41-year-old reliever having an average year. He’s going to a team fighting for playoff position as a rental, so his value was never all that high.
Next: What's next for the Phillies after the trade deadline
Overall, Klentak had an above average trade deadline with all four of the Phillies most valuable veterans moving on. As more players are healthy down the stretch the Phillies will table trade discussions through the waiver process,