Phillies rumors: Marcus Stroman trade an ideal match this offseason
Phillies rumors are beginning to swirl with a glaring need going into the offseason
Phillies rumors approaching the Winter Meetings and MLB trade deadline have cooled in recent years with the team’s steady decline from the position of being a buyer to one of a seller.
With an offense now being carried by Rhys Hoskins and Nick Williams, the core of a future lineup is beginning to evolve at Citizens Bank Park.
The unanimous outcry from fans regarding the pitching will have to be addressed at this point of the Phillies rebuild. Aside from Aaron Nola there are few long-term, reliable starters in the upper echelon of the organization.
Nick Pivetta, Jerad Eickhoff, Ben Lively, Mark Leiter, and Zach Eflin have the making of quality back of the rotation arms.
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Best case scenario, Eickhoff figures out what he lost between 2016 and this year to reclaim his stretch of dominance.
Historically the Phillies have spent big on pitchers via the trade market, from Steve Carlton to Roy Halladay to Roy Oswalt, to solidify a championship core.
Toronto’s Marcus Stroman could be that next great arm acquired through the trade market.
Not due to turn 27-years-old until next May Stroman is one of the bright young pitchers in baseball. He’s won 35 of 92 career appearances, including 11 this season with the Blue Jays.
Financially Stroman won’t need to see a major pay raise until the 2021 season. He’ll enter his second offseason of arbitration eligibility this year.
With an ERA hovering around 3.00 Stroman is consistent and reliable every fifth day, evident with his 30 starts and two complete games in 2017.
A factor brought into play whenever the Phillies bring in a pitcher is their ability to keep the ball in the park. Stroman has a terrific .928 home runs per nine innings pitched this season, best for 10th in baseball.
That’s not because Stroman pitches in a friendly park either. Toronto’s Rogers Centre has nearly identical dimensions compared to Citizens Bank Park.
Here’s an overlay of The Bank and Rogers Centre, where the lines are similar and the outside corners are the lone exceptions.
Could Marcus Stroman continue his success of limiting HR allowed if he pitched in Citizens Bank Park? #Phillies pic.twitter.com/QAn8RYMTgt
— PHILLIES TBOH (@FS_TBOH) September 14, 2017
To pull off any good trade there has to be a matching need with the other team involved. Toronto’s middle infield is looking for some instant relief after starting Ryan Goins at short. Their top prospects designated to play in the majors aren’t projected to be promoted until 2020.
This opens the possibility of Freddy Galvis or Cesar Hernandez going to Toronto in a swap for Stroman. They’d be getting either a Gold Glove shortstop with pop or a quality leadoff hitter who could contend for a batting title.
Moving Galvis or Hernandez ultimately opens up a full-time job for J.P. Crawford or Scott Kingery, both appear to be major league ready in some capacity.
Next: Can Rhys Hoskins win the Rookie of the Year?
It’s time to do the deal for another Blue Jays ace and begin to build the rotation of the future in Philadelphia. Set the Phillies rumors mill a rolling!