Phillies rumors: Five low-cost starting pitching options still available
By John Town
Chris Tillman
Chris Tillman couldn’t have had a worse season just before he hit free agency for the first time. The Orioles rotation made Philadelphia’s look passable in 2017, and Tillman played no small part in doing so. His 7.84 ERA was the highest of any pitcher with 90 or more innings pitched, and his 6.93 fielding-independent pitching wasn’t any better.
More from That Balls Outta Here
- Philadelphia Phillies: Most impactful transactions in 2022
- How will Rob Thomson manage the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen in 2023?
- How Phillies’ Ranger Suárez is set to build on 2022 postseason dominance
- What can Philadelphia Phillies expect from Bryson Stott in 2023?
- 3 Reasons to get excited for Phillies’ Craig Kimbrel signing
Tillman suffered from right shoulder bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled pads in joints that serve as cushions) at the end of 2016, and the issue carried over into 2017. He missed the first month of the season before all of his struggles. Who knows if the injuries affected him, but either way 2017 was a year to forget.
If Tillman’s shoulder is healthy, he could be worth taking a shot on as he is still fairly young (he won’t turn 30 until after the season starts). He pitched well as recently as 2016, so Tillman isn’t a lost cause yet.