Should the Phillies trade for or buy a closer this offseason?

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ST PETERSBURG, FL – MAY 22: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the ninth inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on May 22, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

The back-end of the Phillies bullpen could use a star, but how should that star be acquired

The Phillies pitching kept them through the first 122 games of season before the entire team collapsed in historic fashion. It was a strength that surprised some, but failed to hold on throughout the 162 game season.

In the first 272 innings (March-June) the Phillies bullpen had a 4.36 ERA. They didn’t waver much in their next 300 innings (July-September) carrying an ERA of 4.01, largely thanks to a 2.55 ERA in July. The success of that month was largely thanks to Seranthony Dominguez giving up only two runs the entire month.

Dominguez sputtered down the stretch and the former starter struggled to pitch in back-to-back games. In 14 appearances with zero days rest, he had an ERA of 6.00 with 10 walks. In 23 games with at least one day of rest, he had a 1.69 ERA with six walks.

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 23 : Pitcher Seranthony Dominguez #58 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws to a Washington Nationals batter in the ninth inning at Nationals Park on June 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Having a young stud like Dominguez in the back of the bullpen is imperative for a team looking to snap their playoff drought. But he can’t do it on his own, and the Phillies are reportedly looking at free agent closer Craig Kimbrel and Mariners star closer Edwin Diaz.

Let’s not focus on the names here, as there are a ton of options in free agency and on the trade market when it comes to adding a veteran reliever for the back of the bullpen. Phillies fans would welcome the signing of Zach Britton, David Robertson, Cody Allen, or Andrew Miller just as much as any Diaz, Alex Colome, or Archie Bradley.

There’s a big difference with these types of acquisitions, but they’re both about cost: Should the Phillies be paying in dollars or prospects for an All-Star closer to pair with Dominguez?

The Phillies have plenty of both to move this offseason with a loaded farm system and an owner desperate to win by spending.

DENVER, CO – MAY 20: Relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon #58 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after recording the final out of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 20, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Phillies defeated the Rockies 4-2. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Throwing a lot of money at relievers hasn’t paid off in recent years. The Phillies gave Jonathan Papelbon $50 million, and while he became the franchise’s all-time saves leader he was a fester in the clubhouse and with the fans.

Last offseason the Phillies gave Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter $34.2 million combined over two years. Neshek was limited to 30 games because of injuries, but he held a respectful 2.59 ERA. Hunter struggled out of the gate with a 4.54 ERA in his first 43 appearances, but he evened out at the end of the year with a 2.94 ERA in his last 22 games.

ST. LOUIS, MO – SEPTEMBER 22: Mark Melancon #41 of the San Francisco Giants leaves the field after giving up the game-winning home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the tenth inning at Busch Stadium on September 22, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Two years ago the San Francisco Giants gave Mark Melancon a four-year deal worth $62 million that hasn’t had a strong return on investment. He dealt with a forearm injury last year and suffered two elbow strains the year before. After a four-year stretch of being one of the best closers in baseball Melancon has a 3.86 ERA and just 14 saves in two years with the Giants, and is owed $38 million over the next two years.

Last offseason the Rockies gave Wade Davis and Bryan Shaw three year deals worth a combined $79 million. Earning $18 million this year, Davis is currently set to make the third-most for a relief pitcher next year.

Shaw turned out his worst season in the big leagues with a 5.93 ERA in 61 games, the fewest since his rookie year. Davis led the league in saves and games finished, but had a 4.13 ERA, his worst since 2013.

Coors Field plays a factor into those inflated numbers, but Shaw still had a 5.10 ERA on the road and Davis an ERA of 3.55.

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Last year the Twins gave Addison Reed a two-year deal worth $16.75 million and he turned a season with his worst ERA since his sophomore season at 4.50.

The Phillies can certainly pay the big name guys, but unfortunately for a talented class of relief pitchers, history isn’t on their side when it comes to teams signing them to massive contracts.

PHILADELPHIA – MAY 12: Ken Giles #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the eighth inning during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park on May 12, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pirates won 7-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Philadelphia also has a history of trades involving young relievers, most notably Ken Giles. Built up as an All-Star closer who threw a wicked-fast fastball, Giles was the Phillies’ most valuable asset in the middle of a rebuild. They shipped him to Houston after two years with a career 1.49 ERA in 113 games and just 24-years-old.

The Astros sent five players to the Phillies for Giles, including former number one pick Mark Appel. In all the Phillies received Appel, Vince Velasquez, Brett Oberholtzer, Thomas Eshelman, and Harold Arauz for Giles and prospect Jonathan Arauz, ironically no relation to the prospect Houston sent back in the deal.

HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 28: Ken Giles #53 of the Houston Astros walks off the mound as he exits the game during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Giles struggled immediately in Houston, a city on the verge of it’s first World Series victory. In 2016 he had a 4.11 ERA and blew five saves in 20 attempts. A decent 2017 didn’t carry over for Giles, who publically ridiculed manager A.J. Hinch, and he was subsequently traded to Toronto.

The Phillies haven’t turned out as clear winners in the Giles deal, especially after Appel decided to step away from baseball.

Eshelman was left vulnerable to the Rule 5 Draft and Arauz had a 4.69 ERA in Reading and Lehigh Valley last year.

Velasquez could turn this deal around if he can stick a starting job, but his inconsistencies have made him one of the more frustrating players in the organization.

There were several relievers moved at the trade deadline, including Zach Britton, Jeurys Familia, and Brad Hand. Britton and Hand each had ERA’s under three after they were traded, while Familia’s was at 3.45 for the A’s.

CHICAGO, IL – MAY 05: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees looks over his World Series ring with Miguel Montero #47 of the Chicago Cubs before a game at Wrigley Field on May 5, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Aroldis Chapman has been the face of both sides of deals as a free agent and as a trade asset. He net the Reds four players in the 2015 trade with the Yankees, which included #3 prospect Eric Jagielo, their first round pick from 2013 who still hasn’t reached the big leagues.

Nearly seven months later the Yankees dealt Chapman to the Cubs for one of the best prospects in baseball, Gleyber Torres, along with pitcher Adam Warren and prospects Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford. Chapman went on to win a World Series for the Cubs with a 1.01 ERA and 16 saves in 28 regular season games.