Phillies rumors: Four left-handed starters to target this offseason
The Phillies lost out on Patrick Corbin to the Nationals. The latest Phillies rumors suggesting they do next?
Phillies rumors regarding Patrick Corbin began to swirl late Tuesday afternoon when word of a decision being imminent swept across Twitter. Unfortunately for the Phillies, the top left-handed pitcher on the free agent market opted to sign with their division rival, the Washington Nationals.
Corbin inked a six-year deal worth $140 million, similar to the deal Yu Darvish signed with Chicago last year.
Phillies fans were optimistic they could land Corbin after his visit to Citizens Bank Park last week, and they were disappointed when James Paxton was traded to the Yankees, but now they must move on to other options.
Adding a left-handed pitcher is one of the many things on Matt Klentak’s to do list this offseason, and he’s been vocal about making this move after the organization went nearly two seasons without a start from a lefty.
Ranger Suarez isn’t, and may not ever be, ready to be a guy who can take the ball every five days and turn out quality starts. If the Phillies had Suarez on the doorsteps a couple of years ago he would likely be in the rotation and potentially turn into a stalwart in the rotation. Philadelphia is ready to win, and they don’t have time to give Suarez 30 starts to learn how to pitch in the big leagues.
I have two free agents and two trade candidates the Phillies front office could turn to after losing the Corbin sweepstakes. Two are more realistic than the other, but each has a possibility of being completed at some point this offseason.
J.A. Happ – Free Agency
A reunion with J.A. Happ appears to be the most likely option according to the latest Phillies rumors. Immediately after learning Patrick Corbin wasn’t coming to Philadelphia the local beat writers all said Matt Klentak’s attention will instantly turn to the 36-year-old Happ.
A third-round pick of the Phillies in 2004 out of Northwestern Happ made his major league debut for the 2007 team that clinched the first of five National League East crowns in a June spot-start against the Mets.
Happ appeared in eight games for the 2008 World Series team, making four starts, two in June and two in September. He made one playoff appearance that season, pitching three innings of relief against the Dodgers in game three of the NLCS after Jamie Moyer allowed five runs in the first inning.
Happ’s career took off in 2009 when he finished second to Marlin Chris Coghlan in the Rookie of the Year vote. The lefty went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA and had two complete game shutouts.
The following summer he was dealt to Houston for veteran pitcher Roy Oswalt and has since bounced across the league. Happ has spent the last eight years with five different teams, four in the American League.
Happ has been a steady arm in the big leagues since leaving Philadelphia, winning double-digit games in six of his last seven seasons. He received Cy Young votes in 2016 when he won 20 games for Toronto and he made his first All-Star team last season before being traded to the Yankees.
The 36-year-old Happ would likely command a deal no longer than two years. Last year he made $13 million and could command slightly more in this market. Knowing the Phillies are desperate for a left-handed starter his agent will likely look for what might be Happ’s final major payday.
Robbie Ray – Trade
The Phillies were first connected to Robbie Ray at the general manager meetings by NBCS Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury. He noted both James Paxton and Ray in his original report, but since then there’s been very little chatter regarding Ray.
Arizona appears to be primarily focused on trading the face of their franchise, Paul Goldschmidt, and begin to rebuild despite winning 82 games last year. Philadelphia was linked to Goldschmidt before the Segura deal, so it’s apparent the two teams have been in discussion regarding trades.
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Ray has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, which is an advantage for both Philadelphia and Arizona. The Diamondbacks can raise Ray’s price tag significantly given his controllability and the Phillies can secure a young lefty in their rotation for two years at a reasonable price.
After Ray’s All-Star 2017 season that included a 2.89 ERA and 15 wins, the lefty suffered an oblique strain that set him out more than a month early in the season. He started just 24 games and had a 3.93 ERA, but his K/9 was nearly identical to last year when he led the league averaging 12.1 K/9.
Ray’s price tag won’t be as hefty as others both in terms of finances and prospects going back to Arizona. While the chatter hasn’t been as hot regarding Ray, keep an eye on him if the Phillies miss out on another free agent.
Dallas Keuchel – Free agency
Dallas Keuchel entered free agency as one of the top starting pitchers available and is likely considered the top option for teams seeking an impact starter.
An anchor in the Astros World Series rotation, Keuchel has a history of being dominant, yet inconsistent. From 2014-15 he had eight complete games and led the league in multiple categories en route to a Cy Young award in 2015.
That season Keuchel won 20 games, threw two shutouts, faced 911 batters, and had a 1.017 WHIP. The next season that extended use appeared to hinder him, and he was limited to 26 starts with a 4.55 ERA and a 9-12 record.
Houston’s championship season brought out more of Keuchel’s best, but he was limited to 23 starts and 145.2 innings, the second-fewest in his career, but threw an additional 27.2 postseason innings. Keuchel carried a 2.90 ERA with 14 wins in the regular season en route to a championship.
Last year Keuchel’s rollercoaster career took another downward turn after he started a league-high 34 games, faced a league-high 874 batters, and allowed a league high 211 hits.
A 3.74 ERA isn’t something to hang your hat on going into the biggest offseason of your life looking for $100 million guaranteed.
Keuchel scares a lot of fans similar to Jake Arrieta last offseason. Both are former Cy Young winners who’ve been overworked, throw into high-leverage postseason games, and regressed going into free agency.
Madison Bumgarner – Trade
Many consider the Maddison Bumgarner rumors to be dead, but Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com stirred the pot on Tuesday afternoon saying the trade market for Bumgarner is coming into focus.
What he means by that exactly I’m not sure, but he says the Phillies have spoken to San Francisco about a potential deal.
Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia can talk to the Giants all they want about a Bumgarner trade, but that doesn’t mean the Giants are pushing to trade him.
Jon Heyman of Fancred and MLB Network said on Nov. 30 that a Giants source told him they “Don’t see (Bumgarner) going anywhere.”
That could change with an aggressive package of players offered up by the Phillies, but it seems the Giants new front office isn’t keen on moving their ace.
The 29-year-old is in the final year of his deal worth $12 million, a bargain if he’s healthy. After six consecutive seasons with at least 30 regular season starts Bumgarner hasn’t made more than 21 in his last two years.
Is he starting to wear down after all of those starts and postseason appearances?
That’s something that will concern executives across baseball. If a team gives up major prospects for any player on a one-year deal, they have to feel confident in being able to re-sign that player long-term.
Next. What's next post-Segura trade?. dark
Bumgarner would be an upgrade for the Phillies at any price, but it’ll cost several prospects and perhaps a major league player or two. One of the young starting pitchers who would lose a job to Bumgarner in Philadelphia could get a fresh start in San Francisco, and Nick Williams might need a new job if the Phillies acquire multiple outfielders this offseason.
Prospect Adonis Medina is another name to watch in trade talks going forward after his name surfaced in several reports recently.