The Phillies showed where their priorities are at by demoting Nick Pivetta.
Despite acquiring multiple All-Stars and former MVPs in the offseason the Phillies appeared to be walking a fine line between developing young players and winning now.
By demoting starting pitcher Nick Pivetta on Wednesday, the Phillies have shown where their priorities are this season.
Despite being a breakout candidate entering the 2019 season, the 26-year-old Pivetta struggled out of the gate with a league-high 31 hits and 17 earned runs allowed in four starts. An 8.35 ERA in his third big league season put him on pace for a career-worst year amongst tremendous pressure.
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General manager Matt Klentak addressed the media after Pivetta departed the clubhouse and said “every game matters right now.”
Philadelphia is clearly in a win-now mode, and Klentak’s comments highlight the priority to win over develop even more. This move puts the rest of the club on alert after many slipped through the big leagues as they developed for the last three or four years.
The Phills now hope that Jerad Eickhoff can give a scuffling rotation some life after a tremendous four shutout inning relief appearance Tuesday night. After battling carpal tunnel syndrome for over a year and missing all but one big league game last year, Eickhoff figures to be a big piece for the club going forward.
The time is now for Philadelphia with a tight division and an open window to win. Few teams have multiple former MVP and Cy Young winners and candidates still in their prime and a lineup jam-packed with stars.