Phillies have slim pickings in free agent reliever market
Notable players with club options
According to Spotrac there are 18 players with club options for the 2020 season. Here are some notable ones the Phillies could look into.
Pat Neshek
The Phillies have given Pat Neshek two free agent deals, the last one worth $16.25 million. Neshek, who has missed the majority of the season with right rotator cuff inflammation and a grade two hamstring strain.
Neshek turns 39-years-old in September and has a long injury history since joining the Phillies. While productive when healthy, will he be worth the $7 million option Philadelphia can exercise?
Neshek has appeared in just 50 games since signing his deal prior to the 2018 season. Philadelphia might take a flyer on him, but not for $7 million.
Sean Doolittle
The Nationals high-priced closer could be one of the more coveted free agents this offseason.
Turning 33 in September, Doolittle is working with a career-worst 4.33 ERA this season. He was recently placed on the injured list with a knee injury, which could explain his issues this year. Last year Doolittle had a 1.60 ERA in his second All-Star season, and since joining the Nationals midway through the 2017 season, he’s saved 74 games.
Could the Phillies lure another Nationals star to Philadelphia? Given the fall Doolittle has taken and his age, it doesn’t fall into the Phillies M.O. to sign him. Regardless Washington could very likely exercise his $6.25 million option.
David Phelps
The journeyman reliever has found tremendous success since being dealt from Toronto to the Cubs. In seven appearances Phelps has a 1.80 ERA for Chicago, nearly two points lower than his ERA with the Blue Jays.
A knock on Phelps is that he’s primarily a fly ball pitcher, something that doesn’t play well in Citizens Bank Park. According to FanGraphs, Phelps has shifted away from inducing more groundballs, which he did in his first six big league seasons. This year he’s allowing more fly balls (46.6 percent) than ever before.
If Phelps pitches in six more games this year (which is likely) his option grows from $1 million to $3 million. Should he pitch 16 more games it inflates to a $5 million option for Chicago.
Other notable players on club options: Yusmeiro Petit, Adam Warren, Brandon Morrow, Martin Perez