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Phillies: Three potential Free Agent bargains for 2021

By Bryce Turner

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Keone Kela #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on September 12, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Keone Kela #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on September 12, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 23: Keone Kela #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on August 23, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players’ Weekend. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 23: Keone Kela #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on August 23, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players’ Weekend. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

RP Keone Kela

A third potential free agent bargain is reliever Keone Kela. His $3.725 million salary for 2020 is significantly lower than a number of other free agent relievers. While his improved performance last season may bring extra attention, he can still be overlooked in a free agent class that includes Kirby Yates, Dellin Betances, Zack Britton and Brad Hand.

Kela had an impressive 7-5 record, 2.39 ERA and 1.160 WHIP in 68 relief appearances during his rookie season for the Texas Rangers in 2015. But, after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur, he posted a 6.09 ERA while being limited to 35 games in 2016, though he managed a 5-1 record.

Kela improved on his way to a closer role with the Rangers in 2018, recording a 3-3 record, 3.44 ERA and 24 saves before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he closed the season with a 2.93 ERA and 0.978 WHIP in 15.1 innings pitched.

The right-handed pitcher showed promise in the Pirates bullpen last season, where he had a 2-0 record, 2.12 ERA and 1.011 WHIP in 29.2 innings pitched, while recording a single save.

Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies /

Philadelphia Phillies

Kela did miss roughly three months between a shoulder injury and suspensions, but will be worth watching this year as a young hand who just posted the best ERA of his major league career and has been named closer for the Pirates.

With the Phillies holding a club option on closer Héctor Neris and looking to make improvements in their bullpen, a reliever is something that’s needed and Kela could fly under the radar and be signed at a decent price. He also gives the team options, as he could work the eighth inning as a set-up man for Neris, or replace Neris as closer.

Neris struggled in 2018, but did well in 2017, with a 3.01 ERA and 26 saves. He proved to be back to form last season, with a 2.93 ERA and 28 saves. Still, there could be a battle for the closer job between Kela and Neris, should the Phillies have both pitchers in 2021.

While there’s still a lot to worry about before we get into free agency, Pederson, Paxton and Kela are three players to keep an eye on as potential free agent bargains for the Phillies.

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