Phillies: Seranthony Dominguez among 7 non-tender candidates
By Matt Rappa
5. David Hale
If parting ways with David Hale from the disastrous 2020 Phillies bullpen is among the offseason plans to revamp it, consider the likelihood for the right-handed reliever to be non-tendered as strong.
The Phillies acquired the seven-year veteran from the New York Yankees in August in exchange for minor-league pitcher Addison Russ, who was invited to the team’s big-league summer camp roster.
Hale made just six appearances in red pinstripes to finish the season, going 0-0 with a 4.09 ERA, 1.545 WHIP, and 7-1 strikeouts-to-walk ratio spanning 11 innings. The Phillies also used him twice as a doubleheader starter in the latter half of the twin bill; the team coincidentally won one of the games 8-7, and lost the other 7-8.
The 33-year-old Hale has already pitched for five different teams in his career, first the Atlanta Braves (2013-14), followed by the Colorado Rockies (2015-16), Minnesota Twins (2018), Yankees (2018-20), and Phillies (2020).
Overall in his career through 101 appearances and 22 starts, he has gone 13-10 with a 4.23 ERA, three saves, 27 games finished, and a 1.437 WHIP ratio. Although Hale seems to be versatile, the Phillies could ultimately decide to allocate their dollars elsewhere for 2021.
4. Rhys Hoskins
Along with righty starter Zach Eflin, first baseman Rhys Hoskins is another likely player on this list of seven to be tendered a contract for the 2021 season.
Through 404 career games and 1,762 plate appearances, Hoskins has slugged 87 doubles, five triples, 91 home runs, and 255 RBI, along with 269 walks. In 2019, the Sacramento, California, native led the National League with 116 walks; Hoskins slashed just .226/.364/.454 that year, but bounced back in 2020 with a .245/.384/.503 slash line, along with 10 homers and 26 RBI through 41 games and 185 plate appearances.
Hoskins is projected to earn between the $3 million and $5 million range in arbitration; even that figure is a bargain for the slugger. Barring a trade or injury, he will be the team’s Opening Day starter in 2021 at first base.