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3 Phillies pitchers who survived trade deadline but won’t be on 2022 roster

By Gabrielle Starr |
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Chase Anderson #57 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after giving up a two run home run to Dominic Smith of the New York Mets in the first inning during game one of a double header at Citi Field on April 13, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Chase Anderson #57 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after giving up a two run home run to Dominic Smith of the New York Mets in the first inning during game one of a double header at Citi Field on April 13, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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Three upcoming free-agent pitchers the Phillies should move on from in 2022

Dave Dombrowski made good on his promise to be “aggressive” at the 2021 trade deadline, and the Philadelphia Phillies made moves. Some moves were fine, some were great, we graded all of them, if you’re interested.

But one of the biggest things Phillies fans wish Davey Deals had done at the deadline (say that five times fast) was unload some of this dead weight on the roster. Unfortunately for them, the Phillies are stuck with these guys, at least until the end of September. Let’s be honest: who would’ve taken them?

So, while the Phillies are pushing to play in October for the first time since 2011, they’ll also be excited for the offseason, when they can bid adieu and good riddance to a few pitchers who have hurt more than they’ve helped. They’ve already rid themselves of Neftalí Feliz and Brandon Kintzler.

Here are three pitchers who should absolutely not be Phillies in 2022…

The Phillies should not bring back Chase Anderson

Starting off strong (as in, this guy is really bad), we’ve got Chase Anderson and his 6.75 ERA over 14 games this season. His RA9 is the same as his ERA, meaning that for the first time in his eight-year career, every one of the 36 runs he’s allowed this season has been earned.

Prior to 2020, Anderson hadn’t been terrible, but he hadn’t been stellar, either. Aside from 2017 (his best season) and 2018, his ERA has been over four every year. He now has the second-worst strikeout rate (6.6) of his career, and the worst walks rate (3.8) of his career by far.

Anderson is currently on the Injured List with right triceps tendinitis, after missing significant time earlier this season with two stints on the COVID-related IL. He did not pitch in a big-league game between May 31-July 27, and now has not pitched since August 4. Considering how he’s pitched this year, though, this isn’t much of a loss for the Phillies.

Anderson signed a low-risk one-year deal for 2021 that has not panned out in the slightest. It would be shocking if the Phillies brought him back in 2022.

Matt Moore #31 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Matt Moore #31 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

The Phillies should not bring back Matt Moore

Matt Moore is not the pitcher he was in his early years when he was an All-Star with the Rays.

He’s now in his 10th MLB season, and has a 6.79 ERA, matching his career-worst from 2018. He’s pitched in 17 games, and made nine starts, but has only totaled 50 1/3 innings to this point. They haven’t been effective innings, either: 60 hits, 38 earned runs, and 22 walks with only 43 strikeouts. The Phillies are 8-9 in games in which he pitches.

After making five starts in July – none of them scoreless – Moore was moved back to the bullpen, where he has continued to give up runs. He hasn’t had a scoreless appearance since June 25, and since that game, he has a 7.67 ERA over 27 innings, with opposing batters slashing .295/.363/.563 with a .925 OPS against him.

Moore missed the entire 2020 season, and the Phillies were likely hoping this would be a bounce-back year for him. He also has five games of postseason experience from his time with the Rays and Giants, including a seven-inning scoreless start from the 2011 ALDS, and an eight-inning start during the 2016 NLDS in which he only allowed one run on two hits. That was definitely appealing for a Phillies team that desperately wants to get back in the postseason game.

Unfortunately, Moore is one of many pitchers on this staff who hurt more than he’s helped. Postseason experience is worthless if he can’t help the Phillies get to the postseason in the first place.

Like Anderson, this is Moore’s first season with the Phillies. And like Anderson, it should be his last.

Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

The Phillies should not bring back Vince Velasquez

Last, but certainly not least, a pitcher who was not Dave Dombrowski’s addition. Vince Velasquez has been with the Phillies for six of his seven years in the big leagues, which is insane when you look at his numbers. His ERA hasn’t been under 4.85 since his first season with the club in 2016. In fact, since 2018, his ERA has gotten steadily worse each season.

Over six seasons, he’s pitched to a 4.93 ERA in 133 games, with 642 strikeouts, 243 walks, 100 home runs, and 319 earned runs allowed over 582 2/3 innings.

This year, he has the worst ERA of his career, 5.95 over 21 games (17 starts). The Phillies are 8-13 in games he pitches in, with many of the losses coming in games in which he couldn’t get out of the third inning.

Over five starts in July, he allowed 24 earned runs (including seven HR) over 17 2/3 innings, giving him a 12.23 ERA. He only struck out 14 batters and walked 12. Opposing lineups were hitting .360/.461/.773 with a 1.234 OPS against him during that span, so Velasquez was basically hosting his own Home Run Derby every start. He also only pitched past the third inning in two of the five starts, taxing an already overworked and struggling bullpen.

Velasquez will be a free agent in 2022, and is currently on the Injured List, which means he can’t go out to the mound and eat innings, but he can’t ruin games, either.

When that’s the best thing you can say about a player, it’s time to move on.

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