The only big free-agent signing the Philadelphia Phillies made before MLB began its lockout on December 2 was a risky one.
They signed Corey Knebel to a 1-year deal for $10M, bringing their estimated payroll tax allocations to $174.69M, which only gives them approximately $35.307M of space to sign the other free agents they desperately need.
In other words, that $10M better be worth it.
Can Corey Knebel stabilize an unreliable Phillies bullpen?
Knebel is coming off a solid, albeit incomplete season. He appeared in 27 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021, and posted a 2.45 ERA, his best since his lone All-Star season in 2017, when he led the NL with 76 appearances.
Tommy John surgery sidelined Knebel in 2019, and he only appeared in 15 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020. On the outside, the numbers weren’t great; a 6.08 ERA over 13 1/3 innings. However, Knebel’s curveball was stumping batters, who only hit .133 against it, with the lowest exit velocity by far of any pitch in any season of his career.
So when the Dodgers signed him, they told him to up his curveball usage. Knebel, who really only throws a four-seam fastball and the curveball, threw 167 of the latter, and batters hit .186 with 28.6 whiff and 2.33 slugging percentages against it.
Knebel told The Athletic that changing up his pitch usage changed more than just the tangible results:
"“My confidence has already been pretty high with my curveball, but I gained it even more. I mean, I was throwing it in situations where I’ve never thrown it before.”"
The 2021 Phillies bullpen tied the MLB record for blown saves in a single season set by the Colorado Rockies, who blew 34 in 2004. A lot of pressure will rest of Knebel’s shoulders – and his curveball- to right the ship in 2022.