MLB trade candidate: Philadelphia Phillies reliever Pat Neshek
By Joe Piazza
Reliever Pat Neshek has been one of the few bright spots on the rebuilding Phillies, but he could be traded before long.
When news broke in November that the Phillies had traded for Pat Neshek, most people knew what to expect. The general consensus had been that if Neshek succeeded with the Phillies, he would be traded for minor league talent. The season is now in full swing, and Neshek is pitching like an ace in the pen.
Across 26 innings pitched, Neshek owns a 0.69 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 23 strikeouts. That’s about as good as it gets from a submarine pitcher in his upper 30s. Despite his well below-average velocity, Neshek has been one of the best relievers this season. Much of Neshek’s success this year is a result of his near-perfect 96.9 percent left-on-base rate and microscopic HR/FB rate of 3.2 percent. Eventually, his LOB% will likely drop down closer to his his 81.1 career mark, but the HR/9 stat has a realistic chance of lasting through the season.
While the numbers aren’t identical, he’s done much of this before. Neshek had the best season of his career with the Cardinals in 2014. That season, he put up a 1.87 ERA with 68 Ks across 67.1 innings. Although his ERA that season was over a run higher, his WHIP (0.79) and BAA (.233) were slightly better than this season’s WHIP and BAA of 0.81 and .242, respectively. He allowed just four home runs that whole season, posting a HR/FB of 4.3 percent; barely 1 percent higher than the 3.2 percent mark he’s currently at. The point here is that Neshek has put up similar stats before, and he has the chance to maintain this level of success.
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Trade Expectations
Analysts and fans will speculate about potential trades until the cows come home. However, when the player himself tells the media he expects to be traded, it’s reasonable to believe they’ll be moved. In fact, that’s exactly what he told Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly.
When asked if he expects to be traded, Neshek replied,
"“I would say yes. It would be really cool to stay around here. I like it here. I feel very comfortable here. But if [a trade] happens…I’m sure it will happen.”"
Judging by his response, it seems apparent the Phillies front office has been pretty straightforward with Neshek. They’ve made him feel welcome and at home, but let him know that he’ll likely be traded to a contender if the opportunity arises.
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The Phillies owe Neshek a reasonable $6.5 million salary for the season. Any team that acquires him will only have to pay a portion of that salary, so money won’t be an issue in negotiations. Due to his advanced age and inconsistent track record, he won’t require any top prospects to obtain. For no more than one mid-level prospect and an A-ball player with promise, any contender could get their hands on Pat Neshek.