That Phillies free agent starter: Media throwing in towel
By Rick Soisson
Despite the pessimism of mainstream media, there is still plenty of time for the Phillies to add another arm or two.
The Philadelphia Phillies still have three weeks until meaningful baseball, but the mainstream media writers covering the team are throwing in the towel on hope for a free agent starter. Following multiple reports for weeks that the Phillies are open to signing a veteran for the rotation, it may be that nobody much believes this anymore. Citing a colleague on Mar. 1, Todd Zolecki, the MLB.com writer covering the team, said Philadelphia could be considering even two available starters, but after that, the tide seemed to turn.
Articles on the subject of the Phillies starters began to suggest the search is over. Joe Giglio of NJ.com implied as much Mar. 3 in a forecast of the team’s players coming north. That unsigned starter seemed to shrink into a parenthetical phrase, a passing reference to “veteran additions (with potentially one more big one on the way).”
By the time Giglio reached his rotation subsection, the potential for a signing had disappeared. The rotation aside from Aaron Nola became simply “the weakness and biggest question mark” with an allowance that “talent here” [read, pitchers already failing as Phillies] “could bounceback or emerge,” and perhaps even “surprise.”
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On Mar. 8, Philly.com’s Matt Breen put together a piece that strongly implied the rotation is set, aside from a competition for the number five slot between Zach Elfin and Ben Lively.
Wait, what? This notion was perhaps even more disturbing to potential ticket buyers than the disappearance of hope into a parenthesis. It implied that Vince Velasquez and Nick Pivetta had sewn up spots three and four after a mere two appearances apiece. Worse, together these pitchers were a combined 1-3 this spring, and in a weird, unpleasant coincidence, each had an ERA of exactly 7.36.
Breen also seemed to lob a grenade at past hopeful speculation about signing a free agent hurler, casually observing: “Most of the team’s roster spots were secured before the players arrived at spring training.”
Maybe Giglio and Breen know something the rest of Philly doesn’t, but can’t spell it out as such to protect sources. Perhaps they simply tired of pretending the team is actually going to compete seriously this year.
Next: Arrieta could reshape the NL East
Maybe Phillies GM Matt Klentak is just trying to wait out the remaining available starters. He may hope to have the winning, reduced bid for Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn, and somehow hit what may well be a window of 15 minutes to deliver that offer on or about Mar. 27. That would give the new guy in red pinstripes two days to prepare for the season.