Phillies: What the Mike Trout Extension Means for Philadelphia

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, OF Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are finalizing a 12-year extension worth more than $430 million. It would be the biggest deal in sports history, breaking Bryce Harper’s deal with the Phillies by more than $100 million.

After the Philadelphia signed Bryce Harper to a 13-year, $330 million deal, Harper made it known that he would call Mike Trout in 2020 for him to come to play for the Phillies.

Well, now there is no chance for that to happen, as Trout’s deal has no opt-out clause. So, John Middleton and Matt Klentak now have to change their plans, which could actually benefit them sooner rather than later.

Of course, it is hard for any team to benefit from Trout testing free agency, but the Phillies went into this off-season with a plan. And it was to sign either Harper or Manny Machado, and to try to get some rotation help, and if not that, then bullpen help.

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Well, they got Harper and got bullpen help with David Robertson, but it is still a possibility the Phillies can get even more bullpen help, and more assistance to Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta?

There is a guy named Craig Kimbrel who is still available. Kimbrel is a 7-time all-star and is coming off of a World Series championship with the Boston Red Sox. With the Phillies are trying to be World Series contenders and Kimbrel’s playoff experience, it seems like a match made in heaven.

The Phillies already have a decent bullpen including Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez, and Tommy Hunter, but when the postseason comes and they are line up against teams like the Milwaukee Brewers who have an even better bullpen, Philadelphia needs someone like Craig Kimbrel to counteract that.

Other than Aaron Nola, the Phillies don’t have a rotation. They have Jake Arrieta who isn’t getting any younger, Vince Velasquez can’t get his ERA under 4, Nick Pivetta who had a record of 7-14 last season, and finally, Zach Eflin who has just 15 wins in the last three years.

Dallas Keuchel is the only marquee free agent pitcher left on the market. To say he would help the Phillies is an understatement. Keuchel is a two-time All-Star and has also won a World Series in 2017 in addition to winning the Cy Young in 2015.

Last season Keuchel posted a 3.74 ERA in over 200 innings, with 6.7 strikeouts per nine. A year before in 2017, he went 14-5 with a 2.90 ERA, so he has shown he can still pitch. Then, he would be pitching in Citizens Bank Ballpark which isn’t a huge ballpark, but he is the best ground ball pitcher in the game, so he fits well in a Phillies uniform.

So, even though Mike Trout signed an extension with the Angels, it may lead to the Phillies signing Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel, furthering their chances of a World Series sooner rather than later.