Call to the pen
Fansided

Phillies: Dollars and sense for 2020

By Tal Venada

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 30: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 30, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 30: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 30, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Phillies will again pursuit Givens during the offseason. Photo by Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. /

Bullpen balancing: 

For the back end of the Phillies pen, left-hander Will Smith is probably in the $10-11 million range after making $4.23 million for his final arbitration season. But would the San Francisco Giants extend him a QO of $17.9 million? Well, they probably won’t risk the chance he’d accept a $13.67 million raise. Pure speculation: no!

The 30-year-old Smith has a 3.00 ERA with 32 saves in 36 opportunities over 60 innings during his 58 appearances. But being a portsider would provide an advantage the Fightins certainly didn’t have in ’19. However, he’s the premier closer on the free-agent market.

Smith’s arsenal:

  • Four-seam fastball: 450 for 47.9 percent
    with a 93-mph average and a 95.7-mph high.
  • Slider: 401 for 42.7 percent.
  • Curveball: 89 for 9.5 percent.

As for a second late-frame hurler, righty Mychal Givens, 29, of the Baltimore Orioles has two campaigns of team control remaining and would likely work the seventh inning here. But he has a 3.95 ERA with 11 saves during his 50 outings for 54 2/3  frames.

Given’s arsenal:

  • Four-seam fastball: 647 for 71.4 percent
    with a 95.7-mph average and a 99.5-mph high.
  • Slider: 140 for 15.5 percent.
  • Changeup: 119 for 13.1 percent.

Financially, he’s earning $2.15 million and an increase to $3 million would be a fair raise considering his similar numbers for 2018. Plus Klentak had interest in the flamethrower last July. So, he could be the third option behind Smith and Hector Neris.

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