Phillies: Rebuilding 2020’s pen from the ashes
By Tal Venada
Decisions aplenty:
If the Phillies take the free-agency route, they could ink a fireman with ninth-inning experience like Will Smith at $11 million AAV or Daniel Hudson at $8 million AAV. But Will Harris could be a $6 million AAV acquisition and work as a setup man in the sixth and seventh frames on most occasions.
In the trade market, two available relievers are Ken Giles of the Toronto Blue Jays and Mychal Givens of the Baltimore Orioles. Giles earned $6.3 million in 2019 and could receive $8.4 million for his final arbitration campaign. Meantime, Givens made $2.15 million in ’19 and could get $3.2 million for his second arb 162 in ’20.
Like one starting staff approach, Klentak could also sign an expensive bullpen hurler, but his second inking –if he has one– would be on the lower financial end. So, will the exec pick up two solid pieces or one dominant and a risky second choice?
Beginning with the new manager and his coaches for 2020, Klentak needs two successful moves out of every three because he is one of eight GMs heading into a make-or-break summer. And he must make good decisions to go hand in hand with good fortune, but where will Klentak end up if he doesn’t? The chopping block!