Philadelphia Phillies: The 2019 final players report card

Others Deserving Grades

As the Philadelphia Phillies tried desperately to justify their off-season acquisitions, they tried a lot of players, including 34 total pitchers (counting three position players), so not all of them will be graded. Some deserve note, however, as the Phillies scrambled to make do with nine different relievers having visited or on the IL as August started.

Infielder/Outfielder Scott Kingery: B. Just give the kid a position to call his own.

Closer Hector Neris: B+. At the age of 30, Neris seemed to regain control of his split-finger fastball and booked a 2.93 ERA and a career-high 28 saves. His WHIP was a most presentable 1.020. Like Hernandez, Neris hasn’t ever captured the imagination of Phillies fans, but he is now a seasoned veteran, a hard worker, and apparently a good clubhouse presence. Barring a trade for a high-profile reliever, he is the closer.

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Relief Pitcher Ranger Suarez: A-. Like Haseley, this lefty was one of the few bright spots for the ’19 Phillies aside from Realmuto and Harper. Being in the right games at the right times, he finished 6-1 with a 3.14 ERA. He did put a few more people on base than an ideal reliever would, but along with Robertson and Neris, he should be one of only three relievers in spring training guaranteed a job, barring injury.

Relief Pitcher Jose Alvarez: B. 3.36 ERA. At 30, Alvarez posted his second-best career ERA and may have found his stride after some time with the Angels and, originally, the Tigers. He passes an eye test, and seems durable, appearing in 67 games for the Phillies.

Relief Pitcher Nick Vincent: B-*. What do you make of a 33-year-old coming from the Giants with a 5.58 ERA for the year, and a totally up-and-down career? Vincent is moving into 2020 at 21-21 lifetime with a career 3.32 ERA. However, he posted a 1.93 ERA with the Phillies in 14 games with a WHIP approaching his earliest MLB years’ efficiency. He is a free agent but may be worth a spring training invitation.

Outfielder Jay Bruce: C+*. It may not be fair to downgrade a player who injures himself, but that is a concern with Bruce at his age. In a season split between Seattle and Philadelphia, Bruce managed to hit 26 HRs and drive in 59 runs in only 333 PAs, but the 32-year-old is at best a part-time player now, perhaps a good bat off the bench.

Beyond these players, it is difficult to find reasons to grade any other ’19 Philadelphia Phillies, and there were plenty. Arguably, Seranthony Dominguez and Roman Quinn have some potential or trade value, but now Dominguez has injured himself, and Quinn is always injured. It behooves the seeming five dozen other people in red pinstripes this past season to really work in the off-season. They will, assuming invitations to Florida, have to earn their jobs.