Call to the pen
Fansided

Phillies bullpen in 2020 can be helped by former ace

By Tal Venada

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 22: Philadelphia Phillies Bench Coach Rob Thomson (59) makes a pitching change during the seventh inning of the game between the Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies on June 22. 2019, at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 22: Philadelphia Phillies Bench Coach Rob Thomson (59) makes a pitching change during the seventh inning of the game between the Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies on June 22. 2019, at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Although Strasburg could re-sign with the Nats, the Phillies could compete for him as well. Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images. /

Armchair GMs:         

Baseball and Phillies fans find the Luxury Tax annoying because it slows down building a championship team due to the wait for players to develop. Yes, they must endure rebuilding, 90-loss campaigns, and unwatchable defeats even without a soft or hard cap like other major sports: Owners have the money, no?

In one national publication, they believe players should make considerably more, and owners use the CBT as a cost-cutting excuse. Meanwhile, many fans think the stars are greedy, plus the franchise owes them an annual contender. But the organizations, athletes, agents, writers, fans, and the union aren’t the only voices involved.

Hiding in the open is the MLB with parity. Yes, they offer an incentive to reset the tax rate if the club slides under the CBT for one season. But they also have added a multi-tier penalty structure to discourage unlimited spending. Translation: More penalties are available until teams get the drift. Yeah, oh!

Unless an exec wins the World Series, the faithful will bemoan the one unfulfilled move out of four. But they’ll present their correct decision after the fact. However, one franchise’s strategy doesn’t work for all contenders because every club has different needs and resources.

Phillies spending:

  • Estimates beginning at $46.4 million AAV
    including Realmuto’s projected $10.3 million arb amount for 2020.
  • Cole: -$27.5 million AAV for $18.9 million AAV ($220 million over 8 yrs.)
  • Balance: $18.9 million AAV for a starter and/or 2 relievers.

If  J.T. Realmuto’s re-up begins in 2021, and Klentak signs Gerrit Cole, the higher-up will have $18.9 million remaining with a lengthened commitment. But he might have $20.4 million AAV if he inks Stephen Strasburg for $182 million over seven years: $26 million AAV or $1.5 million AAV additional to spend.

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