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6 Phillies difference-makers for 2020

By Tal Venada

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 07: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after striking out against the Boston Red Soxof a Grapefruit League spring training game on March 07, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 07: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after striking out against the Boston Red Soxof a Grapefruit League spring training game on March 07, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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While Realmuto receives the lion’s share of Phillies walk-year coverage, Arrieta is also playing for a free-agent contract. Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images. /

Walk year:             

For the Phillies faithful, J.T. Realmuto is their main concern, but the catcher indicated progress had occurred in the three-month period before his arbitration hearing. The estimates, though, of $100 million for five summers don’t take into consideration his stance on raising the bar for future receivers: Buster Posey money!

Is he worth it? Well, his first-half numbers were lower because his hitting took a back seat to learning the pitching staff, but his statistics after the mid-season vacation could be more in line with a whole 162. And the forecast for playing 145 contests below reflects a major production increase.

Realmuto, 29:

  • 2019: 145 Gms., 25 HR and 83 RBIs.
  • 2020: 145 Gms., 36 HR and 99 RBIs (projection based on second-half stats).

At $167 million for nine seasons, Posey money is $18.6 million per 162, but then he was two years younger than Realmuto. Initially, Klentak had likely offered $20 million each for five years before adding a summer. However, the GM will likely go with seven campaigns and two vesting options or six with three vesting options.

While Realmuto’s extension is a must after trading Sixto Sanchez and Jorge Alfaro, the backstop knows the execs must come closer to his numbers. Meanwhile, another walk-year candidate is Jake Arrieta, who many locals don’t want. That stated, Arrieta’s first 10-11 starts will work well with only 14 total outings.

First starts from Arrieta, 34:

  • 2018: 11 Gms.,70 Inn., 28 ER, 5-4 with a 3.60 ERA (late start to spring training).
  • 2019: 10 Gms., 58 1/3 Inn., 14 ER, 5-2 with a 2.16 ERA.
  • Total: 21 Gms., 128 1/3 Inn., 52 ER, 10-6 with a 2.95 ERA.

In both 162s, June was Arrieta’s injury month with 2018’s balky knee and 2019’s bone spurs. Consequentially, his statistics ballooned from that point. But if he can stay healthy for three or four more starts, he’ll get through a shortened 2020 and pitch like a three-slot hurler.

Comparing the solid beginnings of Arrieta to Zach Eflin‘s two good performances out of every three, I realized why the Fightins consider Arrieta as the three and Eflin as the four behind Nola and Zack Wheeler. Unfortunately, some fans will carp about every poor appearance by Arrieta and ignore his solid outings.

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