Philadelphia Phillies: Three trade targets ahead of the MLB trade deadline
By Nick Stevens
The Philadelphia Phillies would benefit from adding a versatile starting pitcher.
While much of the focus has been on Philadelphia’s bullpen and the acquisition of relievers, what about adding someone who can do both?
San Francisco Giants starter Kevin Gausman (and fellow former Baltimore Orioles arm), has quietly had a solid season out on the west coast, going 1-2 with a 3.31 FIP in six starts (seven total appearances) for the Giants.
He’s struck out 48 hitters in 35.2 innings, resulting in a career-high 31.6% strikeout rate, an extreme jump from some of his previous seasons in the big leagues. His 25.3% strikeout rate in 2019 was previously a career-high and a significant jump from his 19% rate in 2018.
Gausman’s fastball velocity has jumped from 93.9 mph to 95.2 mph this season (including a few 99 mph four-seamers on the black this season) and his splitter has been working wonders in 2020. Used 42% of the time, Gausman is allowing a .149 average against his splitter and producing a 45% whiff rate.
He signed a one-year/$9 million deal with San Francisco before the start of the season, so Gausman is a rental but he’s had success as a starter this year and he’s proven he can handle himself out of the bullpen.
After struggling with Atlanta in 2018 (traded from Baltimore to Atlanta at the ’18 deadline) and continuing to struggle in Atlanta’s rotation to begin 2019, Gausman found a home in Cincinnati’s bullpen, closing out 2019 with a 3.17 FIP and 29/5 K/BB ratio in 22 innings for the Reds.
For Philadelphia, Gausman can fit into the back of the starting rotation now and move into a highly valuable long-man role once the playoffs begin. With five doubleheaders upcoming, his ability to work five-six inning starts will be a huge boost.