Philadelphia Phillies finally cut ties with Vince Velasquez

The Philadelphia Phillies have been waiting for years for Vince Velasquez to live up to his potential. He would have flashes of brilliance, only to revert back to being practically unusable. Every time he seemed to turn the corner, he would end up right back where he started, a maddeningly inconsistent arm regardless of the role that the Phillies put him in.

That patience has finally run out. After designating Velasquez for assignment, he was officially released on Tuesday after he went unclaimed on waivers.

Philadelphia Phillies give Vince Velasquez the boot

It is understandable that Velasquez was unclaimed. He will likely cost less in free agency this offseason for a franchise willing to take a low cost gamble on his potential. It is entirely possible that a change of scenery could allow him to finally be the pitcher that the Phillies hoped for.

Velasquez’s overall performance over the past few years does not exactly provide much in the way of hope. His ERA has gotten worse every year since 2018, climbing from a mediocre 4.85 to 5.95 this year. Additionally, his command has gotten worse in each of the past three seasons as the Phillies could not find a role for him.

While some of the blame has to be placed on the Phillies, Velasquez certainly did not do himself any favors either. That was especially the case this season as he posted a 5.95 ERA and a 1.482 WHiP over his 81.2 innings, striking out 85 batters with 45 walks.

But it is possible that he can become a viable major league option. He is still just 29 years old and will not turn 30 until the middle of next year. If a team can find a way to unlock his potential, they could have a tremendous bargain on their hands. Chances are, that will involve a team with a larger ballpark and an excellent defense given his fly ball tendencies.

The Philadelphia Phillies have finally cut ties with Vince Velasquez. If he is ever going to live up to his potential, it will be somewhere else.