Do the Phillies Even Care About Starting Pitching?

Vince Velasquez

By the time you read this, the Phillies might have already signed a veteran, free agent starting pitcher to join the endless parade of low-ceiling, Joe Blanton-alike prospects.

The fan base is certainly getting anstey to see it happen. Over the past few days, Andrew Cashner (Orioles) and Jaime Garcia (Mets) have signed reasonable two-year deals. Either one would have filled the Phillies' need for a proven rotation arm.

So who else remains in the SP bargain bin? It turns out, quite an array of options. Klentak & Co. can opt for a 30-plus hurler on a one-year deal such as Scott Feldman or Jeremy Hellickson (Side note: anyone else amazed that Hellickson is just 30 years old?).

Or they can dive in with a three-year deal, presumably at a cut rate. Jake Arietta is the name on everyone's list here, but it would take three years and $90 million (IMO) if the Phillies remain steadfast against any deals longer than three years.

Righties Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn could be had for a much lower number, one assumes.

Then there's the reclamation route, and it's a list of one for me. Chris Tillman enjoyed
substantial success pitching in the hitter-heavy AL East for several years before cratering to a nightmarish 2017 (1-7, 7.84 ERA).

There's no use dissecting Tillman's secondary numbers looking for clues. When you're that bad, every number is bad. But he's just 29, and a move to the NL might be a career-saver.

Bottom line is somebody will be signed to take some innings and hopefully provide some stability. But the starting pitching plan 2018 is pretty clear: give the ball to Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez, Nick Pivetta, Zach Eflin, Ben Lively, Jake Thompson, Mark Leiter and maybe Thomas Eschelman.

These guys have peeled off the prospect label and are moving through their mid-20s. Most of them have at least two years pitching parts of a Major League season.

A team should never give up on a prospect until at least three years in the Bigs. It often takes longer than that. The aforementioned Arietta owned a 5.23 ERA after four years with the Orioles.

But most of our prospects project as back-end starters. I say that to indicate this is likely the last chance for many of them. You don't win championships by waiting five years for a starting pitcher to deliver on his league-average potential.

Certainly the Phillies have done everything they can to support these young starters. The lineup and the defense greatly improves by swapping out Freddy Galvis and Tommy Joseph for JP Crawford and Carlos Santana.

Yes, they will be throwing to young, often poor defensive catchers, an unavoidable circumstance. That the backstops are already being drilled hard on pitch framing and pitch calling is revealing.

And look at this bullpen. The Saturday signing of lefty Fernando Abad adds to a deep mix of good-to-excellent relievers that include Adam Morgan, Luis Garcia, Pat Neshek, Tommy Hunter, Edubray Ramos and Hecter Neris.

I can't imagine a sub-80-win team with a better bullpen. It's very clear the Phils are creating an environment designed for these young starters to succeed.

I think it is crucial that three of them emerge to join Aaron Nola as rotation members going forward.

That will enable the Phillies to push ahead with phase two of Operation Championship during the offseason.

Stay tuned.