Vincent Velasquez Injury: Updates on Phillies SP’s Biceps and Return
June 8, 2016 by Tyler Conway
Filed under Fan News
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Vincent Velasquez left Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs after just two pitches with a biceps injury and was placed on the disabled list Friday. It is uncertain when he will return to action.
Continue for updates.
Velasquez Lands on 15-Day DL with Biceps Strain
Friday, June 10
The Phillies announced righty Luis Garcia has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Velasquez’s roster spot.
Velasquez Comments on Injury
Wednesday, June 8
Velasquez told reporters he “isn’t worried” about his injured biceps.
Velasquez Has Emerged as Bright Spot for Surprising Phillies
A revelation early in the season, Velasquez has come back to earth a bit in recent starts. He began the season by posting wins in four of his first five starts but was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over his last six heading into Wednesday. This was his fourth consecutive start not lasting through the fifth inning.
Overall, Velasquez is 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. He’s second behind Aaron Nola on the Phillies with 73 strikeouts.
Given his recent struggles, perhaps a little rest could do Velasquez some good. As Jayson Stark of ESPN.com noted, there have long been concerns about his ability to stay healthy. Leaving after two pitches is concerning, especially if he did not feel any issues in pregame warm-ups.
The Phillies don’t have an especially deep array of talent on their roster, so this injury may just accelerate what feels like an inevitable summer swoon. They’ve lost nine of their last 12 games coming into Wednesday, undoing nearly all of their feel-good vibes from the first month of the season.
Velasquez, the leader of those good feelings, going down may only serve as the final death knell.
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Cole Hamels Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star Pitcher
November 10, 2014 by Tyler Conway
Filed under Fan News
Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels has been the subject of numerous trade rumors and reports, as teams look to bolster their rotations with the lefty’s services.
Thursday, Nov. 13
Amaro Talks Trade Rumors
Bob Nightengale of USA Today talked to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. about the trade rumors surrounding Cole Hamels:
“He was neutral when I talked to him,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro revealed. “Happy to go. I think he wants to win, but he signed his contract, and he plans on honoring the contract, obviously.”
Nightengale also detailed why the lefty hasn’t been dealt yet:
Teams should be lining up outside the hall of Amaro’s suite at the Arizona Biltmore to make enticing trade proposals for Hamels.
Yet, the cruel reality is that in today’s marketplace, there’s a greater chance of the Yankees retiring Alex Rodriguez‘s number than Hamels pitching in a different uniform on opening day.
The Chicago Cubs covet him. They would rather have him than Max Scherzer, Jon Lester or James Shields.
The trouble is that all Scherzer, Lester and Shields cost you is money. They’re all free agents.
Hamels costs you money — four years and $96 million remaining on his contract — and those coveted prospects.
No one these days wants to part with both.
“You’ve seen in the last several years that those prospects are highly coveted,” Amaro says. “It seems like teams are more apt to just spend money, because it’s just money. It’s not entities that they’re giving up as far as players are concerned, or talent. That’s kind of the trend we’re in.
“At the same time, there’s risk with that. You’re doling out a lot of money. It’s a difficult balance. “But the reality of it is, there isn’t that many elite pitchers out there. So we’ll see what happens.”
Monday, Nov. 10
The Boston Red Sox have been viewed as a potential landing spot for Philadelphia Phillies ace for months. There’s just one problem: Hamels’ contract specifically forbids the Phillies from trading him to Boston without his permission.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported Boston is one of 20 teams named on Hamels’ no-trade clause, though he notes a deal could still be reached:
Hamels, 30, is expected to be one of the biggest names available on the trade market this winter as the Phillies look to retool their aging roster. Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reported management was looking for at least three quality prospects in return for Hamels, who has been a bastion of consistency despite the poor play around him.
Hamels had a career-best ERA (2.46) and had his eighth straight season between 3.5 and 4.6 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs. Despite his consistency, Hamels is only 17-23 over the last two seasons, garnering some of the worst run support in baseball. The Phillies averaged just 3.43 runs in Hamels’ starts in 2014 and 3.36 in 2013, per ESPN.com.
Philadelphia has missed the playoffs the last two seasons and had its first losing campaign in more than a decade in 2014. Phillies interim CEO Pat Gillick told Corey Seidman of CSN Philly the team won’t contend for at least the next two seasons.
“I think we’re more toward rebuilding than reloading,” Gillick said. “That’s my opinion. I think it’s hard to ask the fans, it’s hard to ask the media, it’s hard to ask, you know, anyone, to be patient. Patience is kind of thin these days. But I think this is going to be more of a rebuilding, more of a restructuring than a reloading.”
Trading Hamels could help that rebuild. Even with a hefty contract, he could be a Cy Young contender if moved to the right club.
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Cole Hamels Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation Surrounding Phillies Star
July 7, 2014 by Tyler Conway
Filed under Fan News
For the third straight season, the Philadelphia Phillies look like they’ll be watching October baseball from home. For the third straight season, that futility has raised questions about what general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will do with his high-cost stars—specifically starter Cole Hamels.
The 30-year-old starter again came into July with his name being bandied about in trade talks, as contenders look for ways to separate themselves in a clouded playoff picture. Among the teams most often linked to Hamels has been the Toronto Blue Jays, but Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports highlighted a no-trade clause in Hamels’ contract could prevent that from happening:
While he might prefer to play for a contender, there is little reason to think Hamels would waive his right to block a move to Toronto. With no less than four years remaining on his contract—there is a vesting option that could trigger a $20 million salary for 2019—any trade the Phillies make would not be a short-term move.
If Hamels were heading into free agency this winter, perhaps he’d be more receptive to a short-term trip up north. Players in the past have waived no-trade clauses under similar situations, and with the Blue Jays trying to keep themselves afloat in the AL playoff race, a short-term fix could have helped both sides.
Hamels’ contract complicates matters in that regard. He is less likely to be amenable to waiving his no-trade clause because any deal would require him to spend at least four years in a city where he does not wish to reside. Teams are also going to be skittish knowing the situation—and that’s without factoring in the considerable financial commitment.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports noted that the Yankees could be in play for Hamels if he becomes available, but even their interest is limited. Hamels is due annual salaries of $22.5 million for each of the next four seasons, per Baseball-Reference. There has been no indication on whether the Phillies would be open to eating some of that salary in exchange for better prospect compensation, though that seems like a possibility.
Even with his high cost, it’s not hard to see why teams are kicking the tires on a Hamels trade. A three-time All-Star, he is 2-5 this season but has posted a 2.98 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. Other than a few minor blips to start the season, Hamels has been one of the best pitchers in the National League. He posted a 1.23 ERA in six June starts, highlighted by three consecutive scoreless outings.
The season has proven a carbon copy of 2013, in which Hamels went 8-14 despite solid peripheral numbers. The Phillies rank 27th or worse in runs, on-base percentage, batting average and slugging percentage. Run support has been non-existent throughout most of the season, a point of contention that Hamels admitted to reporters is frustrating:
It’s a team game, and even if [the hitters] are pressing too hard, then I’m pressing too hard. They like to win, and we’re all accustomed to winning, so when you’re not doing so, you want it and press instead of just going back to basics and playing simplified baseball. I’m probably a big culprit of it, trying to be too fine and not calming down.
Despite the recent frustrations, Hamels remains one of the most consistent starters in baseball. He’s pitched at least 200 innings each of the last four seasons and five of his last six. Though he battled through some issues at the beginning of 2014, his injury history is minimal. Hamels has made at least 28 starts every year since his rookie season.
When it comes to trading for Hamels, it’s a risk-reward situation. Being on the hook for upwards of $100 million is something few teams can even consider—let alone give up assets to make happen. With Hamels holding a no-trade clause against one of the few teams willing to deal, he and the Phillies might wind up stuck together again in a playoff-less October.
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Phillies Trade Rumors: Team Should Consider Trading Michael Young at Deadline
July 18, 2013 by Tyler Conway
Filed under Fan News
When the Philadelphia Phillies begin play Friday evening at Citi Field, they’ll be embarking on an 11-day, 10-game journey that could fundamentally alter the state of their franchise.
The Phillies went into the All-Star Break 48-48, a perfect 25-man representation of the word “meh.” They are a half-game behind the Washington Nationals for second place in the National League East, six games behind the Atlanta Braves for the lead in the division and 5.5 out of the one-game wild-card rodeo.
Philadelphia is the City of Brotherly Love and the home of the shruggable losers. At least it is for now.
With boundless injuries and an overwhelming sense of mediocrity from the roster, the Phillies are teetering on the edge of buyer and seller at the July 31 trade deadline.
Ryan Howard was placed on the disabled list earlier this month and is expected to be out six to eight weeks with a torn meniscus, his contract becoming more Procellariidic by the moment. Considering Howard’s injury history and what knee problems can do to a power hitter, the latter seems like it’s painting a rosy picture at this point.
Outfielder Ben Revere breaking his foot (h/t USA Today) after hitting it with a foul ball only added to the team’s chaos. Revere is the only Phillies regular hitting above the .300 mark and is the team’s only baserunner that’s a step up from passable.
Those injuries leave Philadelphia’s lineup with a core of Domonic Brown, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Michael Young. While those last three have all been stars, past injuries have sucked Utley from the ranks of the elite, and Rollins has a WAR of 0.8 and has been a minus defensively for the first time since his second full major league season.
Couple that with a mediocre rotation outside of Cliff Lee—their starters rank 11th in WAR and 15th in xFIP—and a wretched bullpen, and the Phillies’ playoff push isn’t exactly flowing.
With 10 games to go until the deadline, Philadelphia will have some time to see where it stands and assess the best course of action.
“Everybody acts like it is tomorrow but it is two weeks away,” Phillies CEO David Montgomery said in an interview with the Philadelphia Daily News’ Marc Narducci, alluding to the team’s deadline plans.
Mitigating circumstances point to the team being closer to seller than buyer.
Rival teams will certainly hope that’s the case. The Phillies became a deadline seller a year ago, shipping Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence to the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, respectively. Both became key pieces for contending National League clubs, brought back prospect help to a Phillies system in desperate need and were overall fair trades.
With an abundance of similar players on Philly’s roster—guys who can help a contender but not create one—it’s thought to be a perfect seller candidate.
The name that keeps popping up is Young, the Phillies’ major acquisition last winter. Young came over after playing parts of 13 seasons with the Texas Rangers, waiving his no-trade clause to have a more defined role.
While some saw the move as another example of shortsighted thinking—the Phillies adding another aging veteran past his prime, one who wouldn’t push them to the top—the move might wind up working out in the long term.
As pointed out by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, about a dozen teams have inquired about Young’s availability.
The 36-year-old third baseman has returned to slightly above replacement level after a dreadful 2012, hitting .288 with six home runs and 28 RBI. He’s also been a steadying veteran presence in the clubhouse, buoying the reputation he garnered in Texas as a consummate professional.
That’s all well and good.
But the true impetus for teams looking to acquire Young is more about the lack of right-handed bats on the market. Outside of South Florida, rampant fire sales have become less and less prevalent throughout Major League Baseball, with teams choosing to jettison their assets in a more piece-by-piece fashion.
Massive deals like the Boston Red Sox trading their whole team to the Dodgers last August will still happen every once in a while, but those mega-deals are always more anomaly than a sign of rampant impending chaos.
Philadelphia moving Young would be one of those small moves as part of a larger movement. Young is a free agent after this season, and while he has a no-trade clause, it’s one he would likely waive in order to play for a contender.
What’s more, the Phillies stand to lose Young without compensation this offseason. It’s unlikely they would tender Young a qualifying offer worth the average of this year’s top 125 salaries, which the new collective bargaining agreement requires them to if they want draft-pick compensation.
The Yankees and Red Sox have both expressed interest in Young, each looking to add a veteran for their playoff push.
Boston sent vice president of player personnel Allard Baird to watch the Phillies play before the All-Star Break, per Rosenthal. New York and Boston are the type of media markets that could appeal to Young and allow him to return to the American League. Mark Feinstand of the New York Daily News noted the Yankees may try enticing the Phillies with a package centered around Joba Chamberlain.
Rosenthal did not disclose the other 10 or so teams that had interest.
The rub that comes with trading Young is finding a replacement. The Phillies’ farm system is one of the worst five to 10 in the game depending on which expert you want to cite—Baseball Prospectus had them 24th in spring training—and they have no immediate fit at third base unless they plan on bringing up a prospect before he’s ready.
That matters if Philly is still in the playoff hunt in a week-and-a-half. If the team manages to gain a game or two on the NL Central mob, then it might be smart to hold onto Young and move a surplus player for some bullpen help.
But considering the Nationals’ prodigious talent makes them a constant contender and none of the NL Central clubs look primed for a downfall—no, not even the Pittsburgh Pirates—finding October will be awfully difficult.
This short sample size for the Phillies will tell a ton about their immediate future—Young’s included. But if things go as expected, standing pat shouldn’t be an option.
All advanced metrics are courtesy of FanGraphs.
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Phillies Rumors: Latest on the Search for Hitting and More Rumblings from Philly
December 29, 2012 by Tyler Conway
Filed under Fan News
After a frustrating 2012 campaign saw the Philadelphia Phillies finish 81-81 and 17 games out of first place in the NL East, sweeping changes were bound to come within the organization.
This is an ownership group that has spent heavily in order to add pieces and keep big-named players on the roster. With a down season in the books, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was certainly feeling the heat coming into the winter.
Thus far, he’s gotten the job done on a limited budget. The team acquired Michael Young and Ben Revere via trade, but Amaro‘s work is still far from done. There are still some glaring deficiencies that will need to be taken care of before pitchers and catchers report.
What are the Phillies doing to fix those problems? Here is a look at all the latest rumblings going on around Philadelphia.
Phillies Among Five Teams Interested in J.P. Howell?
Though Philadelphia’s bullpen is one of a few areas where manager Charlie Manuel has some sense of comfort, the team is still in desperate need of a left-handed arm. According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Phillies are among five teams that have emerged in the chase for reliever J.P. Howell:
There is still a chance the Nationals could sign Howell. But the Nats have competition for his services. From what I’m hearing, the Phillies, Cubs, Mariners and Rangers have interest in Howell. I don’t expect Howell to sign a deal until after Christmas.
Considering all of those clubs also have relief help, bringing Howell to the City of Brotherly Love may take some extra financial love. The 29-year-old lefty had a strong 2012 campaign with the Tampa Bay Rays, going 1-0 with a 3.04 ERA and 7.51 strikeouts per nine innings. That proved to be Howell’s bounce-back season after a 2011 season that had him getting some time in the minors after imploding for a 6.16 ERA.
Nevertheless, Howell’s 2011 struggles seem to be an anomaly, and he would be a great fit in middle-relief in Manuel’s bullpen.
Scott Hairston an Outfield Possibility?
Also on the Phillies’ wish list for the offseason is another strong bat, particularly one of the outfield variety. The team had long been rumored as a possible suitor for Josh Hamilton and B.J. Upton, but both of those big-named players decided to go elsewhere.
With a seeming lack of interest in bringing Michael Bourn back to Philadelphia, the team’s hands are tied in free agency. That’s likely why CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman is reporting that the Phillies are among the leaders for Scott Hairston‘s services:
Scott Hairston tougher fit for #yanks since at moment have 3 starting OFs. Phillies, braves, mets, #others also in play
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 22, 2012
The 32-year-old Hairston spent last season with the New York Mets, where he hit a career-high 20 home runs and knocked in 57 batters in 137 games. Though he’s not much of a contact hitter with a career .247 average, Hairston could be a solid platoon fit while the Phillies look to make something bigger happen in a trade.
At the very least, he’s a serviceable back-order hitter who won’t single-handedly submarine the team’s offensive momentum. After last season, that’s enough of a positive to make Hairston a worthwhile addition.
Vernon Wells Also on the Team’s Radar?
Though the team has been hesitant to add massive salaries to its payroll, Amaro‘s desire to find a middle-of-the-order bat may force his hand.
A name that’s come up multiple times in recent weeks is current Los Angeles Angels outfielder Vernon Wells.
In an article that also mentions the team’s interest in Cody Ross, who recently signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman also notes the Phillies have interest in trading for Wells:
The Phillies have free agent Cody Ross plus Vernon Wells on their shopping list now. Ross has long been connected to the Phillies, but Wells is a new name. As with any team trading with the Angels for Wells, they’d expect the Angels to pick up the vast majority of the $42 million left on Wells’ contract through 2014.
If Philadelphia is willing to eat some salary, Wells could be had pretty easily in a trade. The 34-year-old outfielder hit just .230/.279/.403 last season with 11 home runs and 29 RBI. It was his second straight season hitting under the .250 mark, and Wells has descended a long way from his All-Star heights.
Nevertheless, if there’s still gas in his tank, a change of scenery just might be the thing to spark it.
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