The Phillies have some interest in free agent starter Doug Fister, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports on Twitter. Philadelphia is looking to add a veteran presence to its rotation, he notes.
Fister, who’ll soon turn 32, finished eighth in the Cy Young voting in 2014 after putting up a 2.41 ERA in his 164 frames for the Nationals. But that all evaporated last year, as he struggled with injury, saw his velocity drop, posted his lowest groundball rate (44.6%) and highest home run rate (1.22 HR/9) since his rookie year, and ultimately lost his rotation spot in D.C.
But there’s plenty to like about Fister as a bounceback candidate, too. The towering righty has never been terribly reliant on velocity and maintains outstanding control. He ended last year with a 4.19 ERA in 103 innings, along with a fairly typical 5.5 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9, so it’s not as if the season was a complete disaster. And he was one of the game’s more consistently productive starters over 2012-14, so it’s not like his glory days are well in the rearview.
For the Phillies, there’s no question that the team has the finances to sign Fister or any other pitchers that the team prefers, with the only significant limitation being the organization’s effort to avoid significant future entanglements that might compromise its rebuild. And there’s good reason pursue him for the Phils, who not only need the innings, but could conceivably end up cashing him in via trade if he returns to form. The larger question is whether they can woo a player like Fister, who could well receive strong interest from contenders, to join a club that is not expected to compete in 2016.
The Pirates need to be interested in Fister and not Kyle Kendrick. Fisters exactly the type of guy they should be targeting. Actually good, good bounce back candidate and more than likely just looking for a one year deal with a contender and a perfect pitching situation like PNC and with the Pirates. NH get on it
Agreed
I can understand Fister seeing a need to prove himself and play on a pillow contract. What I can’t understand is choosing a team like Philadelphia to do it in. Citizens’ Bank Park favors hitters far more than pitchers and Fister runs the risk of getting knocked around frequently while pitching there. Add in the fact that Philly doesn’t have one of the stronger defenses around. If I’m Fister I’m hoping a team with greater winning potential is the one who comes calling so I can play with a solid defense behind me and the possibility of amassing more attractive stats pitching for a team in contention. That isn’t going to be Phillly.
I can imagine Fister returning to DC before I can imagine him signing with Philly.
Phillies OF D just got ramped up, I can see it happening… why? MONEY. I bet the MONEY will speak to him.
They certaintly have the money to talk.
Was thinking the Jays should take a run at Fister. They seem interested in short term deals and can offer a competitive team with solid defense. The issue being that he might not want to rebuild his value in the AL East but Estrada showed last year it can be done.
He should go to Seattle if he wants to pitch in a pitcher friendly park.
He’d be going to a somewhat of a contending team as well.
It would be good to see Doug Fister wih the Phillies.