The Phillies have struck a deal to acquire reliever Pat Neshek from the Astros, as Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle first reported (via Twitter). Houston will receive a player to be named later or cash in the swap.
Neshek, 36, was controllable for the coming season through a $6.5MM club option. Philadelphia has exercised that option, as it announced along with the trade. The Astros were reportedly considering a trade of the veteran righty with his option decision coming due, and found a willing partner in a Phillies organization that has a need for bullpen depth.
The sidearming Neshek primarily delivers a sinker-slider combo has been rather effective over the past few years. While he hasn’t matched his output from a breakout 2014 stint with the Cardinals, Neshek is fresh off a year in which he contributed 47 innings of 3.06 ERA pitching with 8.2 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9.
Neshek has never carried much velocity, and has maintained his average fastball over recent years, so his age isn’t a significant concern. The biggest issue is his performance against lefties, who torched him for a .250/.321/.646 batting line and four home runs in 55 plate appearances last year. Of course, Neshek was exceedingly stingy when facing righties, who managed an anemic .172/.209/.254 batting line against him in 2016.
Those dramatic splits make Neshek somewhat unlikely to challenge for the Phillies’ somewhat unsettled closer’s role. But he could take an important spot in the pecking order for late-inning setup opportunities. Neshek provides the team with a veteran pen piece to help lock down winnable games as the Phils seek to move back towards contention — just the kind of target posited in our offseason outlook for the organization. He could also turn into a deadline trade chip. With only a single-season commitment required, and very little on the Philadelphia books, it was a fairly easy risk to take.
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For the Astros, whose bullpen was one of the game’s very best last year, it obviously made more sense to re-allocate the cash that might otherwise have gone to Neshek. Houston has plenty of options on hand to take over Neshek’s innings, and is already busying itself with building out the rest of its roster as it seeks to return to the postseason following a disappointing 2016 campaign.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Not the first time the traded relievers
Great guy, great reliever. I like this for the Phillies.
I like this a lot for the Phillies- it’s a great buy low for a player who could turn out to be a solid contributor or July trade chip if they are out of it then. Especially for a PTBNL or cash.
Thanks for repeating exactly what the article just said. Good contribution
Anytime! And thank you for your comment. I always love receiving love from fellow commenters.
Btw, next time time you diss a contribution- why don’t you make one of your own first.
Awesome. Gives them a veteran guy in a young ‘pen and if he has a good season they can get a pretty decent prospect back for him. I’m still wondering why the Astros have basically given up on him.
Maybe to clear some salary? I know some baseball writers are speculating that Houston could be a landing spot for Cespedes or Desmond. Plus, Houston had a strong bullpen even without Nemshek so they’re dealing from a surplus of relief pitching.
I think the Phillies are ready to make some moves this winter to start competing. This is the first step. The Astros and the Phillies have made a lot of trades through the years.
I absolutely love this. The pen cost them so many games this year.
Basically $6.5 million for a situational righty. Is that a economic move in today’s market???
It’s not economic in a sense that he is cheap money wise, but the Phillies have the means to take on a bunch of bad contracts and he’s a very good pitcher and it didn’t cost them anything talent wise as a one year commitment that could result in more young talent
The Astros got fleeced in a deal with the Phillies again. Come on Luhnow!
What do you expect the team to get for a guy that could’ve been released and is a situational righty. I get the optimism that the Phillies, if out of the race, could trade him for something at the deadline if he plays well, but I just don’t see teams lining up to trade top prospects for a guy who can only pitch to righties. LOOGYs in general don’t really cost that much in trade value, I doubt a ROOGY is going to cost much more.
Astros did not get ‘fleeced’ at all. Luhnow just cleared some money and opened up a spot in the bullpen for another younger, cheaper reliever. The farm system is deep with arms like Hoyt, Paulino, and Gustave. It’s a win-win for both parties. For all we know Luhnow might get another promising player like the SS we got in the Giles trade.
How can you guys say Houston got fleeced? You don’t know what they got. Even if nothing of substance, they didn’t want neshek for 6.5 million. The fact they got anything for him instead of nothing is solid.
Phillies better start trading for, AND SIGNING, better player then this ! You got the money, try spending it or reduce ticket prices. Don’t need a worthless 76ers tank 2.0
You realize baseball takes a hell of a lot longer to develop talent, right? They are well on their way to be competing. Trading for better players isn’t really a great idea for a team like the Phillies. I’m sure YOU knew that though…
HUH ? They been “Developing” lackluster draft picks for seemingly 20 years. Trading is a better way when you have next to no top flight talent at certain positions. This organization has ZERO talent major league ready in the outfield, maybe, yes maybe, an oft injured 150 pound Quinn, You clueless type fans, kool aid drinkers, make me sick even debating with.
“Well on their way too competing” Yeah, spoken like a true non season ticket holder. On their way HOW exactly ? Where’s the top line pitcher ? Don’t have any, and don’t even try spewing your dribble over current staff members !
Tell me one sure fire guy in the system thats a top prospect. Let me guess, you’ll say Crawford because you NEVER seen any prospects play and just read media clippings. Crawford is far from a top flight candidate. He’s not bad but just that. They have one player I’ve seen in person the last 5 years that can be a real good pro and that’s Alfaro. You dopes that think their “On their way” are hilarious. They’re 3 pitchers, 1st basemen and 2 outfielders away. Good lord how blind
I see I’m not alone in wondering about signing an older pitcher who will make $6.5M and threw 47 IP last year. For what Nesheck offers, is there no one cheaper or younger?
Most 30-something relievers with an ERA of 3 and decent peripherals land 2 year deals in that 10-16M range. Look at the deals guys like Axford and Motte got, and thats after worse seasons than what Neshek just had.
Solid move by Phillies adding a solid veteran bullpen arm. Encouraging they might sign some position players or trade a young arm for prospects like the Giles deal
Phillies had the need and the money. Great trade for them.
Neshek is a good guy in the clubhouse to help the young relievers. He is still a solid reliever who will give the Phillies a veteran option out of the pen. This is a good move for the Phils.
the phillies basically have nothing on their payroll, they will be spending heavy next offseason watch
The Phillies are on pace to win 20 games or less. Their “young talent” is just young and not talented. They are a pathetic franchise. They were in bad shape with Ruin Tomorrow Jr, fired him, now they’re still in bad shape but think they’re on the right track lol. Pathetic team and front office in Philtha.
Question… who’s the owners of the Philadelphia Phillies? THE NEW YORK METS!
@NY_Jimbo lol own? Need I remind you that we ran this division for the better part of the last decade? I’ll let you have fun with your great pitching staff, but terrible lineup as we gear towards another championship run in the next few years