Right-hander Henderson Alvarez is in the process of signing on with the Phillies, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (Twitter links). It’s a minors pact that would pay Alvarez at a $750K annual rate for any time he spends in the big leagues this year.
Alvarez turned in a 2.65 ERA over 187 innings back in 2014, earning an All-Star nod and Cy Young consideration, but has battled significant shoulder injuries ever since. Two surgeries and extensive rehab has kept him from pitching in the majors since early 2015.
The righty put on a showcase earlier this summer in hopes of landing an opportunity, but ended up settling for a shot with the indy ball Long Island Ducks. He has made seven starts this year, working to a 3.09 ERA in 32 frames. Alvarez also managed only 13 strikeouts against 14 walks in that span, though his health is surely more important than the results at this point.
Heyman does note that Alvarez has been clocked at up to 98 mph with his fastball. That would appear to suggest that he has at least regained any lost arm strength. Alvarez sat between 94 and 95 with the heater for most of his time in the majors, but had suddenly dropped to the low nineties in his four starts before hitting the DL back in ’15.
The Phillies could simply like the idea of bolstering their depth down the stretch, but the club may see a larger opportunity here, too. By giving Alvarez a chance at a late-season MLB platform, the Phils will also be getting an up-close look at the potential reclamation candidate. And Alvarez can still be tendered arbitration one final time, giving the team an option to retain him for 2018.
Great pitcher with the marlins, good for him hope to see him when rosters expand.
Nice buy low acquisition, especially if he resigns. Plus he is always exciting on the last day of the season. So the Phils might get a sellout for that otherwise meaningless game.
yes it can’t hurt
H I M !
Absolutely love it. Very high ceiling move.
YES YES THIS IS DEFINITELY WHAT I CALL TAKING A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, I always thought he was solid, Phillies certainly need to up that rotation and bullpen, I know this is an unpopular opinion but this team can be pretty good with a few moves
More than a few moves…
Alvarez was always impressive when healthy. Hopefully for PHI his injury woes are behind him.
Yeah maybe he could be lights out for the Phillies in September and they could pick fifth instead of first.
Wouldn’t that be an awesome outcome?
The Phillies should put Nola on the 60 day DL and replace him with the first woman pitcher in MLB history and pledge to give her all of September to show what she’s got.
I feel like you could complain if we traded Andres Blanco for Mike Trout citing that the team loses veteran leadership and Trout costs too much.
He was complaining when they sent pivetta down
Should transition him to the pen. I know most starters are insistent on being starters but it could be a longevity blessing for him, esp with a 98 heater.
He’s never been a strikeout guy though. The fastball could play up in the pen but I’d have to think you’d give him every opportunity to start at this point, especially since they have so little invested him.
Good move. Phils need all the arms they can get, Surprised no one else took a flier on him. Phils have Eickhoff, Nola,Velasquez and 2 holes to fill so this can’t hurt. Velasquez might be best suited for the pen as well, only time will tell.
Velasquez is out for the rest of the season for shoulder surgery
Wish the guy well but Matt Klentak, Can you possibly sign or trade for ANY top talent ? GOOD talent ? He makes Ruben Amaro look good
You’re rebuilding and it’s august this isn’t the time to say anything like that. You wanna go out and sign Arrieta to a 130 million dollar contract and you guys suck for the first 2 years of his deal? How bout it, that’ll really move things along.
The Cubs signed Jon Lester to a big deal after a 73 win season and the Mets signed Bartolo Colon and Cutris Granderson after a 74 win season. The players were there to help them win.
They could sign a high priced free agent and stink for the first two years of the deal but if they don’t sign any free agents they’re guaranteed to stink until they do. Most bad teams wills sign free agents so that they can help them win. If they don’t bring in anyone the Phillies could have a $20 million payroll in 2018. If they sign $120 million worth of guys like Arrieta they should win sooner.
The Phillies are going to be lucky to win 60 games this year. I didn’t say they can’t sign some FA’s but throwing money at arrieta and wasting 2 of his prime years isn’t going to provide fruitful results on the contract. The FA class is a lot stronger next year anyway. The phils need to bide their time and see what they have in these young guys for now. This team isn’t close. 2 years might be too soon. They have to sign probably 2 pitchers this offseason but I don’t think it’s the time to spend $100+mil on one.
Yeah, dude you’re probably right. Klentak should be able to secure some Cy Young caliber talent in August.
The Phils should check out lefty Jon Niese on a similar deal. Whatever help they need this off-season, they should continue now in the direction they’ve gone with Alvarez.
JON NIESE LOL
Oriolee should have signed him