Blue Jays reliever David Phelps formally launched his rehab assignment yesterday, as Scott Mitchell of TSN Sports notes on Twitter. Phelps recorded an inning of action at the High-A level.
With that news, we now have a good idea when Phelps could be back in action at the major league level. Pitchers may work on rehab assignments for up to thirty days. Those recovering from Tommy John surgery, as is Phelps, can have their assignments extended by ten days up to three times.
The hope, surely, will be that Phelps can return before the month of June is out. As a veteran relief pitcher, he’ll be handled differently than a youthful starter. While the Jays and Phelps have every incentive to exercise reasonable caution, both have an interest in seeing him on a MLB mound as soon as possible.
For the Toronto organization, Phelps represented a calculated gamble on a $2.5MM guarantee. If he’s able to return to his once-excellent form, Phelps could be utilized as a mid-2019 trade chip or kept for the 2020 campaign via club option.
On the pitcher’s side of the equation, his earnings are tied directly to his MLB activity levels. Phelps stands to earn $250K apiece upon making his 25th, 30th, and 35th appearances, with $350K apiece at numbers 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60. There are also bonuses for games finished. Plus, the option’s base rate of $1MM can rise to $3MM (if he reaches 30 games), $5MM (at 40 games), $7MM (50 games), or even $8MM (in the rather unlikely event he appears in fifty and finishes forty games).
Phelps had been a useful but hardly outstanding MLB starter before finding another gear in a relief role. Since the start of the 2016 season, he carries a 2.72 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 over 142 1/3 innings.
Stay healthy, get the minor league reps, replace Derek Law in the bullpen.
Didn’t Seattle trade 4 prospects to the Marlins for him last year? Then he got hurt and didn’t pitch at all. I wonder how those 4 prospects are doing now…
Pablo Lopez has been serviceable in their rotation this year.
as with any trade the Marlins make, not too great
I was meaning what a terrible trade by Seattle! Sent 4 prospects for a guy who never pitched for you. Now they’re terrible and rebuilding. Bet they’d like those 4 prospects back.
It was over 2 years ago.
How time flies…..
What accounts for his dramatic increase in punchouts between ’15 and ’16?
Moving from the rotation to the bullpen.
GOOD MORNING Mr. Phelps.
Your mission – and you have to accept it,
Is to begin your rehab assignment effective Wednesday, June 8th…..
Nothing Phelps can do to reverse the Jays fortune so let’s just hope that he gets fully healthy and can pitch at a major league level again.
Phelps has a shot at being a very good bullpen piece if he is right.
Edwin Jackson is very bad. Release him now and make room for Phelps or someone else. Derek Law can go too. Wasn’t that a good return for Pillar? Law, Hanson and a lottery pick. Yeeesh.
And yesterday Atkins says” We didn’t think our record would be this bad at this point in the season” Really? Are you stupid?
Fire Atkins now.
He just got a one year extension to his contract taking him to 2020, than they will fire him.
Oh Jimmer….did you see the news? Ross Atkins was just extended. Rogers is so delighted with the current state of the franchise that they want to stay the course.
Now he’s responsible for dealing Stroman. Bad enough they did not receive any pitching for Happ or even Pillar (sorry Law, you don’t count).
A wealthy owner with guts and a hunger for winning is what the organization needs. Otherwise more JP Ricciardi’s, Ross Atkins’ and Alex Anthopoulos’ will be hired. Sorry, AA was an ordinary GM and very overrated.
At least AA gave it the college try and got the team deep into the playoffs.
Ross Atkins gets an extension? really? Hadn’t seen or heard that one.
Some get me some gravol for my stomach.
Yeah, I’ll give you that point on AA.
You better get that gravol.