The Phillies announced that they’ve acquired lefty Cristopher Sanchez from the Rays in exchange for minor league infielder Curtis Mead. Sanchez has been selected to the 40-man roster, per the team, as have three other players: right-hander Mauricio Llovera and left-handers Garrett Cleavinger and JoJo Romero.
The 22-year-old Sanchez had been with the Rays since they signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2013. He has pitched almost exclusively in the low minors since then, and is now coming off a season in which he threw 34 innings of 1.85 ERA ball with 9.53 K/9, 3.44 BB/9 and a 54.1 percent ground-ball rate at the Single-A level.
The Australian-born Mead, 19, signed with the Phillies since May 2018. He impressed over 175 plate appearances in 2019 at the rookie level, where he batted .285/.351/.462 and hit four home runs.
Minor but nice pickup. May help the pen this year or next.
Romero had a down 2019 but pitched well in the AFL.
Fewer K’s than IPs usually means Sanchez is a Latin pitcher who keeps his ERA low by throwing slop….. 22 years old, still at low-A…..there’s a million of ’em…..Mead, OTOH, looks interesting….could be a good pickup….
Sanchez’s velocity increased from sitting at 90-91 touching 94 to sitting at 93-94, touching 97 last year. He’s still learning how to harness his stuff. He’s far away from the majors to leave on the 40-man, but he doesn’t throw slop.
Are they putting Jojo in the pen full time ? He struggled starting at AAA this year, had to go back to AA.
Rays usually know pitching so hopefully Sanchez keeps his ground ball rate up….
No not Mead! Im actually a big fan of his. Rays were smart to pick him up.
Of the two, Mead looks like the guy with more potential. But, hey, why should any Phillies fan ever question Klentak’s ability to sign or trade for relief pitchers? I jest. His track record in that arena is abdominal.
Yea, you really need a strong stomach to watch Phillies relievers.
at the very least its new blood. id certainly have rather them traded someone besides Mead, but again, better this guy than a lot of the rabble we dealt with at times last year.