The Phillies made a number of roster moves today, most notably designating righty Vince Velasquez for assignment, per the team (Twitter links).Velasquez has been on the injured list with a blister issue. Regardless, it’s a disappointing result for Velasquez, who never quite lived up to expectations in Philly, despite six seasons on the roster. This season, Velasquez has a 5.95 ERA/5.58 FIP in 81 2/3 innings.
Time will tell if this is the end of the road for Velasquez and the Phils; the other 29 teams will have the opportunity to claim him off waivers, though that might be unlikely given his current injury status and the fact that he will be a free agent at the end of the season.
In terms of their other moves, Matt Joyce was reinstated from the 60-day injured list to claim one available roster spot. Joyce has just 62 plate appearances this season with much of his usage coming as a pinch-hitter.
Adonis Medina and Mickey Moniak were also recalled from Triple-A. Moniak has 32 plate appearances with the big league club this year. He will see some time as an extra outfielder. Medina will potentially take on some of Velasquez’s former repsonsibilities as a fifth starter. The Phillies may not go with a traditional fifth starter, but Medina could be used as a multi-inning reliever.
Heading out,Enyel De Los Santos and Ramon Rosso were optioned to Triple-A, while Travis Jankowski was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right foot contusion. Jankowski had been the primary alternate in the outfield, but that role will now be taken on by Joyce and Moniak.
we’re gonna roll with a BP game over him? sheesh…
He wouldn’t have given a long start.
our bulk guy didnt go an inning yesterday so…
I read a comment from someone on this site a month or so ago I thought was kind of funny. It was when the Phillies were in 3rd place and 5 and a half games out. The comment was basically something like, “The other teams need to watch out. The Phillies are going to be a really good team if Velasquez and some of our other players start playing well.” I always thought that was a weird comment. It’s basically like saying, “Our team is going to be good if our bad players suddenly become good out of nowhere.” It seems like that would be the case for every team. If any teams bad players suddenly become good the team gets better. I’m not sure what made him say it or why he thought Velasquez was likely to turn into a good pitcher overnight. Maybe he saw something I didn’t. I always thought Velasquez pretty much just sucked at his job. After this development I hope that guy has stopped holding his breath on this guy becoming some type of impact player though. I could tell back then that it was a complete waste of hope.
He’s pitched over 600 innings of almost 5 era ball. I don’t think he’s about to turn into Scherzer overnight…
So true. It was the same way with Franco. He had over 1500 At Bats and played to an average of .230. That’s three years of ABs, after a while you are what you are.
Better this way.
really, you didnt see the madness that was yesterday…
He isn’t good. At all. I’m not saying there is much left right now on the roster, but he’s had his chance, blown it, and he’s done. Last year Pivetta, this year VV, Eflin is next. All 3 should have been replaced before last year, but they keep getting chance after chance.
Eflin has been solid
Solid would be a pitcher who knows how to win a game. He’s mediocre, not solid.
Eflin is much much better than VV. The good news is next year it’s Wheeler, Nola, Suarez (who may turn out to be their #2), Gibson and Eflin at #5.
Assuming Dombrowski doesn’t make any moves. And asking Suarez to be a #2 is a bit much. Gibson also had a good year this year, but he has had his issues in the past. If Nola doesn’t straighten out, there could be 4 mediocre starters next year and another .500 season. I didn’t say Eflin was VV bad, but he’s not the pitcher everyone hypes him to be the last 3 years. I root for all of them, even VV, but I am being realistic.
I think Dombrowski will make some moves.
He’ll surely be claimed by a rebuilding team as he’s got good stuff but his command and control is so bad.
nah, its gonna be someone like BOS (ie needing arms) if anyone. he’s a FA after the year and is still owed a bit under $1 million.
Nope.
His command and control? Both?
That reminds me of a Bobby Lee quote (when he was with Norm)
“I had no money, and I was broke!”
Season ended yesterday. Everyone will point to pitching and bullpen forgetting that the offense outside of Harper has been atrocious. Girardi changing the lineup every day certainly doesn’t help
Matt is back, Re-Joyce!
season ended when Kennedy allowed the decisive HR to a guy with an AVG under .200
I don’t even fully blame Kennedy. Phillies scored 2 runs at that point. That’s pathetic and they deserved to lose. Homeruns are going to happen in the bandbox. Phillies need to hit. Harper has been carrying them. Even Realmuto has been bad.
no, the offense should’ve done better, but he cant allow that 3rd run
Yea. Agree there. That pitch selection was a joke.
Realmuto actually has a 112 OPS+ which is about the same as he had in his 2019 season, defense is not the same of course but he’s hitting the way he’s always had.
It’s more of how he’s performing lately and less of his season total.
2 out…
2 strikes…
Hang one after shaking off Marchan…
You CANNOT throw a strike there
Vince Velasquez seems like the type of pitcher the Rays will sign dirt cheap and turn into a star reliever
I’ve always thought he might make a decent closer
He wasn’t great in the pen for Philly either, but I think he’s fixable. Just not by the Phillies.
He reminds me of Brett Myers and I thought he could have been a good closer, like Myers in ‘07. I also thought it was a mistake taking Myers out of the closer role in ‘08 and I could not have been more wrong about that.
Phillies need to get their act together fast or Harper is gonna want out.
Again. Lol
yeah he’s gonna uproot his family…lol
He didn’t want out of WSH because they weren’t winning. There’s no reason to think he’ll want to leave Philly. This is just fan gossip. I’m sure he’s frustrated, but he deserves more credit than people are giving him. He has not even implied anything about wanting to leave, and he holds himself accountable even when he’s the only player on the team playing well.
The WAS/PHI situations are different. Over his last 3 years, the Nats won 95 and 97 games, and the division crowns in 2016-17, and finished 2nd the next season, so they weren’t always bad. Plus he was under team control, with the Nats, and knew he would be a FA at age 26. Now he’s committed to another 10 seasons after this one, and won’t be a FA again until he’s 39.
Plus, he doesn’t really put things out there. He may have been unhappy in Washington, and may also be unhappy in Philly. He just doesn’t broadcast it.
I have no idea if he’s unhappy now, or not. I think he really wants to win a WS title. If a few more seasons like this one slip by, and the Phillies are not competitive, I could see him asking to be traded.
No opt-outs in Harper’s contract so even if he wanted out the only way out is through trade and no one is touching that contract with a ten foot pool
You’d be surprised. Contract is actually looking mighty good so far. Obviously the last few years are just symbolic. I think plenty of teams would pay that AAV for an MVP-caliber player.
VonPurpleHayes
I agree. Three teams were willing to take on Stanton’s contract. I could see the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, and perhaps a few other teams willing to take Harper’s contract. And if the Phillies were willing to trade him sooner, rather than later, could get some decent prospects in return.
next Nick pivetta
Would rather see what one of their younger players can do over Joyce but ok
Another dipoto claim candidate!
At this point I think most Phillies fans have seen about all they want to see if Velasquez.
3 of his 17 starts with 5+ innings and 0 runs allowed. That will keep him around the Mlb. Was looking like a great part of the trade during that 2016 season but nada since..
Micky has to be up there with the biggest bust for a number 1 pick.
Moniak is still only 23 and he’s on the fringe of getting major league playing time. There have been way worse busts that never even got close to the majors. Also that 2016 draft class isn’t even all that great anyway. All the good players were in the later rounds.
If they would only wise up and DFA Rhys Hoskins this roster would finally start to shape up. Figures they would have dumped him instead of trading him in Spring Training. Classic Phillies
Hoskins is out for the year with an injury. Has been out for some time. Also he had pretty good numbers before his injury. This comment makes no sense. No offense.
Vinny V has been a disaster since day one. He had one great outing and the Philly Phaghtful fell in love with the turd, the same goes for Rhys, if it wasn’t for Bryce and JT protecting him he would be run out of town faster than Ricky Waters. Rhys stinks and they should trade him while they can before he turns into Vinny Vegas 2.0
“Rhys stinks” is just a ridiculous comment. He’s a huge boost to the lineup and has had multiple good seasons in a row. Now in terms of whether the Phillies should trade Rhys, I’m not against that for the righr return. But Rhys hits 30+ homers with a high OPS every season. That’s not easy to replicate.
Should have sold at the deadline? Girardi is a major disappointment. His decisions cost many games. His lineups are a joke. This team is paying for Klentak’s errors from the past. What a joke.
What did they have to sell really? The move they did make set them up for next year as well. Gibson was a solid addition. I think we gave up too much for him, but it added a much needed solid backend starter who will still be there next season. Phillies are frustrating, and likely not making the playoffs this year, but they aren’t lightyears away. I think DD makes some big moves this offseason with a bit of money freeing up. They don’t even need huge FA signings. Just solid pieces.
Boy. That escalated. Slowly.