Right-hander Dillon Maples is in camp with the Phillies, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Presumably, Maples has agreed to a minor league deal with an invite to Major League Spring Training.
This will be just the second organization for Maples, who has spent his entire career with the Cubs up until now. Drafted by Chicago in 2011, he made his MLB debut in 2017 and has spent the past five years bouncing between Triple-A and the big leagues. His first four seasons weren’t especially encouraging, as he logged 23 1/3 innings from 2017 to 2020 with a 8.49 ERA. That came with an excellent 32.8% strikeout rate but ghastly 21% walk rate.
Last year, there were signs of improvement, as Maples got his ERA down to 2.59 over 31 1/3 innings. Although he still struck out 28.8% of the batters he faced, he also still walked 18% of them. That tiny ERA was likely deflated by a .203 batting average on balls in play, leading the advanced metrics to be dubious of it. All of xERA, FIP, xFIP and SIERA put him between 4.48 and 4.79.
Despite appearing in the last five seasons, Maples still has less than a year of service time. The 29-year-old can therefore be kept around for years to come if he should crack the big league roster. However, he is out of minor league options, meaning that he would have to hold onto his roster spot or else be exposed to waivers. The Phillies have been notoriously dealing with relief issues for some time, but have made numerous efforts bolster their bullpen for this year. Corey Knebel and Nick Nelson were added prior to the lockout, with Brad Hand and Jeurys Familia being brought aboard after.
East is shaking
Dillion Maples? Sounds like something you’d find at a farmers market in Vermont. “Get your Dillion Maples here two for a dollar while they last!” Keep up the good work Phillies. Ahahahah!
Next up – Donna Maples?
No. Marla.
There ya go. Thanks. I musta been thinkin’ of “Donna’s Maples” (for real – sells Japanese Maples) down in N.C. 🙂
Okay, now can we please stop demeaning Dumbbrowski?
This tops the Olson deal as the biggest move in the NL East this month.
Yawns.
Thank God the Phillies are doing something…..not really.
DilMap – solid depth piece.
I really wish MLBTR could hold off on announcing all Philly transactions that aren’t Bryant, Castellanos, Schwarber, Chapman, etc. I see “Phillies” in a headline and my stomach drops. I can’t take it much longer.
Phillies will get none of those players sorry to spoil the ending
You will get Asdrubal Cabrera and Brett Gardner and you WILL like it
Say what you will about the mess that is the Phillies, but they run a fairly tight ship in terms of not leaking who they’re talking too. So the lack of rumors fan be frustrating, but it’s nothing new with this team.
I keep telling myself that too. I hope you are right because otherwise they are a spit away from a rebuild.
As much as I hope you’re wrong…I laughed out loud
Ha – we all know that pain. Stomach drops all-round…
Scouting report: Rick Vaughn before he got glasses.
Great, a right handed Alvarado
Good kid, amazing slider, no idea where it is going
Drove Cub fans nuts for years. Fantastic stuff but an ulcer waiting to happen every time he came in.
Unless he can find some command, I can’t get excited
If he can ever get some control and lower the walls he’s going to be solid. But that’s a big IF. Maybe a change of scenery will help
Walks**
let’s hope he doesn’t sap their bullpen! Thank you, thank you, I’m here all week!!
Whoa. You’re boiling.
I think he pancaked the landing.
Phillies are hoping Maples isn’t tapped out
I’d been waffling as to whether they should sign him or not.
Depth piece
Minor league signing…can’t have anything but an upside.
Good luck! Throws 100 MPH. Unfortunately it comes back the other way at 150 MPH. Good luck to the Married men on the infield, Cover them up, Wear a cup!
MLBTR could have saved this space for real news.