Phils Acquire Pat Neshek

[tom81]

Other teams were interested in Neshek; it's not completely impossible the Phillies flip him before he even throws a pitch for them.

If this is the case, why didn't Houston just trade him? I think they want to throw him into the mix of RP and hope a few stick.

We can afford to pick up his salary in a trade for a good prospect and probably Houston can't. I do agree that we probably want to throw him into the mix.

[andyb]

The larger point is that we have a lousy bullpen and just added a competent pitcher for little more than cash, which we have lots of. A pitcher on a 1-year deal that has zero impact on the future. A pitcher that had to be acquired at this point because of the need to pick up his option.

Yes we have more 40-man problems than in the past. I actually think we protect Tirado. There are just a bunch of A-level prospects like Tocci and Canelo and Anderson that we will not have to protect because they will not get selected. If we lose a Miguel Nunez the world is not going to end. We'll have to add 3 or 4 more 40-man pieces anyway before we get to Spring Training. Better to slip prospects through the rule 5 than to put them on the 40-man too early.

[zambonir]

Other teams were interested in Neshek; it's not completely impossible the Phillies flip him before he even throws a pitch for them.

If this is the case, why didn't Houston just trade him? I think they want to throw him into the mix of RP and hope a few stick.

I said "it's not completely impossible." Just like it's not completely impossible the Phillies trade Velasquez. Presumably the Phillies were most willing to step up and exercise the option, while other teams probably bluffed, hoping the Astros would not pick it up and they could get him for nothing.

I'm sure, if he performs, Neshek will be more valuable in July, when he'll have less money left (which the Phillies can just pay) and teams' are clamoring for relief help. And he has value pitching for the Phillies. But if some team's set-up guy went down with an injury in March, or Klentak was in talks about another deal and a GM expressed interest, ya never know.

[andyb]

Houston traded him because he is worth $3-$4 million a year, not $6.5 million. They are salary limited and they can do something better with the $6.5 million. If they did not trade him they would have bought out the option. So they save $500K immediately and get to use the full $6.5 million on something else.

We are different as the $6.5 million is less important to us. Neshek improves our bullpen and it is a modest price to pay for that.

[Slinging_Southpaw]

It would sure suck to lose Tirado just to keep Neshek.

I know speculating is (most of) the fun of what we do here, but I'm personally not going to worry about losing Tirado until A) he's left off the list and B) he's drafted. If perhaps before C) he's returned.

They were always gonna add some guys to the 40 via this kind of trade or waiver claims, just like last year. Also, if they do lose a player in the Rule V because of this (indirectly), but then trade Neshek at the deadline for two players, net win (particularly with the four months of work added in).

Other teams were interested in Neshek; it's not completely impossible the Phillies flip him before he even throws a pitch for them.

Trades are definitely going to be more fruitful for them right now; if Neshek was a free agent he wouldn't have wanted to play for the Phillies, and if he did he would have required at least a two-year deal.

Tirado is doing a pretty good job in the Winter Leagues at staying in a Phillies uniform(3 IP/7BB).

[andyb]

The quandary with Tirado is that he has the stuff to move really quickly and be a major league closer (not reliever, closer). Think Roberto Osuna who became the Blue Jays closer out of A+ ball. But the odds of him actually doing that next year are slim as currently he is definitely not ready for the majors.

The protection decision weighs high end stuff against complete non readiness.

[Philz08]

A pitcher on a 1-year deal that has zero impact on the future. Not entirely true. I have heard he has a nasty slider. If thats true, perhaps he could teach others on the staff this slider. That would in theory have an impact on the future. Always a bright side

[donaldorc]

A pitcher on a 1-year deal that has zero impact on the future. Not entirely true. I have heard he has a nasty slider. If thats true, perhaps he could teach others on the staff this slider. That would in theory have an impact on the future. Always a bright side

You must be a half-full sort of guy/gal.

[Philz08]

I believe we are on our way up. A good power bat would certainly be of alot of help

[BostonRoss]

I'm not all that high in Neshek due to his age and peripherals. His FIP has been well above his ERA for several years. ERA isn't a great stat for relievers who often come in or leave during an inning. The small sample size if innings means that the fate of inherited runners (both by the reliever and those who succeed him in a game) can have a disproportionate effect on ERA.

That said, this is a good move. The downside is very low (unless the PTBNL is significant), and Neshek sure isn't taking anyone's spot (anyone good, anyway). You do have to have a pitcher out there every inning, and it's better not to have to use guys like some of the ones that we've sent out there the last couple of years.

[Les229]

I think he will be better than some of the guys that they sent out there this past season. At his age he is stop gap. I don't see him as a potential candidate for closer. He doesn't throw hard enough. If the ptbnl is actually money instead of a prospect, this is a good move. The last month, or so of the season, the relief pitching was pretty brutal. He is a candidate for catch and release, but the Phils haven't had any luck with that ploy the past couple of years.