The Philadelphia Phillies 2022-2023 Off-Season Thread: Nov 6th, 2022

[Christopher]

I absolutely still think they'll bring in a veteran for the bullpen and probably also bring some low-risk, high-reward nonroster guys to spring training, but -- if you think Dominguez can stay healthy -- the bullpen is looking better than most people think, IMO

Seranthony Dominguez
Jose Alvardo
Matt Strahm
Conor Brogdon
Andrew Bellatti
Sam Coonrod will be healthy
Francisco Morales still has a good ceiling
Griff McGarry, IMO, will be used as an impact flame-throwing reliever for 2023 though he'll still get a shot to start in the future

[Christopher]

Matt Winkelman
@Matt_Winkelman
I also don’t think they are wrong to think there is at least one guy who can contribute in high leverage in the Morales, Coonrod, Baker, Miller, Schultz, McKinley pile of guys who throw hard.
9:52 AM · Dec 23, 2022

[FolesMVP09]

Phils waste $10m on washed up Kimbrel

[wrench248]

Phils waste $10m on washed up Kimbrel

Agreed. He had his lowest K rate last season (27.7 %), and I can't imagine it will get any better. Lucky it is only a one year deal.

[bigel57]

Phils waste $10m on washed up Kimbrel

Agreed. He had his lowest K rate last season (27.7 %), and I can't imagine it will get any better. Lucky it is only a one year deal.

This is just a waste of $10 mil..He is a washed up stiff. Corey Knebel Jr…Horrific signing by Dumbo.
Maybe a 6th/7th inning guy,at best!

[Michael Jack]

Phils waste $10m on washed up Kimbrel

This is the Phillies kryptonite. Knebel, Familia, Hand, Robertson, Bradley,
etc. Maybe it will work out. I hope so, but considering the track record, not likely. Identifying and developing future closers is the way to go,
not signing former closers and hoping they come back. Maybe they keep hoping for another Brad Lidge.

[Captain Obvious]

Phils waste $10m on washed up Kimbrel

This is the Phillies kryptonite. Knebel, Familia, Hand, Robertson, Bradley,
etc. Maybe it will work out. I hope so, but considering the track record, not likely. Identifying and developing future closers is the way to go,
not signing former closers and hoping they come back. Maybe they keep hoping for another Brad Lidge.

Kimbrel is an upgrade over all those guys you mentioned except possibly Robertson.

Also, I honestly don't think Kimbrel is coming in here to close out games specifically. He's a veteran bullpen guy. They use him wherever they can.

[Christopher]

The Kimbrel signing wouldn't have been my first choice, and I don't think he has a lot left in the tank, but here's where I am on it:

1. It's not my money

2. There are two parts of the season: A long, 162-game regular season, and a grueling postseason. You need different types of folks & depth to get through both. The regular season comes first. Thomson doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who's going to deploy "traditional" bullpen usage all of the time. (Although you don't have to treat every game like Game 4 of the postseason, obviously). I think we'll see Dominguez/Alvarado and even Brogdon and/or Bellatti handle a lot of high-leverage moments in the 7th and 8th and also in the 9th, if that's where the tough batters are. There could be games where it make sense for Kimbrel to handle the bottom of the order in the 8th, and also games in which Kimbrel can do his thing and and close out "routine" ninth innings for a save. At this point, he must know he's not the default full-time closer, but I think there's also an understanding that he'll get enough opportunities to get the six saves he needs for 400 in his career. Fine.

3. I have zero doubt that if they need another impact arm in the bullpen in July, Dombrowski/Fuld will go and get it. Signing Kimbrel doesn't preclude that. This will also buy them some time to see if some of the promising arms in the minors can be an important part of the bullpen in 2023, especially toward the second half & playoffs.

[Christopher]

Let's also not forget that we're only a year removed from rumors of a Segura-for-Kimbrel trade, which would have left the 2022 starting infield at Gregorious/Stott.

Thank goodness that didn't happen. But now we're getting Kimbrel for $$ only.

[Captain Obvious]

Thoughts on Zach Britton? Saw a few tweets saying Phillies have interest.