This history lesson may seem odd for a Phillies blog, but there’s a good reason for it. The 2020 Phils will have four members of that Pirates team in Clearwater when spring training opens next month.
On Wednesday, the Phils signed infielder Neil Walker and pitcher Francisco Liriano to minor league deals and invitations to big league spring training. Earlier this winter utility man josh Harrison was signed to a minor league deal. And Andrew McCutchen was signed as a free agent last winter.
In 2013, Walker had a .757 OPS along with 16 homers. Harrison hit .250 in a reserve role and Liriano went 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA and a 1.224 WHIP. McCutchen hit .317 with a .911 OPS, 21 homers, and 27 steals.
It would be a miracle of dumpster diving by GM Matt Klentak if Liriano could replicate those numbers. But since 2014, he’s walked 4.4 batters per 9 innings and averaged almost a strikeout per inning.
The Phils also signed former Nats closer Drew Storen and fellow reliever Bud Norris to minor league deals on Wednesday. With the management edict to stay below the luxury tax threshold, expect to see more of these low-risk potentially high-reward moves.
Maybe they’ll get lucky with Liriano, Storen, or Norris. It beats shelling out big bucks to the likes of Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek.
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