Masked Man Gets $28 Million from Phils

Didi Gregorius is back with the team for another two years, having agreed to a $28 million contract. That takes same of the mystery out of the middle infield. We'll probably have some combination of Scott Kingery and Jean Segura at second base. The question of center field still lingers, but let's be glad that Didi is back. 

Didi is a nice stopgap until top infield prospect Bryson Stott is ready for prime time. Didi led the Phils with 40 RBI last season and had an OPS of .827. So offensively, the band is back together for the 2021 season. And speaking of offensive, the Phils are still looking at pieces to improve the worst bullpen in modern history. The addition of Archie Bradley should help, and a couple of other hard-throwing pieces can't possibly be worse than last year, right?

The Phils made another move earlier in the week, signing left-handed starting pitcher Matt Moore to a one-year, $3 million contract, plus incentives. Moore had a good season in Japan in 2020, starting 13 games and recording a 2.65 ERA. Moore's signing probably means the end of the Vince Velasquez starting pitching experiment. Maybe VV can thrive throwing gas for an inning at a time out of the bullpen.

To clear a roster spot for Moore, the Phils trade lefty Cole Irvin to the Athletics for cash considerations. And speaking of Cole, a certain Mr. Hamels is still available. If he's healthy, the Phils should definitely give him a look. In the past he's said he'd love to end his career in Philadelphia. Maybe Dave Dombrowski can grant his wish. 

Disclaimer: I stole the headline from the Philadelphia Daily News on a story they did years ago about catcher Darren Daulton signing a new deal with the team. (image from mlb.com)

JT Gets Paid!

Our long national nightmare is over. J.T. Realmuto has reportedly agreed to a five-year, $115.5 million contract to remain with the Philadelphia Phillies. J.T. becomes the highest-paid catcher in MLB history, if you go by average annual value.

So 30-year-old J.T. will be catching for the Phillies for the next five years. Catchers not named Carlton Fisk and Yadier Molina do not traditionally age well. The Phillies better hope that Realmuto stays healthy and productive for the life of the contract. Having the DH be a full-time forever thing in the National League would also be a big help.

If there is no DH, we're going to see JT play a lot of first base. And given the Phillies recent struggles to find quality outfielders, giving Realmuto some reps in left field might not be a bad idea. It worked for Yogi Berra, and that turned out OK.

The Phils also signed a pitcher on Tuesday. Former Yankee and Pirate starter Ivan Nova gets a minor league contract with a chance to make the big club in spring training and supplant Vince Velasquez from the starting rotation. In 240 games, Nova has a 4.38 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  

So now that the catching has been taken care of, the team still needs a shortstop and a centerfielder. There's been talk of bringing back Didi Gregorius, but he's an expensive option for a team with a payroll already around $170 million. Andrelton Simmons and Freddy Galvis are also reportedly under consideration.

The two names most often heard for CF are Jackie Bradley and the banished Odubel Herrera. I want no part of Herrera with this team. His numbers were in a nosedive before he was arrested and charged in domestic violence case. The charges were eventually dropped, but this team doesn't need a bad player with a bad reputation. Bradley will probably be too expensive. So barring anything crazy happening, look for a three-headed monster (?) of Scott Kingery, Roman Quinn, and Adam Haseley. Yeah, not really inspiring. 

Spring training is supposed to start in three weeks, but that's up in the air because of the pandemic. But at least the JT Realmuto drama is over. And I'm really happy he's going to be a Phillie for the next five years. 

And this just in–nobody has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2021. 

RIP Hammerin' Henry Aaron

I know this a Phillies blog, but I have to write about the passing of one of the greatest players and human beings of all time, Hank Aaron.

I had the privilege of watching Mr. Aaron play against the Phillies at The Vet in May 1973 when I was 10 years old. My grandfather took me to the game, and we sat in Section 228, right behind the plate. Hank didn't disappoint–he homered and hit two doubles as the Braves beat Steve Carlton and the Phillies, 7-0.

Eleven months later, I watched with the rest of America as Hank homered to pass Babe Ruth and become the all-time home run king.

A year later, a family friend (Gar Miller of Wenonah, NJ, aka Card Czar) presented me with the above as a bar mitzvah present. It includes cards from 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1965, and 1967. It's one of my most prized possessions, yet it's been in bubble wrap for years because I'm afraid it'll fade or something else might happen to it. 

But with news of Hank Aaron's passing, I had to share it. I wish I had the chance to meet him. He was an amazing player, and by all account, an even better person. 

P.S. The Phillies have still NOT signed JT Realmuto. 

First Impressions

After reading Archie Bradley's first tweet as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, I take back the whole "looks like Gritty" thing.

#SignJT

— Archie Bradley (@ArchieBradley7) January 18, 2021

He's gonna do just fine here. 

Spring training starts in four weeks and JT Realmuto is still a free agent. Listen to Archie Bradley. He knows stuff. 

Gritty's Cousin Signs with Phils

The Phils signed a free agent today that was not JT Realmuto. It was Archie Bradley, a reliever who bears a striking resemblance to Gritty, the mascot of the neighboring Philadelphia Flyers.

Bradley came up with the Diamondbacks as a starting pitcher, and wasn't very good. He was moved to the bullpen and got better. He was with Cincinnati last year, but only appeared in six games. He has a career ERA of 3.91 and a WHIP of 1.359. The deal he signed is for one year and $6 million. Seems like an overpay, but it's not my money. He was non-tendered by the Reds, which means he wanted a lot more than he's actually worth. 

Speaking of contracts, Rhys Hoskins, Vince Velasquez, and new reliever Jose Alvardo are scheduled to exchange salary arbitration figures with the Phillies tomorrow. I still can't believe Velasquez is with the team. He'll be working with his 47th different pitching coach this season, and none have been able to unlock his potential. It's time to let him so and SIGN COLE HAMELS. 

Spring training starts in five weeks and the Phils still don't have a catcher, shortstop, or centerfielder. We are so screwed. 

He'll Fit Right In

The Phils made a minor trade today, picking up reliever Sam Coonrod from the Giants in exchange for Carson Ragsdale. Coonrod had a 9.82 ERA in 14.2 innings last year with a WHIP of 1.636. He'll fit right in with the remnants of a terrible bullpen. 

Coonrod sounds like a real piece of work. He refused to kneel with his teammates last season during a pregame show of unity. He told NBC Sports last summer that he was a Christian and couldn't "get on board" with a couple of things he read about Black Lives Matter. Bad take from a bad pitcher. Bad move, Phillies. 

Meanwhile, Up in Flushing

The hated New York Mets just got a lot better. They’ve added all-star shortstop Francisco Lindor and onetime Phillie starter Carlos Carrasco. 

In exchange, Cleveland receives infielders Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario, outfielder Isaiah Greene, and pitcher Josh Wolf. 

Lindor is a stud in the last year of his contract. The Mets will look to extend him, ala Mookie Betts. 

And back in Philly, there’s nothing but crickets. Spring training is six weeks away and JT Realmuto is STILL a free agent. 

Treat for the Ears and Eyes

The Phillies just dropped a new video on Twitter, and it's freaking amazing. They took old calls from the beloved Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn and put them to video from this past season. It's wonderful. Enjoy. 

We think you'll like this crossover episode. pic.twitter.com/W10x9FSKDJ

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) January 6, 2021

2021 and the Great Unknown

Well, we made it. It's 2021 and we're still here. And usually by this time of year, I'm well into my countdown of pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training. 

But when exactly will Spring Training start? There's been no word from MLB. The Phillies are supposed to open the season at home on Thursday, April 1 against the Braves. I don't see that happening on time. 

I'm guessing MLB starts Spring Training in mid to late March, with the regular season starting somewhere between April 15 and May 1. And unless a shitload of doubleheaders get put on the schedule, the season will be 120 to 130 games. That's provided millions of people get vaccinated between now and then. And I wouldn't expect to see people in the stands until July or August at the earliest. 

And the Phillies still haven't re-signed JT Realmuto. I hate this time of year–there's too much waiting. And the wait will be even longer this year.