The Houston Astros have been looking to upgrade their bullpen since their offseason began, albeit later than many expected.
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Per multiple reports, pitchers Vincent Velasquez and Brett Oberholtzer are going to Philadelphia in the deal, and Berman reported that outfielder Derek Fisher is included as well. But there is some definite promise there, and likely sneaks in as one of the team’s 10 best prospects for 2016.
After two quiet days at the winter meetings, the Phillies lit it up Wednesday. The Phillies, owners of the worst record in baseball in 2015, will gladly take back a couple of top-ten prospects in the Astros system for a closer who wouldn’t have many games to close the next few seasons if he stayed in Philly. “And the best way to acquire pitching is to do so internally and develop those pitchers yourself and have them learn and grow at the major league level”.
“Markets evolve in their own ways at certain times of the year and how a trade market correlates with the free agent market and vice versa; sometimes it seems like it should lead in a certain direction and it leads the opposite way”, Klentak said. A year ago was shortened by injuries, limiting him to only eight starts (38 1/3 innings), in which he went 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA. Tony Sipp in 2015 was 3-4 with an ERA of 1.99.
Earlier in the day, the Phillies signed right-handed pitcher David Hernandez. The Phillies have the first pick in the draft and are leaning toward selecting outfielder Tyler Goeddel from the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
Trading Giles might not be a popular move with a lot of Phillies fans.
“I think he will fit in well with our group and help give us a competitive edge at the back end of the game”. Giles will serve as the team’s closer, and pitch alongside Luke Gregerson, Will Harris, and Pat Neshek, among other relievers.
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Giles has a career 1.56 ERA in 113 innings in two years with the Phillies recording 16 total saves. As Klentak spoke, it became rather clear that the Hernandez signing was connected to the Giles situation.
