Let’s meet the new Phillies. Dombroski has been making moves in all sizes from resigning JT Realmuto to bolstering our bullpen. The Phillies’ chances still remained cloudy, however, at least until the president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski filled some holes on the roster. Let’s meet some of the bigger names joining White-with-Red Pinstripes.
Fresh Princes of the Phillies
Archie Bradley is one of the biggest names added to the bullpen during the offseason. The Phillies signed Bradley to a one-year, $6 million contract. He projected to be the closer, although manager Joe Girardi said nothing has been decided. Bradley is 28 years old. Archie has a 2.95 ERA and 28 saves across 221 appearances over the past four seasons with Arizona and Cincinnati. He earned a career-high 18 saves with the D-backs in ’19. Phillies fans needed the move over the last few seasons. Bradley adds velocity to the bullpen. His four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph in 2020. It averaged 95.5 mph in ’19, but most likely could improve during a 162-game schedule.
Chase Anderson is the newest edition to the bullpen. Anderson will be guaranteed $4MM in a one year deal. He spent the 2020 season with the Blue Jays but missed the beginning of the shortened season with an oblique strain. Anderson returned and pitched well in August before suffering a rough month in September. He totaled just 33 2/3 innings with a 7.22 ERA.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic with Anderson. He is a low-cost investment. From 2014-19, Anderson was a durable source of average or better innings, pitching to a 3.94 ERA and 4.43 SIERA over the life of 857 frames between the D-backs and the Brewers. He is durable. Anderson’s only IL stints in that time were a minimum stay for triceps tightness in 2015 and then brief absences due to an oblique strain and a laceration on his finger.
Matt Moore is a left-handed starting pitcher that signed with Phillies a few days ago. He was signed to a one-year contract worth $3 million. Moore is 31. He pitched in Japan last year. Moore was an All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013 but struggled in the majors with San Francisco and Texas in 2017 and 2018. A knee injury only allowed him just two starts in 2019 while with Detroit in 2019. He made 15 starts in Japan last season and recorded a 2.65 ERA and a 1.118 WHIP in 85 innings. The Phillies finally have a lefty starter this year.
Meet the New Phillies
Sam Coonrod was acquired from the Giants for right-hander Carson Ragsdale, whom the Phillies selected in the fourth round of the 2020 Draft. Coonrod is 28 years old, He had a 5.74 ERA in 51 appearances over two seasons with San Francisco. He had a 3.58 ERA in 33 appearances in ’19 and a 9.82 ERA in 18 appearances in ’20. Coonrod has power. His four-seam fastball averaged 98.4 mph last season, which ranked fourth-hardest in baseball (minimum 50 four-seam fastballs) behind Garrett Crochet (100.1 mph), Jacob deGrom (98.6 mph), and Sixto Sánchez (98.5 mph). Eight of Coonrod’s pitches touched at least 100 mph, and he clocked a season-high 101.4 mph fastball on Aug. 25.
Mike Adams is a local getting a chance to perform. Adams is 26 years old. He has spent his time as a baseball trainer and co-owner of the Baseball Performance Center in Pleasantville, NJ. Adams put together an impressive bullpen session, topping out at 98 miles per hour. He is a great story. Mike grew up a Phillies fan and attended the team’s World Series parade in 2008. Now he has earned a contract from the same team and a chance at Clearwater for spring training.
C.J. Chatman is an infielder acquired from the Boston Red Sox. Chatham is 26 years old. He racked up a .298 batting average and .337 on-base percentage in 1,106 plate appearances over four minor league seasons. He can play three infield positions and has some experience in the outfield. “He’s a good player,” Dombrowski said. “He’s on the verge of playing at the big-league level. If he’s not, he’s in Triple-A depending on how our club falls into place.”
Be Excited
After getting a chance to meet the new Phillies there is plenty of good reasons to be excited about the new season. Are you happy with what Dombroski has done to date? For more Phillies coverage click here.
Al is one of the two co-creators of Edge of Philly Sports. Al started radio and podcasting in 2012 and covering sports in 2015. A lifelong Philly sports fan since watching the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers with his grandfathers at age 7. Al always looks at the other side of the hot topics and gives his different outlook on those topics. Web and Graphic Design.
