The Beginning

The Phillies’ 2016 began under a cloud of speculation. Just a couple of weeks before the New Year, Matt Klentak made his first major move, trading Ken Giles and Jonathan Arauz for Brett Oberholtzer, Vince Velasquez, Mark Appel, Thomas Eshelman, and Harold Arauz (no relation). Just before the ball dropped on 2015, Ryan Howard was accused of using PEDs in a shady and poorly sourced Al Jazeera report. A few weeks into the mess that would be 2016, Ruben Amaro danced. It was the last time we smiled.

The End

Through many ups and downs – including a stretch where we somehow actually wondered out loud “Are the Phillies Good?” and “Can They Win 90 Games?” – the Phils finished 71-91, eight games better than 2015 and in a much better spot. Attendance was up from 2015 but still way, way down from every year since 2003. Although we expected to see more minor league faces in the majors this year (cough Nick Williams cough), the Phillies improved their minor league pipeline, and added the number one overall pick.

Notable Additions

  • Jeremy Hellickson
  • Jimmy Paredes
  • Taylor Featherston
  • Mickey Moniak
  • Sixto Sanchez
  • Clay Buchholz
  • Pat Neshek
  • Howie Kendrick
  • Hitting Coach Matt Stairs

Departures

  • Jesse Biddle
  • Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez
  • Brett Oberholtzer
  • Jimmy Paredes
  • Charlie Morton
  • Darin Ruf
  • Darnell Sweeney
  • Cody Asche
  • Carlos Ruiz
  • Ryan Howard
  • Broadcaster Matt Stairs

The Mr. Entertainment Award

This could really go to Odubel Herrera for any number of reasons, but I’m going to officially bestow it upon him for one thing only: BAT FLIPS. BAT FLIPS FOR EVERYONE WHETHER IT’S A HOME RUN OR NOT.

The Farewell, Sweet Prince Award

Two Phillies legends left the team this year. Three if you count Chooch’s cowboy hat. As much as I love Chooch – and trust me, it’s a weird amount – this one has to go to The Big Piece.

What’s Next

As we go into 2017, the Phillies kept their best pitcher on a one-year deal, extended their best hitter for five years, and finally have an out-front, visible owner (with the haircut both of a rich older gentlemen and a young 1950s choirboy). Is the team good? Who knows? (No.) But they’re on the right track. And with Matt Stairs playing the role of Odubel Herrera’s hitting coach, that means one thing: BAT FLIPS.

Growth Rating: 6

Are the Phillies a better team then they were at this point last year? Yes, but not by a ton. They’ve done most of their improvement by just putting themselves in a good situation going forward. Cleared of Howard and Ruiz, full of young prospects, and ready to make any move necessary, it’s not so much that they’ve added talent, but more so that their young talent has continued to develop and they now have the flexibility to shape themselves into the team they want to become. Their prospects are now a year closer to being full-time Major Leaguers. Depending on where you look, they have the #7 or #8 farm system in all of baseball. A few young players have proven themselves. And the franchise is beginning to establish an identity under their new leadership.