Phillies

Report: Phillies “Have Visions of Signing Harper, Keuchel, and Kimbrel”

By Bob Wankel

Published: Jan 15th, 2019 · 6:13 PM EST

---

Well, here we are again. Nothing firm to report, no actual news–just more of the same from the rumor mill.

I know, I know.

It has become increasingly difficult to nibble on these crumbs of information periodically tossed at us by national baseball writers, but this one is pretty interesting.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, a guy that I feel like I know intimately at this point, the Phillies have their sights set on adding Bryce Harper, Dallas Keuchel, and Craig Kimbrel. Not one of them. All of them.

The #Phillies, according to team executives, have visions of signing Harper,
Keuchel and Kimbrel.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 15, 2019

Like I said, pretty interesting.

The team’s need for Harper is both significant and obvious. The interest in Keuchel and Kimbrel also makes some sense, but those potential additions come with some uncertainty. Let’s begin with Keuchel. The 2015 Cy Young Award winner would give the Phillies a much-needed left-handed starting pitcher to slide near the top of the rotation, but is he the right guy? At 31 years old, some have concerns about his career trajectory. Although he’s never been a dominant strikeout pitcher, his 6.73 K/9 last season was down nearly a full strikeout from the 7.72 K/9 he posted in 2017. His 8.3 swinging strike percentage was also his lowest since his rookie season.

Working in his favor, however, is that he did manage to eclipse the 200 IP mark a season ago while his velocity stayed in line with his career norms.

Kimbrel, meanwhile, remains one of baseball’s most dominant relief pitchers, but he wasn’t at his best in 2018. He struggled with his control throughout the season while allowing a career-worst seven home runs. Still, I would very much like to see this 50 times this season:

Wow, this #RedSox #Yankees game got exciting.

Seeing Kimbrel reminded me of when Phillies fans were imitating Craig Kimbrel. pic.twitter.com/5ogWNoKvDn

— . (@_CoronaLime_) October 10, 2018

The pause on Kimbrel, particularly in Philadelphia, also probably relates back to the four-year, $50 million deal Jonathan Papelbon struck back in November of 2011. He did ultimately become the franchise’s all-time saves leader, but you may also remember this:

2 straight Septembers Jonathan Papelbon has been suspended for grabbing something pic.twitter.com/6mBnLCWJZl

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 28, 2015

All right. That’s it for now. Back into my hole I go…until the next tweet.