Jake Arrieta started strong last season, then fell off.

Apparently that’s because he had a torn meniscus, according to him. He spoke with reporters about it at Spring Training today:

Jake Arrieta said he pitched the second half of last season with a torn meniscus. He expects to be ready for the start of the season after having surgery last month.

— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) February 14, 2019

That doesn’t match up with what Gabe Kapler said yesterday, that Arrieta hurt his knee during an offseason weight-lifting program.

Conflicting timelines here:

Gabe Kapler said he didn't know Jake Arrieta had injured his left knee until January. Arrieta said he tweaked the knee in June. Kapler: "Jake’s a tough individual, so he’s not the kind of guy who’s going to let on that something’s bugging him b/c there’s a lot of pride there."

— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) February 14, 2019

For context, here’s how Arrieta began the season vs. how he ended the season, courtesy of BWanks:

• April and May: 58.1 innings pitched, 2.16 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .224 BAA, allowed a .601 OPS
• June onward: 114.1 innings pitched, 4.88 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, .263 BAA, allowed a .783 OPS

Arrieta had a rough June, then rebounded in July, but ultimately his post 6/1 numbers were much different than what he was doing in April and May.

More from Matt Gelb, after the jump:

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I want to take a break from the Bryce Harper/Manny Machado rumor mill madness for a moment and offer some thoughts on where I’m at with this process as spring training gets underway. So indulge me.

With sports, with life, really, it’s often easy to get swept away by a moment. It’s easy to make a situation into more than it really is, or assign it more worth and importance than it actually holds. I write this to acknowledge that I’m perhaps knowingly about to commit this very mistake, but I don’t think I am.

After all, Matt Klentak has to know. John Middleton must know, too. Both men must realize that they currently exist only one move away from completing with authority the final touch of an epic offseason that could:

• pay off with the much-anticipated return of championship-caliber baseball to this city
• alter their legacies and raise their own profiles as two of the shrewdest and calculated negotiators in the sport

After last season’s September of baseball that looked like the game’s reenactment of Weekend at Bernie’s, the Phillies’ additions of veteran players Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen made for good first attempts to ensure there will be no sequel. Adding reliever David Robertson was a big boost to the bullpen. The deal to acquire J.T. Realmuto last week signaled, in earnest, that the front office is aggressively looking to end the team’s seven-season playoff drought. Aaron Nola’s arbitration-avoiding four-year contract extension gives the budding ace some stability, but it’s team-friendly nonetheless. Yet another good deal.

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Hey, here’s some baseball news not involving Bryce Harper or Manny Machado:

#Phillies on verge of signing RHP Aaron Nola to a four-year, $45M extension with a club option, sources tell me and @MattGelb.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 13, 2019

The deal will cover Nola’s three years of arbitration and at least one free-agent year. Will be a free agent entering age 30 season if #Phillies do not exercise option, age 31 if they do. https://t.co/dhUV3Aotx5

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 13, 2019

So Nola was under contract already, but this ensures they don’t have to deal with arbitration. Matt Breen at the Inquirer says Nola’s arbitration hearing was scheduled for tomorrow and notes that the club hasn’t gone to arbitration since Ryan Howard back in 2008.

It’s a raise and security for Nola, plus a bargain for the Phillies.

Next up: Bryce Harper!

Let’s get Bryce locked up.

Edit –

Here are the yearly numbers from Jeff Passan:

The breakdown of Aaron Nola's deal with the Phillies:

$2M signing bonus
2019: $4M
2020: $8M
2021: $11.75M
2022: $15M
2023: $16M club option with $4.25M buyout

The deal can cover two years of free agency for Nola if the Phillies exercise the option.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 13, 2019

Play ball!

What a day it’s been. While most of us were slipping and sliding on icy roads, Matt Klentak and Gabe Kapler were introducing their newest acquisition, catcher J.T. Realmuto.

Some notes and reaction from the press conference, beginning with GM Klentak:

“In acquiring JT, we’ve acquired best catcher in baseball. Our organization is excited. Top to bottom thrilled to add JT. Not just on field, but as teammate & leader. Thrilled to have him…”

More:

• Realmuto was asked about what he knew about the Phillies organization, to which he responded by talking about it being a storied franchise and that past players had nothing but good things to say about the organization.
• He was then asked about why he chose the #10 jersey. He said his options were 10, 38, and 39. He did not cite any past players to wear the number for the team, but said he liked the #10 more than 38 and 39.

When asked about whether this season was different considering the trade rumors, he said:

“It was a different offseason for me and my wife. We spent more time on social media than normal, looking for scoops… I’m happy with the outcome.”

The next couple of questions were related to the difficulty of hitting at Marlins Park, his .300+ average on the road, and how he thinks he’ll do hitting at Citizens Bank Park. Realmuto said it’s tough to hit at Marlins Park, he’s glad to no longer have to crush a ball into the outfield, only to get robbed by Odubel Herrera, and that he thinks he’ll do well in Philly. He also admitted to putting too much pressure on himself:

“I tried to do too much in Marlins Park, which over time can cause problems. Playing in a more hitter-friendly park will help.”

On the Phillies pitching staff, after the jump:

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Hey, guys. It’s me. It’s been two hours since we last had some Bryce Harper speculation, but the long wait is finally over.

No, silly goose, Bryce Harper didn’t sign anywhere, we just have some more speculation!

I know, I know. “Just make it stop,” you say. Sorry, but I can’t.

Former MLB general manager and current analyst Jim Bowden appeared on… honestly, I don’t even know what this show is, and if we’re being completely honest, it doesn’t actually matter. Anyway, he appeared on this CBS Sports platform and was asked if San Francisco was now the likely landing spot for Harper. Bowden, who says he has been in touch with the star outfielder’s camp as recently as this morning (an actually relevant detail), had this to say:

“If I had to pick a favorite for Bryce Harper, at this particular minute, I probably would stay with the Philadelphia Phillies.”@JimBowdenGM believes the Phillies – not the San Francisco Giants – are in the best position to sign Harper. pic.twitter.com/6ELUMFuntp

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) February 12, 2019

Bowden:

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