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The Phillies Should Consider adding a Couple of Cubans to the Pen
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Now that the Los Angeles Dodgers have seemingly managed to corner the market in Japanese pitching for the next decade by shelling out well over a BILLON dollars to ink both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The rest of the league can finally stop dreaming about the possibility of acquiring one of them and begin to focus on filling out the rest of their roster.
This goes for the Phillies as well, as their most glaring hole this off-season continues to be their Bull Pen. While relief pitchers like Jose Alvarado and Matt Strahm looked strong for the fighting Phills last year, other additions, like Gregory Soto and Craig Kimbrel, undoubtedly cost Philadelphia multiple wins in the postseason, where both saw their earned run average (E.R.A.) skyrocket to an embarrassing 6.00.
Thankfully, the team’s President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski, decided it was NOT in the team’s best interests to bring back their now 35-year-old closer whose play is on the decline after he has been able to post an incredible 417 saves through the last 14 grueling MLB seasons. But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as the Baltimore Orioles proved to be more than happy to swoop in and sign him for next season.
So, what should be the team’s next move, you may be asking? Well, as nice as signing an elite closer like Josh Hader or a flame-throwing inning eater like Jordan Hicks, both of which I proposed in an earlier article
the teams’ executives have come out and said they will not be looking to break the bank to solidify the back end. So, I would now suggest they allow Alvarado to try his hand at closing games for them and sign a couple of setup men.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t wish to see the Phillies go into next season having to hope that Orion Kerkering (who started last season playing Single-A ball) does not have a sophomore slump after opposing teams are able to gather more than his current 3.0 MLB regular season innings of game tape to watch.
With that being said, I now suggest that Philadelphia take a nice long look at a couple of Cubans who can throw absolute missiles!
(RHP) Yariel Rodriguez
The first of which is a relevantly unknown player in 26-year-old Yariel Rodríguez. Yariel, who last played in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League for the Chunichi Dragons back in 2022, averaged a very impressive 1.15 E.R.A. through 54.2 innings pitched.
In addition to that, here’s what many teams may find intriguing: while Yariel was used predominantly in relief in Japan and is projected to play in a similar role once signed here in the States, Rodriguez has recently shown the ability to start a game as well. In fact, he showcased this skill set during the most recent World Baseball Classic, where he started two games striking out ten batters while managing to maintain a 2.45 E.R.A.
Taking some time off to train in the Dominican Republic, Rodríguez recently completed a showcase where no less than 15 MLB clubs were in attendance. As far as his stuff goes, Yariel is able to average around 96-97 M.P.H. on his fastball but has been known to put a little extra on it when needed so that it then tops out in the triple digits. As far as his other pitches go, we can expect to see him throw a very reliable curveball and a decent slider now and again.
With Yariel’s ability to throw multiple innings (if signed), expect the Phillies to utilize him like they did Ranger Suarez when he first came up, as a long reliever who could be trusted with a start on occasion when injuries occur.
To try and accurately estimate just how much Rodriguez could fetch on the open market now that he has been released from his deal with the Dragons of the NPB would be foolish if you ask me—seeing that so many teams now appear to be willing to shell out big bucks for players that have yet to play a single inning on the world’s largest stage. So, I won’t even try to attempt to guess the final numbers. However, what I do know is that Yariel just hired Edgar Mercedes to be his agent. A man who previously was accused of helping multiple Cuban baseball stars flee their home country to try to find asylum on the isle of the Dominican Republic so that they could then seek employment in the MLB. This is the same man, mind you, that represented fellow Cuban star Yoenis Cespedes when he landed his first contract with the Oakland Athletics, which paid him $36 Million!
So, seeing that times have changed a bit, and it is now easier to sign Cuban players. Philadelphia should act fast, as there are sure to be many teams clamoring about trying to be the one to ink Rodriguez, who many feel may be the best arm to come out of Cuba since the “Cuban Missile” himself, Aroldis Chapman.
Aroldis Chapman
And since we brought him up, let us discuss why he, too, should be an option for the Phillies next season. Now, before you start, I know he is 35, and the Phillies just got burnt when taking a shot last year on veteran closer Craig Kimbrel, but unlike Kimbrel, Chapman has shown no sign of falling off anytime soon.
In what was his 14th MLB season last year, Aroldis amassed both the largest number of pitches thrown and threw for the most innings since his efforts in 2015, when he was still with the Cincinnati Reds. Also, for the first time since 2015, Chapman was able to amass over 100 strikeouts in a single season. And for those efforts, this seven-time All-Star was able to collect his second World Series Title.
Now, Aroldis may not be still throwing over 105 M.P.H. like he did back in his days with the Reds. But the fact that this nearly 36-year-old can still consistently place a ball where he wants it at 102-103 M.P.H. is impressive! Still, at this point in his career, Chapman should no longer be expected to be “THE GUY” to close out games. He is now best utilized as a setup man like he was in Kansas City last year, with whom he initially signed a one-year deal with for a very affordable $3.7 million before being dealt to the Texas Rangers.
If Philadelphia could manage to add both the up-and-coming Yariel Rodriguez (to be a long reliever) and the legendary “Cuban Flamer Thrower” Aroldis Chapman (to be the setup man), they might struggle at first to find a decent local Cuban restaurant to cater pregame meals of Ropa Vieja, and Mojo Criollo. But one thing they will not struggle at anymore is closing out games! And if they can do that, then this team might just find themselves planning a massive parade at the end of next season.
Some Undrafted Free Agents that Teams May Now Want to Take a Second Look At
Photo credit: https://chl.ca/ohl-rangers
As we all know, not all prospects tend to develop at the same rate. Therefore, every year, there tends to be a new crop of late bloomers who may have just been average in their draft year, and either hit a growth spurt or put in work one-off season, and POOF all of a sudden, they become dominant in whatever league they are currently playing in.
Then and only then, when an unclaimed player with this kind of jump in production pairs that with the unrelenting determination and work ethic that matches that of the professionals, will an NHL club even start to think about giving them another chance because teams are often too busy trying to find younger talent.
Still on the rare occasion for players like former Prospect Watch guest Ryan McAllister and Yaniv Perets, who I highlighted in a similar article last year ( that you can find below).
There comes an opportunity to sign an entry-level deal with an NHL club. While risky, signing this type of player can offer a team an instant upgrade to a position of need. While other players who those teams draft may show promise, they are often in need of more seasoning before turning pro. These undrafted prospects, on the other hand, are generally a couple of years older and, therefore, have already proven themselves to be more than capable of providing the team with the kind of depth and production they need now.
So, without further ado, here are some possible forgotten prospects in no particular order that I feel might just be worth NHL teams taking a second look at.
Matthew Sop
This 20-year-old who currently plays for his hometown team, the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), may not have been able to produce the kind of numbers in his draft year that would have caught scouts’ eyes. Still, he has since continued to work to get better each and every day and to prove that all you need to do is compare his stats from last year to this year.
Last season, this 6’0, 183-pound winger was able to put up a moderately impressive 23 goals and 33 assists for a total of 56 points in 67 games played. But Sop has already managed to seemingly match those numbers through just 34 contests so far this season. His totals to date this year are 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points. To show just how good of a season Matthew has had this year, let us look ahead to what he will end up with this season if he is able to continue on this 1.56-point-per-game pace. If this is the case, Sop will look to finish the year with 44 goals and 62 assists, totaling 106 points.
While Matt may never find himself to be the most skilled player out on the ice, he does manage to somehow offer extreme value to every team he plays for. And this is just my theory, but perhaps it may prove to be his unrelenting work ethic from constantly having to prove himself over the years (from having to wait until the seventh round of the OHL Draft to be selected by the Rangers and him being passed up by every NHL team) that will allow this long-awaited prospect the chance to finally achieve his goal of earning a professional contract.
Collin Graf
Why this now 21-year-old prospect did not get offered a pro deal after winning an NCAA National Championship last season with Quinnipiac University, where he finished with 21 goals and 38 assists, scoring a total of 59 points in only 41 games played, is beyond me. But somehow, he has not let that bother him, as he is currently on pace to best those numbers by scoring at a league-leading rate of 1.91 points per game this season.
In addition to Collin proving that he can score with the best of them, he also possesses some other noteworthy qualities prospecting NHL teams may be looking for, like the size and strength needed for a club to insert him promptly into their NHL lineup upon signing him given the fact he currently stands at 6’1 and 194 pounds. Not to mention the fact that if signed, Graf (who is a combined +45 over the last two seasons) would immediately be able to step into a penalty-killing role as he has already mastered the art of being defensively responsible, which is a must if you’re playing for his head coach Rand Pecknold.
In saying all this, it would not surprise me a bit if, directly following the conclusion of the Bobcats season, when Collin exits the ice, he will already have multiple teams having left messages on his phone before he even manages to get his skates off, for it is rare that your able to find all these qualities wrapped up into one player nowadays.
Gabe Klassen
What’s not to love about this prospect? Gabe Klassen, who is a 20-year-old centerman that plays for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, possesses a shot that most players playing in the NHL right now could only wish they had. It doesn’t matter if the situation calls for a wrist shot, slap shot, snapshot, or a backhand. Gabe simply has no problem putting the puck on net.
But in addition to him scoring 30+ goals in each of the last two seasons (and being on pace to do so once again this year), Klassen has shown that he can play the role of the setup man as well, with that statement being never more accurate than it is this season where he has already managed to accumulate 41 assists in just 32 games played thus far.
Like most of these prospects listed in this article, Gabe has taken a huge step forward this season. In fact, if he continues on this 1.81-point-per-game pace, he is on right now. Klassen is destined to finish the year with 36 goals and 87 assists for a combined 123 points, which would best his previous career high in points by more than 50!
If signed to an entry-level deal by an NHL club after the season, Klassen would instantaneously make that club’s offense better. Not only would he provide an additional ten shots a night to the teams’ totals, but with his Hockey IQ currently measuring off the charts, he is bound to make everyone around him better.
Josh Nadeau
That last name sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Yes, Josh is related to Bradley Nadeau, who was drafted in the 1st round this past summer by the Carolina Hurricanes. Both of them played for the Penticton Vee’s of the British Columbia Hockey League for the two seasons prior to this one. In each of those seasons, they were able to raise a banner for the Vee’s as their telepathic-like nonverbal communication and awareness of where each other are on the ice at all times helped the team win back-to-back league championships.
I assure you, though, that Josh is not just riding on his younger brothers’ coattails. While he may not have been fortunate enough to be selected by an NHL club in his draft year, he has managed to put the same number of points or better than his younger sibling. Take, for instance, last season. A large part of Bradley’s being taken in the first round by the Canes was the fact that he was able to compile 45 goals and 113 points during the regular season. Then he managed to add another 35 points in 17 playoff games. Well, Josh was able to put up 44 goals and 110 points during the regular season and bested his brother in the playoffs, where he netted 36 points in 17 games.
So, it should go without saying that I was absolutely baffled when I heard that this 146-point scorer from last season was forced to walk away from the Hurricanes camp this fall (where he was brought in as an invitee) without a contract.
But I guess when you’re a 5’8 diminutive type player, you get used to having to prove your doubters wrong. Because that’s precisely what he has been doing this year while playing for the University of Maine Black Bears. Josh currently leads his brother and the rest of the team in points, with him scoring ten goals and 12 assists for 22 points through just 14 games played.
While he is still a free agent at this point, I think Carolina would be wise to sign him in order to ensure that if both brothers end up making it to the NHL, they could reap the benefits of the lifelong chemistry these two have been building dating back to when they first strapped on a pair of skates.
Any one of these players, if signed, could make an immediate impact, whether it be in the capacity of an NHL player for a struggling franchise or serving as more of a depth player who will be made to prove himself first at the AHL level for a playoff-caliber team. The best part about it, though, is bringing them in won’t cost the club that signs them any draft capital in which to acquire them. Just a roster spot and a contract and a team in need can have a plug-in player that is ready to produce now.
What Will It Cost the Flyers to Re-Sign this Potential Star in the Making?
When the Flyers finally decided it was time to move on from their long-time captain a couple of seasons ago, they could have only hoped that the prospect (Owen Tippett) they got back as part of the return from shipping Claude Giroux down to Florida, would develop into a potential star for them in the future.
Tippett, who is now 24 years old, was Florida’s 2017 1st-round pick, that they selected 10th overall. When taken, the Panthers hoped that his natural goal-scoring ability would be able to make an immediate impact for them at the NHL level. But sadly, what prevented that from happening was the team’s roster at the time. It was built to win now and, therefore, was filled with veteran players that allowed Owen to receive very little ice time in which to prove himself. Forced then to spend his days bouncing back and forth between their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, and the Panthers’ bottom-six forward group, Owen found himself going nowhere fast.
Fast forward a couple of seasons to the present day, and Philadelphia now not only finds themselves elated with the type of offensive production Tippett has been able to provide for them since first donning a Flyers sweater but confuddled as to the term and monetary value they should be willing to offer this impending restricted free agent after the conclusion of this season.
Tippett’s agents will no doubt have a bevy of contracts to choose from that were recently signed by some of the NHL’s most promising youth to use as comparable bargaining chips when they meet with the Flyers executives to discuss Owen’s new deal. Jesper Bratt’s eight-year $63 million deal that he signed with the Devils and Andrei Svechnikov’s eight-year $62 million deal he signed with the Canes would be wise choices.
But if I wanted to play devil’s advocate here and help Owen’s legal team to leave little room for a rebuttal, my recommendation would be to choose a player whose point production most closely resembles that of Tippett’s, and that would be 22-year-old winger Cole Caufield who plays for the Montreal Canadiens. Cole’s current career highs are 26 goals to that of Owen’s 27, which both were able to achieve last year, and 43 points to that of Owen’s 49.
In saying that, Caufield is in but his first year of a very optimistic eight-year 62.5 million dollar deal that is due to pay Cole an average annual salary of $7.8 million until he is the ripe old age of 30. Inking a similar agreement for Owen would make both Tippett and his agents very happy, but the Flyers may have some different numbers in mind.
Now, looking at things through the Flyers’ eyes, Caulfield was able to achieve those goal totals in 31 fewer games played last year due to him sustaining an injury, so the Canadiens most likely overpaid him a little now with the hopes that it might seem like a bargain price for potentially what type of production Cole (who is two years younger than Owen) could amass in the future.
As an alternative, Philadelphia will likely try to show Tippett’s agents some much more reasonable contracts from players that, oddly enough, Owen currently plays with on a nightly basis. Players like Joel Farabee may come to mind. A winger who just last year at the age of 22 signed a six-year, 30-million-dollar deal that pays him just $5 million a season. Or how about the six-year 33-million-dollar deal Travis Konecny is currently retained to that pays him just $5.5 million a year, which, mind you, he also made official some years ago now, when he was 22 years of age.
Ultimately, I feel when the dust settles, both Philadelphia and Owen’s agent will have to meet somewhere in the middle because while Tippett has only put up these type of numbers for one season prior to this, he is on pace to finish with similar totals again this year (and of course as made evident by some of the other players contracts mentioned previously in this article) the market is ever rising.
So, it just depends if the Flyers want to make sure Owen will be able to sustain this kind of production, or better, before locking him down for good. Expect them to offer him a deal that resembles the Flames’ Andrew Mangiapane’s three-year, 17.4-million-dollar contract that pays him just $5.8 million a season. Or if they feel confident that Tippett has not yet reached his ceiling and wish to sign him long-term. Look for the Flyers to offer Owen a deal similar to the Wild’s Matthew Boldy, who makes seven million a season from the seven-year $49 million contract Minnesota just gave him.
Either way, they choose, one thing is for sure. Regardless of the agreed-upon term and amount of zeros he is due to be paid, Owen’s new contract is sure to make the two-year, three-million-dollar deal he is currently contractually employed by (that pays him just $1.5 million a season) look like chump change!