When the Philadelphia Phillies traded closer Ken Giles to the Houston Astros for a package of pitching prospects this off-season, they presumably did so under the belief that the headliner in the deal, right-hander Vincent Velasquez, had the potential to either be a successful starting pitcher of back-end-of-the-bullpen arm.
Velasquez arrived for his first Spring Training with the team this morning and the 23-year old told a group of reporters, which included Philly.com's Matt Breen, that he sees himself as a starter.
Vincent Velasquez, who came over in Ken Giles trade, said he's here to be a starter. Didn't seem to like his time in Houston bullpen
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) February 17, 2016
Velasquez made 19 appearances in his rookie season for the Astros last season, seven of which were starts. In his seven starts he posted a 4.18 ERA, while posting a record of 1-1. After initially starting seven games, he was moved to the bullpen, where he posted a 6.27 ERA in 15 innings pitched. It's worth pointing out that he allowed 11 earned runs in the bullpen, nine of which came during the month of September. In his six other appearances in the bullpen in 2015, he only allowed one earned run, so it's fair to say the month of September left a bad taste in his mouth.
Unfortunately for Velasquez, whether he begins the season as a starter or a reliever is relatively out of his control. He's competing with Adam Morgan and fellow former Astro Brett Oberholtzer for the fifth spot in the rotation, and because Oberholtzer is out of minor league options, he enters Spring Training as the favorite to round out the rotation.
Beyond the team's veteran depth in the rotation, getting an extended look at Velasquez, who on-paper does have the stuff to be a back-end reliever, in the bullpen, seems like a good idea. After trading Giles, there's little short of long-term certainty about who will be the team's closer. Giving Velasquez an extended look at some role in the bullpen, probably not even at closer, wouldn't mean he couldn't ever transition back into being a starter, but it means the Phillies wouldn't be leaving any stone unturned during a season that will be largely predicated on evaluating what the team has for the future. Perhaps, like the Tampa Bay Rays realized with David Price, Velasquez will end up being better suited as a starter. Or perhaps, like what the Cincinnati Reds had happen with Aroldis Chapman, Velasquez will become an elite reliever. It's hard to tell without giving both options a chance.
Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) is the Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com, focusing on news and features.
