The Phillies are known to be looking for back-end relief help. After losing out on free agents Joe Smith, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Edward Mujica, who signed with the Boston Red Sox, the Phillies remain in the hunt for an arm. One name getting the Phillies' attention right now is someone the team has watched pitch for years in the National League East.
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Phillies are among teams interested in free agent left-handed reliever Eric O'Flaherty.
Sources: #Nationals making strong run at free-agent LH reliever O'Flaherty. #Dodgers, #Phillies also have shown interest.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2013
With three definite contenders in on O'Flaherty, the Phillies will face some stiff competition.
One puzzling part of this particular player is that O'Flaherty is left-handed and the Phillies have two lefties under team control: Jake Diekman and Antonio Bastardo. Some have speculated/suggested that the Phillies are unhappy with Bastardo after his recent PED suspension. But trading him now would make the team sell while Bastardo's value is too low.
Another possibility is that the Phillies feel that Diekman could be an inexpensive closer, should Jonathan Papelbon be successfully traded. Diekman has the "stuff" of a closer and showed incredible control and improvement in 2013 as the season progressed. I personally think that Diekman could do it, but the team would be stronger if Diekman was helping set up a closer for 2014 and had more time to prepare for such a role.
One other possibility is that the Phillies need some arms and do not really care what side of the mound the pitchers throw from. While lefties hit an impressively-low .143 against O'Flaherty in 2013, righties hit just .209. O'Flaherty was limited to just 19 games in 2013 before succumbing to Tommy John surgery in May. O'Flaherty was the victim of the Fredi Gonzalez workload that some blame for arm injuries to Braves relievers.
Thus, the signing of O'Flaherty for a key bullpen spot could be very risky. O'Flaherty has not pitched since May 17. If teams expect to buy low on O'Flaherty, the heavy competition should drive up the price. Thus, if I am the Phillies I would pass unless he was available as a bargain as the team approaches Spring Training. If not, the risk is too great.
