The Phillies have officially come to terms with Cuban pitcher, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, a month after the original principal agreement had been agreed upon. After health concerns and reports on his elbow brought the original deal to a halt, the Phillies and Miguel have been able to come to a new consensus for substantially less than the original supposed deal. The first contract was rumored to have been a six-year deal worth roughly $48M. The new agreement is a much more club-friendly contract for only three-years and $12M with a fourth year vesting option. The deal includes a signing bonus and additional incentives, but will be unlikely to reach the magnitude of the first contract.
In Miguel, the Phillies have a high-upside arm that could provide immediate impact on the starting rotation, or even strengthen a decrepit bullpen. The scouting reports on Miguel range rather drastically, with many scouts seeing him as a back of the rotation starter, but more likely a late-inning reliever. Ben Badler, the lead International reporter for Baseball America, provides optimism for the young righty. Gonzalez has decent size at 6-2, 185 pounds, but inconsistent velocity, as reports vary dramatically on his fastball. His velocity saw a spike this year, prior to arm troubles, but he typically works in the low-90s when pitching as a starter, but saw increases to 92-96 MPH when he pitched in shorter relief stints. He complements his fastball with above-average Splitter and a Changeup, but neither is a significant put-away pitch. He also has a Slurvy Curveball that sits in the high-70s that is about average or slightly below-average. He recently added a cutter that works in the high-80s that has improved his repertoire.
The reports on Gonzalez show that he has solid control, but inconsistent command of his pitches. He has a 5-pitch repertoire, that helps him keep hitters off balance, but will need to be able to command the pitches better to be an effective major league starter. Many scouts have concerns on his ability to remain in a rotation long-term as hitters become more knowledgeable and aware of his pitching ability and approach. His upside is that of a #3 starter with the floor of a solid relief option.
The Phillies will likely give Gonzalez a chance to stick in the rotation, being a solid compliment to Hamels and Lee at the front of the rotation. His success there will determine his long-term role with the organization. In the short-term, this could allow them to move Ethan Martin to the back-end of the bullpen, where his elite stuff should play up and allow him to get comfortable in the majors. The move gives the Phillies more options at a very cheap cost and shows a new approach to improving the club, as the International Market is one that has long been ignored by the Phillies. I commend them on this signing and for sticking through the health issues to make the signing even more to their advantage.
