The good folks at MLB Trade Rumors this week linked the Phillies and their hunt for an eight inning reliever to three names. Edward Mujica seems to be the one getting the most steam but Joe Smith and Joaquin Benoit have also been brought up.
It was this time last year that the Phillies went out and got the best set up man on the market in Mike Adams. For 25 injury plagued innings, Adams finished his short season with a 3.96 ERA and an alarmingly high FIP of 5.25. He looked really sharp at first but fell apart fast and is on the Disabled List through the beginning of next season. It's all part of the risk of splurging on relief pitching and it would appear that Ruben Amaro Jr. is about to do so again with reports that he's willing to deal out three years to the best arm he can find.
The good news is Mujica, Benoit, and Smith are all pretty durable arms and have held up pretty well over the years. All three would probably help the Phillies bullpen a bunch in the even they are signed up. Here we take a look at it them:
Joe Smith, who our own Andrew Gillen lobbies for on a daily basis, gets the first look. He's coming off a great season in Cleveland which found them in the postseason for the first time since '07. Through 63 innings, Smith struck out 54, walked 25, posted a 2.29 ERA, 1.22 WHIP. The FIP is over a run over the ERA (3.60) which is something you always want to look at when it comes to pitchers for it takes defense out of the equation and focuses soley on what the pitcher does (strike outs, home runs, walks, hits, ground balls, fly balls, and hit batters). In Citizens Bank Park that can effect your other numbers. Still, Smith has been a consitant and durable reliever throughout his career.
The same caould be said for Edward Mujica who seems to the name getting the most steam the past few days. Mujica stepped in as the Cardinals' closer after Jason Motte's season was ended before it began and Mitchell Boggs blew up quick and early in the role. In 64.2 innings pitched, Mujica posted a 2.78 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 54 strike outs, and 5 walks. The FIP once again is a run higher at 3.71 but what stands out with Mujica is the strike outs and the walks. I looked at his career and he's always been a pitcher of really good control which is essential in the late innings. It helped him notch 37 saves for the National League champions but he did lose his job as closer due to a really rough few weeks in September. He was a bench warmer in the postseason. Still Mujica has a career of consistancy that is worth looking at.
The final is probably the best name to ink up for the Phillies and that is Joaquin Benoit who wrestled the closer job from Jose Valverde in Detroit this season and saved 24 games for the Tigers. In 67 innings, Benoit struck out 73, walked 22, had an ERA of 2.01 and a 1.01 WHIP and the FIP was 2.87. He was electric for the Tigers but did struggle in the post season. Since 2010 with the Rays, Benoit has been as reliable a reliever as they come though and would be a great fit for the Phillies in 2014.
Bottom line is you could study these guys on Baseball Reference or Fangraphs and make a case for either three. I for one don't really endorse giving relievers big contracts. The one time I made an exception in that thinking was when the Phillies signed Jonathan Papelbon to the richest reliever contract in history and while I don't think he's been as bad as some do, it hasn't exactly worked out. It's not all his fault for he was seriously underused last season. Adams has not worked out either.
However if you do the homework, it appears the Phillies would be well off signing either of three mentioned here. If it's my personal endorsement you seek, I'll go with Benoit but it's a close race. Any day, maybe even today, we could find out which direction the Phillies go.
