What back-end starting additions could the Phillies consider?
Coors Field, frankly, has been something of a hellscape for the Philadelphia Phillies in recent years. The Phillies will open a three-game set in Denver Friday against the Rockies, and it's hard to project that they'll get a lengthy start from whoever is on the mound.
It is Matt Moore's turn in the rotation, but Moore was one of three Phillies placed on the injured list for what manager Joe Girardi called "COVID reasons" Monday. Audacy Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman said Monday evening that the belief is that the Phillies have had coaches test positive, but players have just been close contacts. If Moore is able to clear the COVID protocol soon, it's not impossible that he makes his scheduled start Friday.
The problem for the Phillies is that even if Moore is able to pitch, he's struggled mightily in his first three starts with the team. After a largely impressive spring training, Moore has a 9.82 ERA in three starts. He's completed four or more innings in just one of those three starts.
If Moore isn't cleared to pitch Friday, Vince Velasquez is being prepared to start at Coors Field, Girardi said Monday. Velasquez, 28, is a change-of-scenery candidate that has allowed four runs in three relief appearances in 2020. Is it possible that Velasquez could give the Phillies five respectable innings Friday? No, but that may be the best-case scenario.
The Phillies are still hopeful that No. 1 prospect Spencer Howard can be a top-tier starter in the long run, but that perhaps explains why they are being extremely cautious with how much they push the 24-year-old in 2021. It's unclear if the Phillies will feel comfortable with Howard doing anything more than piggybacking in 2021, and if they will be, they don't appear to be at that point yet.
Offseason signee Chase Anderson has a 4.15 ERA to show after three starts, which isn't spectacular, but it's fine for a back-end-of-the-rotation starter. The problem is that Anderson's 6.02 FIP suggests that poorer results could be on their way. And even if he remains serviceable, he was expected to be the No. 5 starter at the outset of the season and is now effectively Girardi's fourth-best option in the rotation.
Perhaps president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will make a larger acquisition before the July 30 trade deadline, but the Phillies may not be able to wait that long before making some type of external addition. With that in mind, here are a few veterans still available in free agency that the Phillies could consider:
