Phillies Pitching: Notable Free Agents, Options, and Players to Watch this Offseason
At the conclusion of the World Series, the Major League Baseball offseason has officially begun, with several key dates already underway. The Philadelphia Phillies have a ton of decisions to make, with ten pitchers currently on the free agent market or with player options that the club will need to decide on for the 2023 season.
2023 Phillies Pitching Free Agents, Options
Zach Eflin
Zach Eflin signed a 1-year / $5,700,000 contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, including $5,700,000 guaranteed and an annual average salary of $5,700,000. In 2023, Eflin will earn a base salary of $15,000,000 while carrying a total salary of $15,000,000.
Eflin has a vesting option for 2023. A vesting option is negotiated option that only becomes guaranteed if the player reaches certain defined statistical thresholds in the previous season. (Typically, these are based on plate appearances, innings, games played, or games finished.)
Contract Notes:
2023 Mutual Option includes a $150,000 buyout.
Innings Pitched Incentives (not earned)
- $50,000 each for 100, 125
- $75,000 for 150
- $125,000 for 175
Aaron Nola
Aaron Nola signed a 4-year / $45,000,000 contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, including a $2,000,000 signing bonus, $45,000,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $11,250,000. In 2023, Nola will earn a base salary of $16,000,000 while carrying a total salary of $16,000,000.
Aaron Nola has a club option for 2023. A club option means the team has the full authority to decide whether or not a players’ option will be exercised.
Contract Notes:
- 2023 Club Option: $4.25 million buyout
Phillies Free Agent Relievers
Noah Syndergaard: Syndergaard will hit the free agent market as his contract with the Angels expired at the end of this season. Syndergaard was acquired at the trade deadline in exchange for Mickey Moniak and gave the Phillies some valuable playoff innings, allowing three earned runs in 8.1 total innings.
Brad Hand: The Phillies signed Hand to a 1-year deal with 6 million dollars ahead of the 2022 season. Hand finished the year with a 2.80 ERA in 45 innings pitched, allowing 14 home runs while striking out 38.
David Robertson: The former Phillie was acquired at the trade deadline and was a big late-game piece for the team in the second half of the year. Robertson threw 63.2 total innings between the two teams, tallying a 2.40 ERA and a .173 BA.
Corey Knebel: Knebel threw a 3.43 ERA before going down with a tear in his throwing shoulder in August. Corey was a big piece for the Phillies bullpen early in the year, and even though he didn’t live up to his closer role, he was able to be trusted in situations and threw some valuable innings when he was on the field.
Kyle Gibson: Kyle Gibson hits free agency after a year and a half with the Phillies. Gibson finished 2022 with a 5.05 ERA, starting 31 games and totaling 167.2 innings. Gibson was acquired at the 2021 trade deadline for former Phillies prospect Spencer Howard.
Chris Devenski: Devenski threw just 4 innings for the Phillies, after being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He logged an 11.25 ERA in that time.
Michael Kelly: Kelly spent most of his 2022 season in Lehigh Valley, appearing in 47 games for the Iron Pigs. He logged a 2.25 ERA in four major league games this year.
Cam Bedrosian:Bedrosian appeared 11 times in 2022, tallying a 4.35 ERA in that time, allowing eight hits and five earned runs.
Phillies Minor League Pitching Prospects
Andrew Painter: The man that everyone is waiting for should make his debut sometime in the 2022 season. Painter carried a 1.56 ERA across three miinor leagues in 2022, and is the most exciting prospect that the Phillies have had in years.
Mick Abel: Abel logged a 3.90 ERA in 2022, and is expected to be another top arm for the Phillies, after being taken with the 15th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Griff McGarry: It was rumored that McGarry could’ve possibly been brought up for this years playoff run, but he will certainly be ready for the 2022 season. McGarry has started all year and througout his whole life, but expect the Phillies to possibly move him to the bullpen once he gets to the majors, after he spent 7 games in AAA preparing to come out of the pen.
More on the Phillies’ Offseason
Phillies Offseason Guide: Key Dates, Terms, Players to Watch >>
Top Free Agent Shortstops >>
Phillies Guaranteed Contracts 2023 Season >>
