Washington Nationals Editorial: How does the Nats Bullpen Stack Up in the NL East?
By Matt Weyrich
Philadelphia Phillies
Phillies relievers appeared in a combined 543.2 innings in 2015, putting up an ERA of 3.81 while compiling 518 strikeouts, 227 walks, and 35 saves and holding opposing hitters to a .262 batting average against.
The Phillies will head into Spring Training as the only team in the NL East without a clearly defined closer. While a club in full-rebuild mode does not typically need one, their bullpen numbers will most likely take a nosedive in 2016 after their trades of former closers Jonathan Papelbon to Washington last July and Ken Giles to the Houston Astros this winter
30-year old veteran David Hernandez signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia last December, and will be a front-runner in the Spring Training closer battle. His competition features the likes of Jeanmar Gomez, who recorded a 3.01 ERA in 65 appearances for Philly last season, and Vincent Velasquez, who was acquired from Houston via the Giles trade.
At only 23-years old, Velasquez provides the most upside for the future. If Hernandez is able to perform at a high level in 2016, we could see him traded to a contender in July. If he loses out on the job in Spring Training, Velasquez still might be able to get a second chance at the role midseason.
Like Atlanta, the makeup of the rest of the bullpen is still yet to be determined. According to RotoChamp’s projections, Luis Garcia, Adam Morgan, David Buchanan, and Hector Neris will round out the rest of Philadelphia’s relieving corps. Morgan and Buchanan are the two most interesting candidates after spending the entirety of their young major league careers as starters.
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