Phillies Get Nice Haul For Giles

Phillies Get Nice Haul for Giles

by Trevor Newcomb

In a move that many fans may not be too excited about, the Phillies have reportedly sent closer Ken Giles to the Houston Astros in exchange for four players. Although neither squad has announced the deal, it appears as though barring any unforeseen circumstances the deal is done.

In return for the 25-year-old, hard-throwing righty, the Phils received:

Vincent Velasquez: Velasquez was ranked as the Astros fourth-best prospect in a list created by SB Nation’s Minor League Baseball page. The 23-year-old boasts a fastball that sits in the 94 to 95 mph range, and couples it with a plus-changeup. The righty started seven games in the Major League last season, and appeared in 19. The former second-round pick finished 2015 with a 1-1 record, with a 4.37 ERA, and 58 strikeouts in 55.2 innings, while walking 21 batters. He has a 3.57 career ERA in 365.2 innings, along with 425 strikeouts with 125 walks. Velasquez Velasquez should be slotted in the starting rotation for the 2016 season.

Derek Fisher: The Pennsylvania native was a first-round pick that could be the most promising of the players in the group. Fisher will likely spend a few years in the farm system before fans get to see him at Citizens Bank Park, but the 22-year-old outfielder is a career .283 hitter in the minors, and has 26 doubles, 11 triples, 24 home runs, 105 RBIs, and 48 stolen bases in just two years. If all goes well with Fisher, he could become a 20-HR, 20-SB player at the major league level.

Brett Oberholtzer: At 26 years old, Oberholtzer has started games for the Astros for the last three seasons, and has more downs than ups. With a career ERA of 3.94 and a career record of 11-20, the lefty hasn’t been able to stick in the MLB, finishing the 2015 season in Triple-A. The Delaware-native should battle for a spot in the rotation for the coming year.

Thomas Eshleman: The “player to be named later” of the deal, the second-round pick in 2015 draft started four games, posting a 0-1 record with a 4.35 ERA in 10.1 innings of work. Obviously Eshleman is a long way away from seeing the hill in South Philadelphia, but is another young player that the Phils can help groom into a future starter.

All in all, the package that GM Matt Klentak reeled in for Giles is more than what I though he would get. Giles is a great closer, but on a Phillies team that will struggle to win 60 games this season, he is an unnecessary piece on the roster. With such a small salary and plenty of years of team control left, Giles’ value was at its peak, so moving him now was the best move.