Friday, December 16, 2022

Phillies Officially Add Walker, Strahm; Eflin Signs with Rays

2023 Chachi New Additions #3
2023 Chachi New Additions #2
2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #8

On Friday morning, the Phillies officially announced the signing of Taijuan Walker (rhp) to a four-year contract, seemingly setting the top of their 2023 starting pitching rotation.  Walker will join Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez, with the fifth spot to be taken by some combination of Bailey Falter, Andrew Painter, Cristopher Sanchez or other options as the season progresses.  I didn't realize how much of a veteran Walker was, as the 30-year-old came up with the Mariners in 2013.  He was an All-Star with the Mets in 2021, and was 12-5 with a 3.49 ERA last season in 29 starts.  Walker has appeared in a number of Topps flagship sets since 2014.

Matt Strahm (lhp) signed with the Phillies on December 9th, giving the Phillies two strong lefty relievers in Stram and Jose Alvarez, out of the bullpen.  Strahm appeared in 50 games last year for the Red Sox, striking out 52 and walking 17 in 44 2/3 innings.  His deal with the club is for two years, and a short-haired Strahm first appeared in a Topps set in 2017 with the Royals.

Officially moving on from the Phillies is Zach Eflin (rhp) who signed a three-year $40 million contract with the Rays on Tuesday.  The Phillies acquired Eflin from the Dodgers in December 2014 as part of the Jimmy Rollins trade, and he pitched in parts of seven seasons with the club.  In 127 games, including 115 stars, Eflin was 36-45 with a 4.49 ERA with 552 strikeouts over 659 1/3 innings pitched.  He became a surprise closer option during the 2022 postseason, appearing in 10 games and recording a key save in the clinching Wild Card Series against the Cardinals.  He'll be missed by The Phillies Room, and I hope he spends the next three years injury-free.

Also officially moving on are Johan Camargo (inf), who signed a minor-league deal with the Twins and Chris Devenski (rhp), who signed a minor league deal with the Angels.  Kyle Gibson (rhp) landed with the Orioles on a one-year deal.  Gibson appeared in 43 games overall for the Phillies between 2021 and 2022, going 14-14 with a 5.06 ERA.  He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in the 2022 postseason.  Finally, the Phillies will be seeing a lot of David Robertson (rhp) who signed with the Mets.  In his return to the Phillies, Robertson appeared in 22 games and recorded the team's only save in the World Series.

Departures - 2022-2023 Offseason
  • Johan Camargo - inf (10/7/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Minnesota Twins, 11/27/22.
  • Michael Kelly - rhp (10/14/22) - Elected free agency.
  • Chris Devenski - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Los Angeles Angels, 11/28/22.
  • Kyle Gibson - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Baltimore Orioles, 12/5/22.
  • Brad Hand - lhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency.
  • Corey Knebel - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency.
  • David Robertson - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the New York Mets, 12/9/22.
  • Noah Syndergaard - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency.
  • Zach Eflin - rhp (11/7/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, 12/13/22.
  • Jean Segura - 2b (11/7/22) - Elected free agency.
  • Mark Appel - rhp (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
  • Jorge Bonifacio - of (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
  • Nick Duron - rhp (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
  • Yairo Munoz - inf (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
  • Bubby Rossman - rhp (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
New Additions - 2022-2023 Offseason
  • Luis Ortiz - rhp (11/9/22) - Claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
  • Andrew Vasquez - rhp (11/9/22) - Claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
  • Jake Cave - of (12/2/22) - Claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.
  • Noah Song - rhp (12/7/22) - Selected from the Boston Red Sox in the annual rule 5 draft.
  • Trea Turner - ss (12/8/22) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Matt Strahm - lhp (12/9/22) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox.
  • Taijuan Walker - rhp (12/16/22) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Mets.

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