Left-handed free agent Smyly to join rotation
PHILADELPHIA >> As the July 31 trade deadline nears, the Phillies have begun the necessary upgrade to their pitching staff.
Drew Smyly, a 30-year-old journeyman lefthander, will be signed upon passing a physical and start Sunday in Pittsburgh. For room in the rotation, sputtering Nick Pivetta will be reassigned to the bullpen.
His major-league career dating to 2012, Smyly has pitched for Detroit, Tampa Bay and Texas. He is 32-32 with a 4.13 ERA. He has also been spun through the Chicago Cubs, Seattle and Milwaukee organizations.
Earlier this season, he was 1-5 with an 8.42 ERA for Texas, striking out 52 in 51.1 innings.
Smyly was 7-12 for Tampa Bay in 2016, then was traded to Seattle. He never started a game for the Mariners and ultimately re
quired Tommy John surgery. In 2017, the Cubs signed him for two years and $10 million, but used him in only one minor league game before further injury, then traded him to Texas for a player to be named later.
After being released by the Rangers in June, Smyly landed in the Brewers system. With Class AAA San Antonio, he was 1-0, striking out 18 in 12.2 innings. Taking an option to try free agency, he landed with the Phillies, who have been desperate for reliable starting pitching beyond Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta.
Pivetta is 4-4 with a 5.74 ERA. He has lost his last three decisions and has
not reached the sixth inning in any of his last five starts.
Smyly will become the lone left-hander in a rotation that includes Nola, Arrieta, Zach Eflin and Vince Velasquez.
A former University of Arkansas pitcher, Smyly has extensive international experience, representing the United States in the 2011 World Cup, the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
A strikeout pitcher, he has had success with his fastball, and with a changeup against right-handed hitters.
The addition of Smyly is not expected to be the Phillies’ only pitching upgrade before the July 31 deadline. Still, Andy MacPhail has said he will not authorize trading valuable organization pieces for pitching because
he is not convinced the Phils are close enough to winning a World Series to justify that cost.
“The rotation is young with the exception of our one-free agent foray Jake,” MacPhail said. “We had to give up some arms to improve our team here. But we still have some interesting arms in the system that I think are going to contribute down the road. How soon that is and how long it takes for them to make the adjustment to be consistent at this level, we’re going to find out. The only way you find that out is getting them out on the mound. But I still believe if you have to be active in free-agent pitching that’s a dicey market to be in.”
While the Phils will be protective of their pitching pipeline, MacPhail said they would not be opposed to adding high-paid pitchers
who may be available through a non-contender’s salary dump. Zack Greinke of the Diamondbacks, the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner, Mike Minor of Texas and Matthew Boyd of Detroit are reported to be among their targets.
“The fifth spot in the rotation has been kind of a revolving door this year,” Matt Klentak said, in relation to the deadline. “I think that we have to see how the team responds before we declare our intentions for the deadline.
“But if our most glaring need is a starter, we’ll pursue a starter.”
Eflin (7-9, 4.16 ERA) will pitch for the Phillies against the Pirates and right-handed Joe Musgrove (6-8, 4.31) Saturday night at 7:05. Velasquez, who was scheduled to pitch Sunday, will next start Wednesday in Detroit.