In our last matchup, in the tournament between the last free agents signed before the season, Jake Arrieta earned more votes than Ricardo Pinto and moved on to the next round.
On to the next pairing:
2. Bryce Harper, 2019
Stats with the Phillies: 858 games, .261/.357/.487, 179 HR, 530 RBIs, 26.3 bWAR
The Phillies had a lot of money to spend before the 2019 season, which put them in the mix for the two big free agents that offseason: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. The Phillies pursued both men – there was brief speculation
that they might try to sign both – but ultimately decided that Harper would be the better fit.
Harper remained unsigned into February, but eventually, the Phillies came to terms with the former National, giving the team its new franchise player.
15. Dustin McGowan, 2015
Stats with the Phillies: 14 games, 23.1 innings, 1-2 W-L, 6.24 ERA, 21K, 20 BB, -0.7 bWAR
After a failed last gasp to contend in 2014, the Phillies admitted they were in full rebuild mode heading into 2015. So, there weren’t going to be a lot of big names brought in via free agency. But the team still needed some veterans to fill out the roster, and one of those veterans was relief pitcher Dustin McGowan.
McGowan had a decent season with the Blue Jays in 2014, but he was brutal in 2015. Used mostly in low leverage situations, he still couldn’t get anyone out. His final appearance came against Baltimore on June 16th after starting pitcher Jerome Williams was knocked out of the game in the first inning. McGowan absorbed 3.1 innings, allowing five home runs. This would infamously come to be known as the “white towel” game.
Who should advance? Vote now!
