5 Phillies on Thin Ice This Offseason
By Tyler Maher
4. Gregory Soto
Speaking of relievers on thin ice, welcome to the party Mr. Soto!
After coming over from the Detroit Tigers via trade last winter, Soto was a major disappointment in his first year with the Phillies (sound familiar, Michael Lorenzen?). He went 3-4, his ERA ballooned from 3.28 to 4.62 and he was worth 0.0 wins above replacement.
Not surprisingly, Soto struggled in the playoffs as well, finishing October with a 6.00 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP in 5 appearances.
That will not do, especially with Soto scheduled for a raise in arbitration this winter. He's going to be 29 next year, and there's no need to spend millions of dollars on a replacement-level reliever when you can get one for a fraction of the price.
If Soto isn't traded again and survives the offseason, he needs to pitch better next year if he wants to keep his job in high-leverage situations.