5 Phillies on Thin Ice This Offseason
By Tyler Maher
![5 Philadelphia Phillies players on thin ice this offseason. 5 Philadelphia Phillies players on thin ice this offseason.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4510,h_2536,x_0,y_201/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/190/01he8kdj4hv29tdcvn8e.jpg)
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.