Astros acquire RHP Ken Giles from Phillies

[bloodbrother]

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

astros indeed close to deal for ken giles, @JSalisburyCSN 1st. velasquz expected to go to philly as part of package

 

 

Mark Berman ‏@MarkBermanFox26

Told #Astros getting closer Ken Giles from Phillies for pitchers: Vince Velasquez, Bret Oberholtzer &OF Derek Fisher, pending physicals

 

 

Angels will have to be facing this guy in the 9th inning for the foreseeable future

 

1.80 ERA last season with 87 K's in 70 IP

Edited December 10, 2015 by bloodbrother

[mulwin444]

Nice to have something to trade...

[AngelsLakersFan]

DEREK FISHER!!!!

[tdawg87]

Well yeah but they'll have to deal with Salas in the 7th so it kind of evens out.

[UndertheHalo]

Everyone is getting better.

[Docwaukee]

fernando salas makes their closer irrelevant.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Dochalo

[tdawg87]

So who wants to make the "F*** Giles We Got A Black Guy Who Runs Fast" t-shirts?

[Second Base]

Woah, Phillies got a lot there. Velazquez should be a good RP, OberHoltzen is a backend starter, and Fisher should be a starting OF in a couple years. All for a very good closer.

[laagamer]

Well I'm jealous.

[bloodbrother]

Apparently the Phillies are getting another player as well. Very good deal for them though. Of course, the Astros farm is so deep that they can do this and still be completely fine. They just added a 1st division closer who is under team control for 5 more seasons

[seenoevil]

this is pathetic

[Stradling]

Apparently the Phillies are getting another player as well. Very good deal for them though. Of course, the Astros farm is so deep that they can do this and still be completely fine. They just added a 1st division closer who is under team control for 5 more seasons

Good, continue to give up prospects for closers.

[bloodbrother]

Astros apparently didn't trade Derek Fisher in the deal after all

 

 

Todd Zolecki Verified account ‏@ToddZolecki

Giles trade is official. Phillies receive RHPs Vincent Velasquez, Mark Appel, Thomas Eshelman and Harold Arauz and LHP Brett Oberholtzer.

[totdprods]

Holy cow five players for a closer

[bloodbrother]

Astros also received SS prospect Jonathan Arauz so it was a 5 for 2 deal

[ELEVEN]

How much was that in Rondons?

[tomsred]

Klentak is doing rather well in Philly.

[ukyah]

mark appel? the former top pick who didn't sign?

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

That's a nice haul for a young power arm!

[Docwaukee]

Astros apparently didn't trade Derek Fisher in the deal after all

 

 

Todd Zolecki Verified account ‏@ToddZolecki

Giles trade is official. Phillies receive RHPs Vincent Velasquez, Mark Appel, Thomas Eshelman and Harold Arauz and LHP Brett Oberholtzer.

 

some 'sexy' names there, but not nearly as much substance as the kimbrel deal.  

 

Appel isn't the bees knees that people thought he would be.  maybe he goes all 'jake arietta' but I doubt it.   Oberholtzer doesn't miss bats - he's a back end starter at best.   Eschelman - too early to tell.  Arauz is the same.  mostly a throw in.  Velasquez is clearly the centerpiece.  

 

The deal certainly erodes a bit a Houston's depth, but they probably gave up one, maybe two from their top ten.  

 

 

Granted, it is a significant bounty for a closer.  A position mostly poo pooed by teams inclined to rely heavily on advanced metrics yet we have seen a couple of teams now that are known to be stat inclined pay a large amount.  

 

I have always felt that high leverage relievers were undervalued by some of the new metrics.  In particular closers.  Who, in my opinion, aren't just your typical back end guys.  They are the last man out and work without a net.  To be able to get the last out without any back up night in and night out is worth something.  

 

So it makes me think that with the large returns coming for closers paid by teams that are known to be reliant on advanced stats they have figured out that they are worth more than first thought.  

Edited December 12, 2015 by Dochalo

[Angel Oracle]

DEREK FISHER!!!!

Meh, can he run to 1B in 0.4 seconds?

[Inside Pitch]

Holy cow five players for a closer

 

Including FOUR starting pitchers....   Some of the shine is off those names -- but failed starters tend to make very good relievers down the road...  

[ettin]

Including FOUR starting pitchers....   Some of the shine is off those names -- but failed starters tend to make very good relievers down the road...  

 

I thought Klentak did an outstanding job. Velasquez and Appel still have solid rotation upside. Olber gives them a LHP and his peripherals aren't horrible but they're not great either. Eshelman has potential too.

 

Giles never would have gone for this price 2 years ago.

[Second Base]

I thought Klentak did an outstanding job. Velasquez and Appel still have solid rotation upside. Olber gives them a LHP and his peripherals aren't horrible but they're not great either. Eshelman has potential too.

 

Giles never would have gone for this price 2 years ago.

I think any good organization starts and ends with pitching. He took a great RP and might've turned him into 3-4 good SP. That's a chance you have to take, especially considering how strong they'll be playing to 2018 free agent market, which is shaping up to be the strongest of all time.

[Inside Pitch]

I thought Klentak did an outstanding job. Velasquez and Appel still have solid rotation upside. Olber gives them a LHP and his peripherals aren't horrible but they're not great either. Eshelman has potential too.

 

Giles never would have gone for this price 2 years ago.

 

This is IMO such a massive win for Klentak it's not funny.