Reports: Phillies sign John Lannan
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Reports: Phillies sign John Lannan
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Phillies filled two holes Saturday, first with the addition of setup man Mike Adams, and then John Lannan as the fifth starter.
Lannan agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal as reported by CSNPhilly.com and CBSSports.com. The 28-year-old is the favorite to slide into the rotation spot vacated by Vance Worley. At $2.5 million, the risk is small, and Lannan could shift to the bullpen as a long man if ineffective in the rotation.
The lefthander fits the description of a "low-risk, high-reward" starter Ruben Amaro Jr. said he was seeking. Marginalized in Washington, Lannan made only six starts in 2012. He has a career ERA of 4.01 in six seasons.
He is not a strikeout pitcher (4.7 per nine innings) and has struggled with control (3.4 walks per nine innings). His career numbers mirror that of a typical fifth starter, if not better. Lannan's fastball typically averages 88-89 m.p.h. and he relies on a change-up while also throwing a curveball and slider.
The Phillies usually crushed Lannan to the tune of a 5.53 ERA in 19 career starts. But remove his pitiful numbers against the Phillies and his career ERA drops from 4.01 to 3.80. He has a 6.49 ERA in eight career starts at Citizens Bank Park.
Lannan is perhaps best known among Phillies fans for breaking Chase Utley's hand with an errant pitch in his major-league debut five years ago. Eleven of his 30 career hit batters have been Phillies.
After being hit, Utley then said he did not think Lannan was throwing at him.
"I don't think he was trying to hit me," Utley said that day. "It kinda got away from him. He's a young guy. He hit two guys in a row. I don't think he was throwing at us."
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
- Agreed. And I dont think its fair to list Amaro's offseason deals and leave out Hamels. Based on what the Dodgers gave Greinke, Hamels would be in LA if they didnt get that deal done over the summer.
— tealradish - Don't see Lannan contributing much if anything, but low risk so why not? The rotation will probably be filled out by the farm system. I liked Adams from his days on the Padres, but his health is a concern. They still need a RH bat and Ross fits the bill. Swisher costs a pick so they're not going there. I think Ross will be the last signing of the winter.
This teams goes as far as Utley, Howard and Halladay can take them. Drink to their health, everyone.— Sam Crow - I like this signing. He was a decent pitcher on some really bad Nats teams. I thought he pitched pretty good against the Phillies the last couple of years. He'll make a good #5, and put up just as good of numbers as Worley.— jicook
- This gives them the option of getting Cloyd going in AAA so he is ready when a starter hits the DL. I doubt they would put Cloyd as a long man but, as stated in the blog, Lannan could fill that roll if Cloyd kills it this spring.— KINGOFZED
- Don't stop here. Sign Jurjans! He has better upside. Nice move for Adams. Looking like RAJ does in fact have his act together, huh? One more pitcher....GET JURJANS!— drhoffman
- I feel like a parade is in the near future. Oh yea, Mummers.— sillybilly
- Wow this team is full of question marks....We do not have 1 position player that you can pencil and and assume they will be a productive healthy player....We have 2 SP Hamels and Lee that you can basically count on..Halladay looked awfullly mediocre last year and Kendrick?Lannan are huge question marks...and we sign a 34yr old 8Th inning guy just coming off major surgery...this is the wish ..hope and if team..— flyers1000
- More Bondo for a Phils car body that's now >50% Bondo with most of the rest rusty. Time to crush this junker.— Xyzzyx
- Both Adams plus Lannan are nice pick ups by Amaro. Now for the corner outfield power hitter spot....how about either Delmon Young or Scorr Hairston. Either one could platoon with Dom Brown or Lance Nix? As much as I like Swisher I am not thrilled with giving him a four year contract of giving up the #16 draft selection this year. LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.......Great job Ruben.— rhendzel
- Uh...CarolinaEagle...Our pitchers are all Lefties? Starters - 3 lefties and 2 righties...closer is a rightie...set up man is a rightie...What the F?— Kingzummo
- Amaro believes that lefties are genetically superior.— orange rhino
- Amaro speak Low risk = cheap— Larry Byrd
- These pitchers will be toast with a pitching coach like Dubee and a manager that only burns out a pitching staff.— SONNY BOY
Looks like the Phillies have given up 2013. Based upon the lack of moves and poor quality moves they've made, they just want to stay in the middle of the pack.- Who cares....Philly Sports suck! Go New York!— MRD
