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.
I believe Jesus Flores is available if you guys need any more help from players that aren't good enough to make our team!— Curlydubs- Do we really need three lefties in the stating rotation?— CarolinaEagle
- I like both moves--both of the low risk variety. We will not know the reward until the games are played.
I would like to see them get another bat for the OF and get rid of Mayberry.
I am not a big fan of Swisher at the money is he is expected to receive--there is a reason he has been on so many teams at this age.
— Smoothellc - Two excellent moves! Ruben outdid himself this off season. Great veteran pieces added, upgraded defense, solid veteran complimentary pitchers. The core has to deliver or none of this will matter, of course. Lets hope Brown is downtown and Ruf is ready!— tomficara
- Curlydubs--perhaps you should wait to talk smack until the Nats post two winning seasons in a row (or even in their history).— Smoothellc
- Coach him up, Dubee.— road515
- Same assclowns with same ridiculous comments, no matter the signing. Do the real fans a favor and be a Mets fan.— spittooncj
- LOL, we could trade Michael Martinez for Michael Trout and these "geniuses" would find some issue with it — DogBiscuitthedope
- Exactly...They want less strikeouts, youth and no big, huge contracts, Ruben goes out and has a great winter, they are still in a position to win and have some good players almost ready, if Ruf is the real deal, Ashe and Joseph, plus some of the good pitching we still have in the minors, I see a great plan unfold..Give Ruben credit where credit is due — TexasYankee
- If we get a high profile right fielder who can hit 30 Hrs this year then Reuben did his job and did it well. Especially if he has money left for a trade deadline deal. Now it falls on Howard and Utley. If those two can't hit again this year, I'm not sure if any of this matters.— Wakes
- This guys BLOWS......an ERA of OVER 6.00 at CBP....I would have spent the $2.5M on a risk/reward like a Zambrano type. Pull your heads out.....— bbrady25
- Like Lannan however I wouldn't be suprised if he ends up as middle relief— DogBiscuitthedope
- he broke chase utley's hand i think.?????????????GOOD MOVE BETTER THAN M ADAMS— tobyjoe
- I hope they know something that we don't.— johnny eagle
- Lannan is a good signing, he takes the ball every time and goes deep into games. To have another guy like that is really going to help the bullpen this season. When Strasberg blows his arm out again and Haren bombs the gnats will want him back. I would sign Hairston now, just in case Ruf isn't ready. Hairston is a versitile RH hitter with some pop, and he can play 2B to give Utley some rest once in a while. At worst he can PH, at best he can platoon in a corner OF spot.— Paul SoTX
