Breaking down Koji Uehara, and why he would make sense for the Phillies
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Breaking down Koji Uehara, and why he would make sense for the Phillies
David Murphy
While there is not a lot to report on the free agent front, we can relay a report from FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, who mentioned veteran righthander Koji Uehara as a reliever who interests the Phillies.
Here's why he would make sense:
Uehara is an extreme fly ball pitcher. And by extreme, I mean his flyball rate is nearly double the major league average. Even when you subtract his infield fly balls, which he induces at an above-average rate, his ground ball rate is still well below average. That being said, Uehara has pitched his entire career in home run parks (Camden Yards and the Ballpark at Arlington), and he has pitched pretty well. While his home run and extra base hit rates are above league average, they aren't brutal (3.3 percent home runs compared to 2.6 percent league average, 7.9 percent XBH compared to 7.6 percent league average). That's because the rest of his rate stats are ridonkulous (sp?). Last year, the right-hander averaged 10.8 K/9 and 0.8 BB/9 with a 1.75 ERA. In four major league seasons, he has a 9.8 K/9, 1.2 BB/9 and 2.89 ERA. And, keep in mind, he spent all four of those years in the American League.
At 37 years old, Uehara clearly is not a guy you'd want to hand significant money over multiple years, particularly when you consider his injury history. But he is the kind of guy the Phillies might have to target. As we wrote a couple of weeks ago, there is reason to believe that general managers will be hard-pressed to match the restraint they have displayed over the past few offseasons, thanks to an influx of national television money that will soon bolster the coffers of every team in the majors. In short, that could affect the Phillies because they are already operating at close to maximum payroll capacity, at least as it is defined by the luxury tax threshold. If a slew of mid-to-small market teams suddenly have $10 million to $20 million extra to spend on payroll each year, economics suggest that they will bid up the prices on free agents, including those who may have been in the Phillies price range in previous offseasons.
In our earlier look, we used Torii Hunter as a potential case study, and the 37-year-old veteran ended up signing for two years and $26 million. Keep in mind that, four years ago, the Phillies signed 37-year-old Raul Ibanez to a three-year, $31.5 million deal. And Carlos Beltran signed a two-year, $26 million deal last offseason after posting numbers that were superior to the ones Hunter posted in 2012. Beltran was also two years younger than Hunter.
My belief is that the price inflation will be felt most in the middle tier of free agents: the impact of the new TV money probably isn't enough to turn a small-to-mid market team into a huge spender that engages in a bidding war for the elite free agents. But it will enable them to pursue an extra piece or two. And the bullpen, where the Phillies would seem to be in the market for more than one arm, is a likely place for those extra dollars to flow.
Thus far, the only free agent reliever to sign is Jeremy Affeldt, a 33-year-old lefty who re-upped with the Giants for three years and $18 million. It is too early to label such a deal as the new normal. But consider that in the last three off seasons combined, only five relievers signed deals worth more than $16.5 million total, and all five of those were closers: Aroldis Chapman (6/30.25 million after 2009), Rafael Soriano (3/35.0 million after 2010), Mariano Rivera (2/30.0 million after 2010), Jonathan Papelbon (4/50.0 million after 2011), and Heath Bell (3/27.0 million after 2011).
Not to belabor the point, but consider that after the 2010 season, free agent lefty Scott Downs signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Angels. Over the previous three seasons, the veteran combined to post a 2.42 ERA, 177 ERA+, 7.5 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and 0.5 HR/9 with 15 saves in 178 2/3 innings.
Affeldt's numbers over the last three years: 3.09 ERA, 117 ERA+, 8.0 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 0.5 HR/9, 10 saves, 175 innings. Affeldt, it should be noted, is a year younger than Downs was when he signed his contract.
Anyway, Affeldt and Downs are pretty similar, so there is reason to believe that a commodity that cost $5 million per season in 2010 will cost teams $6 million per season this offseason. For a team like the Phillies, who have given no indication that they plan on drastically expanding their payroll, that extra $1 million could be significant, especially when you consider that they seem resigned to exceeding the luxury tax threshold, which means they would pay a 17.5 percent penalty on every dollar over $178 million that they spend. If Affeldt's contract is indicative of the current market place, then prices have inflated 20 percent over where they were at two years. Which means that once the Phillies reach the threshold, their dollars could be worth an effective 37.5 percent less than two years ago.
Which brings us back, at long last, to Uehara. Even a conservative projection of the Opening Day roster (league-minimum salaries for four relievers, two corner outfielders, a bench player, and Vance Worley) leaves the Phillies with a payroll of about $152 million. If they end up paying $15 million per year for a center fielder, and their pursuit of B.J. Upton suggests they are willing, that would put them $11 million under the luxury tax threshold for 2013 ($178 million), and $22 million under the threshold for 2014 ($189 million). With that money, they would still need to address third base and two bullpen vacancies. Which means they are likely to be bargain hunting. And at the right price, Uehara could make a lot of sense.
yup there ya go sign another almost 40 year old. How did that work out with Contreras? And while you're at it go ahead and sign Berkman too his knees are a non issue and he will be 50+ soon. The one person you should not consider is Giancarlo Stanton. Why would you want a baby that's only 23 who has only hit 93 bombs in 3 years? No go for the has beens rather then the up and comers? PATHETIC— mdg625553- "No Country For Old Men" can we please get players under the age of 30? This team is so old, it is no coincidence that their IR is occupied all year long by aging stars. stars. Adding a 37 year old set up guy makes no sense, especially for that money.— 76sixers
- Here's a real sleeper for centerfield. It's rumored that Seattle is shopping 29yo rhh Franklin Gutierrez, an elite defensive centerfielder with tremendous upside. Injuries have slowed Gutierrez in recent years but he has good power and has been hitting in one of the most dreadful hitters parks in the majors, Safeco field. He's healthy now and poised for a big year. His salary in 2012 was $5.8 mil.
Seattle has a glut of young outfielders which makes Gutierrez expendable. The Mariners are looking for starting pitching in return.— rockinginthefreeworld - I miss PHILLY10— NewMick314
- Who knows what the GM's think. With the new fore mat many will go cheap and try to luck into the playoffs. It still offends me that a team can finish in first place, but must wait until poorer teams can determine who goes to the World Series. Wake up fans, baseball is changing before our eyes. Definitely not for the better ! The Bud Seligs of the world control the advertizing revenues. Does anyone think Bud Selig is really interested in the sport itself ? Get a life !— phineas
- i'd like to hear jay gracie's opinion of this joker— SyddBarrett
- The Phils should be trying to get younger. The Phils aren't going
anywhere next year so why not give the kids a try and hopefully
1, 2 or more of them will show they belong with the big guys. With
the expierence of being in the bullpen this year, maybe they won't
be as nervous in 2013. I wish the Phils would stop signing players
in the mid 30's on up and concentrate on makin the kids better.
The Phils insurance premiums will go down with younger guys.— associate - 37 years old; history of injuries; throws greater than average fly balls and HR's; we've got a bandbox stadium. Just great. Sounds worse than that dog we got from the Giants. This sounds like a story that got written because of a need for stories, not because this is a viable proposition. Ruben- beware!— Ralph Fishkin
- Let's get Harry "The Horse" Anderson back to play right field. Has a heck of an arm!— tbjama
- Uehara would seem like a very good pickup. Dont know much about him except noticed his excellent numbers before. Of course the finger pointers would be all over signing a player who is 37 Y. O. Amaro will not let the finger pointers make his decision for him. Of course contract offered and players interest will determine this.— Don w
- Get Brett Meyers for the setup role.— fafink
