JUNE 26: David Hale has cleared waivers and elected free agency, per the Phillies. Hale is now free to explore an opportunity with any organization.
JUNE 25: The Phillies announced Friday that they’ve designated right-hander David Hale for assignment in order to open a spot on the roster for fellow righty Neftali Feliz, whose contract has been selected from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Philadelphia also placed righty Sam Coonrod on the 10-day injured list due to tendinitis in his right forearm, recalled infielder Nick Maton to fill that roster spot and tabbed righty Enyel De Los Santos as the 27th man for today’s doubleheader.
It’s the first big league action for the now-33-year-old Feliz since 2017. The 2010 American League Rookie of the Year’s career was derailed by arm troubles that began with Tommy John surgery in 2012. That surgery wiped out nearly all of his 2013 campaign, and although Feliz returned with a 1.99 ERA in 2014, his velocity was diminished and his strikeout rate plummeted. Feliz struggled through a dismal 2015 season split between the Rangers and Tigers before enjoying a nice rebound effort with the Pirates in 2016. That bounceback effort, however, was truncated by an arm issue that ended his season in early September.
Feliz latched on with the Brewers on a one-year deal for the 2017 campaign but was hit hard in 27 frames with Milwaukee before being cut loose. The Royals signed him for the remainder of the year and got slightly better results. Feliz signed with the D-backs on a minor league deal that winter, but he was unable to make the team in Spring Training and cut loose at the end of camp. He followed a similar path with the Mariners in 2019.
From 2018-20, Feliz’s only work on the mound came in the Dominican Winter League. His showing there in the 2020-21 season — 3.07 ERA, 22-to-6 K/BB ratio in 14 2/3 innings — was enough for the Phillies to take notice and bring him in on a minor league pact. And his work thus far in Triple-A has certainly been impressive enough to merit a return to the Majors for the first time in nearly four years. Through 14 1/3 frames with Lehigh Valley, Feliz has yielded just a pair of earned runs on eight hits and six walks. He’s punched out 23 of the 58 batters he’s faced so far in Triple-A (39.6 percent).
Turning to the 33-year-old Hale, he never quite found his footing this season. He game the Phils 11 solid frames down the stretch last year, but Hale has surrendered at least one earned run in 10 of his 17 appearances this year and pitched to a 6.41 ERA through 26 2/3 innings of work.
Hale was a viable long relief/spot start option from 2018-20 — mostly with the Yankees, who signed him to a staggering five minor league deals in that time — as he tallied 68 1/3 innings with a 3.56 ERA. Hale has never missed many bats, but he’s generally shown good command and kept the ball on the ground at an above-average clip.
Coonrod, 28, got out to a brilliant start this season but hit a rough patch beginning in mid-May. He’s been tagged for 11 runs over his past nine innings, so it’s perhaps not entirely surprising to see that there’s some degree of an arm issue. Even with that slump, he’s still sporting a respectable 4.18 ERA with a 24.8 percent strikeout rate and an 8.3 percent walk rate.
The 24-year-old Maton returns after a brief stretch in Triple-A. He began his rookie season on an absolute tear in the big leagues, slashing .313/.337/.458 through his first 86 trips to the plate. However, Maton fell into a woeful 0-for-21 slump and lost playing time over the next few weeks, ultimately leading the Phils to send him down for some additional work. He’d never played above the Double-A level prior to the 2021 season.
mlbnyyfan
Feliz was dominant at one time in Texas. He’s definitely bounced around the last several years.
madmanTX
Not in the 2011 World Series, he wasn’t.
VonPurpleHayes
David Hale should have been gone a long time ago. Girardi’s loyalty to him is baffling.
Spanky McFarland
David Hale has no business on an MLB Roster. That was a Klentak move and I do not believe Joe had any say over it.
VonPurpleHayes
Joe kept using him in crucial situations. That’s on Joe.
Spanky McFarland
That is. I was referring to Hale being on the roster period.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Joe G is certainly loyal to his guys, @Von.
Overly so, at times.
I’ve noted a few differences between Booner & Girardi. I am firmly convinced the Yanks played harder under Joe G. Obviously I’m not in the locker room or whatever. However, in my experience, it’s a lot easier to bust your tail for a guy who is loyal to you as opposed to a guy who is indifferent.
&, @McFarland, Hale pitched pretty well for the Yanks. It was only a MiLB deal, but he had a track record of some success. I would give pretty good odds that Hale won’t be out of work for very long.
Audrey
Girardi never managed Hale in NY tho, so idk why he would be loyal to him. Hale was like the one guy they tried to avoid to using at all times during this season, and for good reason.
Ducky Buckin Fent
He did not.
I was using the term “his guys” in a more generalized sense. But I see how it was unclear.
Cat Mando
The headline I want to see someday soon is “Phillies finally realize Hector ‘Scare-us’ Neris is not a closer and will make a concerted effort to find one.”
mlbnyyfan
One for one deal. Chapman for Wheeler.
Badfinger
Thanks! I needed a laugh.
VonPurpleHayes
A closer never has the same value as a starter, particularly a starter as good as Wheeler.
Joe says...
That would be awesome. I’m worried about Chapman. Pretty sure cracking down on Spider Tack has affected him a lot.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Yeah, I would take that deal too, @Joe.
Hadn’t considered that with Chapman.
But he sure has been wild his last couple outings, uh?
He’s still breaking 100 on his FB.
Mercy. This is one guy you don’t want to see having control problems.
Also: we have now had well over 50(!) articles without a single mention of our Yanks. Where is all the Yankee bias & the pandering to Yankee fans that I read about every time there is a Yankee update.
@MLBTR: hook us up, fellas. Wilson & O’day have started to throw. You could start with that. Even on an injury update article that includes other teams. Or a poll about the Yanks & what they’ll do in CF. Let’s get back to your supposed infatuation with us.
Thanks.
kiwimlbfan
I agree. At the end of last season he would walk at least a batter per inning and have my nerves on edge. Then he starts this year a lot bigger through the chest and with awesome command like the clock had been turned back. Are we seeing the real Chapman?
Jersey609
Nope then we would have 0 reliable starts cause Nola and eflin have not been up to par this year so far Wheeler has been (besides his last start) but every pitcher is due a bad game
VonPurpleHayes
For all the hate Neris gets, no one ever suggests a better option. The only other possibility is Alvarado who would arguably scare us more than Neris by walking the bases loaded every other game.
positively_broad_st
Ranger Suarez?
Make Velasquez a reliever? Try him as a closer? He’s never going to be an effective starter, but his talent is worth trying to use him in short situations…
Cat Mando
VonPurpleHayes…….This hasn’t been a one year thing though. They should have been pursuing a legit closer the last 3 seasons and off-seasons at least.
lemonlyman
They have been cat mando, they just haven’t been willing to break the bank for a free agent one. Imagine if they had brought in Rosenthal or Yates this offseason, then they have no closer and no Didi or JT.
I think Alvarado steps into the role until they bring in a through a trade, maybe Rodriguez from Pittsburgh for a top 20 and two fringe top 30 guys fits Pittsburgh’s MO and gets the Phillies what they need at the deadline.
capnfatback
That’s very little for a solid closer who’s not a free agent until 2024.
DarkSide830
shouldn’t be that hard to find a guy who can hold a single one run lead or keep a game tided from time to time. Id take Alvarado or Suarez easily over him, and Matt Moore and EDLS are the only RP on the active roster I can say with any confidence i wouldnt take over Neris.
VonPurpleHayes
The thing is, we don’t have starters that go deep. So moving Suarez means we still need a 7th and 8th inning guy. No matter how you cut it, Neris needs to pitch. I go Alvarado at closer. Suarez the set up man. Brogdon/Neris for 6th/7th.
DarkSide830
Falter and Moore can provide multiple innings.
VonPurpleHayes
Yea. I keep them as starter relief. Since Vinny Velo and Spencer Howard don’t go more than 4-5 innings.
rememberthecoop
I think the ‘saves’ stat is vastly overrated. That said, I do believe it is harder to pitch the ninth and close out a game and not every reliever- even ones with good stuff- can do that job. There’s just something about the 9th that gets the best ABs from an opponent, and the game really get into it as well.
VonPurpleHayes
Alvarado and Suarez blew it today. The team is just bad. These are gut-wrenching losses night after night. Bad bullpen. Inconsistent offense. Horrendous defense. Blow this team up. They literally make me sick.
dmbphils27
Bradley? I think it should at least be closer by committee for now. Neris is too shaky
VonPurpleHayes
Bradley was my thought at the beginning of the year, but he’s been real bad. Big disappointment as I loved the signing.
Audrey
I feel like the Phillies hoped that Coonrod, Alvarado or Bradley would perform better and take the closers role but all three have underperformed in some way, especially Coonrod with homers and Alvarado with walks.
AndyMeyer
The reason is simply because they don’t have another option and it’s an indictment on the organization that has trotted the likes of Hector Neris and Vince Velasquez out there year after year and the results are the same. Even in a mediocre division, this team is so far out of it. Lifeless team with a clueless manager. Sell whatever pieces that have any value and build your embarrassing farm system that produces NOTHING
balkertexasranger
What is this? 2012? Vance Worley and now Neftalí Feliz! Let’s goooo
mlbnyyfan
Your welcome 🙂
DarkSide830
I really did think Hale would be at least servicable piece in the pen. I doubt Feliz will provide anything, but might as well roll the dice at this point. im done with Hale.
LordD99
The Yankees had some affinity for him, and I guess it wasn’t undeserved as he had a 2.98 ERA with them. He was mostly the last man in the pen for them, bouncing between the Majors and AAA, often used for mop-up and low-leverage situations. If he lost even a tick off his fastball, I can see him going south rapidly. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Yankees signed him for a 6th time and sent him to Scranton, but they really have no room for him on the MLB roster. He likely passes through waivers and is assigned to Lehigh. In other words, you may not be done with him.
DarkSide830
Oh I’m 100% sure he ends up in LHV or SWB. and honestly im fine with him in LHV for depth reasons.
phillies012tg
OMG FINALLY
Ron Tingley
Hale has no love here but teams like the Dodgers and Yankees and have signed him to multiple contracts with the Phillies even trading for him, albeit out of desperation.
As an Angel fan Feliz was lights out. When texas made him a starter I thought he was going to be an ace if he could stay healthy, which he only lasted only 7 starts and that was the end of that.
Captain-Judge99
David Hale is always welcome back to the Yankees, on a minor league contract of course.
Phillls
Chapman, lol. All the whining and ranting about bringing Herrera back after his domestic abuse issues, then turn around and add another player who has been suspended for the same. Heads would explode.
DarkSide830
maybe this isnt a good time for my idea of purchasing Osuna’s contract?
Bob333
Hale should have been gone a long time ago and how about this Spencer Howard as closer he pitches great 1st and 2nd innings velocity about 97-98.He goes bad around the 3rd and velocity drops to 91-92.Just saying
Monkey’s Uncle
There have seriously been a lot of “Hey, remember this guy?” moves lately.
dmbphils27
Bring back Jamie Moyer!
Bob333
Where have you gone Dick Selma
Captain Dunsel
Alabama.
driftcat28 2
I want to see the Phillies go after Britton and make him the closer
VonPurpleHayes
The Phillies played themselves out of buying at the deadline. While I don’t expect a firesale, I think they’ll be selling some pieces to retool for 2022. Same old story. Another wasted season.
AndyMeyer
Retool? With what? What do they have of any value to trade other than Wheeler, Nola or Realmuto?
You trade any of those guys you might as well blow the whole thing up and convince Harper to waive his no trade clause because he won’t want to be here. And he was absolutely correct in his assessment that the farm system has no value. It’s an embarrassment
VonPurpleHayes
Wheeler, Nola and Segura. I’d trade Hoskins as well.
AndyMeyer
Might get a bag of baseballs and some pine tar for Hoskins from an AL team
panj341
The Hale trade cost the Phils very little. You often get what you paid for.
VonPurpleHayes
It actually cost them about 5 games.
OhDear
In future news, Hale has signed a minor league deal with the yankees
Bob333
BLOW IT UP what do we have to lose Realmuto,Nola,Wheeler and Harper and pray they get a great return.Not winning with so move on.Look at Pivetta and Irvin how would they look now with Wheeler,Nola,Irvin,Pivetta.This organization SUCKS
htbnm57
It doesn’t seem to matter who is in their bullpen, epic meltdowns seem to happen multiple times a week. I’ve never seen anything like the last two years for routine blown saves.
htbnm57
Feliz’s ERA is now 140.50
htbnm57
The Phillies have now remarkably blown 7 saves in the last 6 games….
Bob333
It doesn’t matter who the GM or Manager or Pitching Coach is you are going to get the same results.The players are a group of losers they need to blow it up.Scouts,coaches,International scouts.The Organization is Flawed and they need to start all over.I have never seen a team so bad.
htbnm57
The Phillies should move Falter to SP and Howard as a closer. Falter has been effective in long relief and Howard has been great once through the lineup but horrible after that.
htbnm57
The Phillies need to be heavy sellers at the deadline