The Importance of the Signing Jake Arrieta is Two-Fold for the Phillies
This morning the Phillies introduced their newest prize in, 2015 Cy Young Award winner, Jake Arrieta.
The importance of the signing is two-fold.
One, is that it helps this team immediately, both on the field and in the clubhouse. Yes, the regression is real with Jake Arrieta. He’s seen his average fastball velocity dip two MPH in the last two years but it’s not like he’s just bad now. Arrieta is a guy that leans on perfect mechanics and perfect conditioning to be at his peak. Sometimes it takes a little bit for a guy that has been a part of deep postseason runs to get back to that level. We’ve seen Arrieta start each of the last two seasons a bit slow before absolutely turning it on in the second half of the season. For those of you that think Arrieta is “washed” take a peak at his final three months last season. While he wasn’t missing bats with the same capability that he had in 2015, Arrieta still posted a 2.26 ERA, and an even better, 1.69 ERA in 11 starts after the all-star break before straining his hamstring.
On the field, the Phillies are getting an innings eater that can save the bullpen and take the pressure off of everyone around him. Now with Arrieta in the fold, Jared Eickhoff doesn’t have to be relied upon as a number 2. Vince Velasquez doesn’t need the pressure of being the third starter. And finally, Aaron Nola doesn’t need to be the stopper every fifth day for this team. The Phillies, with the addition of Jake Arrieta, transform from a team that was on the outside-looking-in at the second wild card to being firmly in the mix. They have the staff to combine with the young talent in the lineup.
The juice will finally be back at Citizens Bank Park this summer.
Now, the second part as to why this was so important for the Phillies. Arrieta brings relevancy to a team that hasn’t been relevant in a half decade. That’s important when you go into meetings with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado next offseason. Sure, you can show them the young lineup, the $500 million contract and the young guys on the way, but good luck luring either one of those guys coming off of a 73-77 win season and Aaron Nola as your only reliable starter. Much like the Jim Thome signing in 2003, bringing in Arrieta makes the Phillies a “destination” again. Now you go into those meetings next year viewed as a team that is a piece away from being something not a desperate team throwing away a half-billion dollars.
The signing of Jake Arrieta has as much to do with on-the-field as it does with off-the-field.
The “sleeping giant” that everyone in baseball has talked about for the last three years is awakening.
The Phils are just starting to flex their financial muscle, and the wait for competitive baseball at Citizens Bank Park is finally over.