Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at free agents and trade candidates who, given the organization's direction, could fit with the Phillies in 2015 and beyond.
Brandon Morrow, RHP
Age: 30
2014 stats with Toronto: 1-3, 5.67 ERA in 33 1/3 innings
The biggest challenge Brandon Morrow has faced in his eight-year major-league career has been staying on the field.
The hard-throwing right-hander has made just 37 starts over the last three seasons because of numerous injuries, including a torn finger tendon, an entrapped radial nerve in his forearm and an oblique strain.
The last year Morrow was relatively healthy was 2012, when he went 10-7 with a 2.96 ERA in 21 starts. The previous year, he led the American League with 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings, whiffing 203 batters in 179 1/3 innings. Both of those numbers were career-highs, and in no other season has Morrow reached even 150 innings.
MLB
But he still throws hard and he wants to stay in a team's rotation. Morrow is another pitcher who fits the mold of a buy-low candidate, along with Josh Johnson and Chad Billingsley, who we argued the Phillies should consider.
Morrow once had tremendous upside. He was the fifth overall pick by the Mariners in 2006 out of the University of California. Within days of the Cliff Lee-to-Seattle trade in December 2009, the Mariners dealt Morrow to the Blue Jays for reliever Brandon League.
He has always been a high-strikeout pitcher because of a fastball that still averages 94 mph, a slider that induces plenty of groundballs and a splitter that acts almost as a changeup.
Morrow made $8 million each of the last two seasons, but it's hard to believe he'll find a deal as expensive as that this offseason. He is more in line for about $4 million with incentives because of all the starts he's missed these last three years.
The Phillies should keep an eye on Morrow during the free-agent process and offer that sort of deal if the opportunity arises. At worst, they'd be giving away $4 million if Morrow cannot stay healthy. At best, they'd be getting a pitcher who can miss a ton of bats and would likely improve upon fleeing the bandbox of Rogers Centre and the league that features a designated hitter.
Brett Anderson, LHP
Age: 26
2014 stats with Colorado: 1-3, 2.91 ERA in eight starts
Here's another fascinating free agent pitcher who can't seem to stay off the disabled list. Anderson is by far the youngest free-agent starting pitcher on the market this winter, and the reason he's without a contract is he's made just 32 starts over the last four seasons.
Since pitching 175 1/3 innings in 2009 as a true rookie for the Athletics, Anderson hasn't reached 20 starts in any season. He's had Tommy John surgery, back surgery, and he's broken his foot and finger.
At his best, Anderson is a lefty with solid command who keeps the ball low and generates ground balls. He owns a career GB rate of 55.4 percent.
Anderson makes more sense for the Phillies from an age standpoint, as he's four years younger than Morrow and could potentially offer more value during the years the Phils eventually expect to contend again.
The Phillies should be eyeing this type of pitcher — the buy-low, high-reward free agent — but the front office will have to be very careful with both men. A team that received so little return on its investment from Mike Adams may be wary of approaching another injury-prone pitcher.