The Phillies traded Cliff Lee to Seattle on December 16, 2009 for Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, and JC Ramirez. Combined the Phillies received 67.2 innings of -0.7 WAR from that deal. Jerad Eickhoff has eclipsed that production just by existing, but he was just the 4th piece in the Hamels deal, Sunday he is joined by his good friend and 5th prospect in that deal Alec Asher. Asher will take over for Jerome Williams in the Phillies rotation.
Asher is about as prototype a back end right handed starter as they make them. His fastball is in the above average to plus range and will sit 91-94 touching 95+. He adds in an above average slider and an average changeup and curveball. He has shown that he can throw a ton of strikes, but it is more control than command. He has been durable (despite Tommy John at age 14) so far and that will serve him well if he can stick in the back of the Phillies rotation. Unlike Jerad Eickhoff, Asher’s stuff does not play up in the bullpen so he will need to carve out a rotation spot. It is not a huge ceiling for Asher, but he is a big leaguer now and he should stick in the rotation for a bit.
Being forced by management to flip Lee ASAP tied Amaro’s hands. Gillick and I think Benny Loeper had recent ties to Seattle, so IMO they deserve blame as well. Ownership didn’t want to anger the fan base so they dealt Lee immediately, not wanting fans to dream about such a dominant 1-2 punch. Hamels was coming off a horrible 2009 so they would not have been the 3 aces. Of course that summer will end up dealing for Oswalt, if there was 1 voice I don’t think we would have seen such moves. Dave Montgomery may be a fantastic person, thank God he doesn’t have any say anymore. Never wanted to anger his buddy Bud in LA and the draft, I want someone without feelings in charge, just get the job done.
Asher elects to throw mostly a two-seamer and not a four-seamer apparently. But still generates good velo with his strong lower torso.
Like Eflin, seems they prefer the 2-seamer over the 4-seamer.