No one person or organization is without fault. The same can be said about the Phillies. Sometimes players with great future potential slip through the cracks.
For example in the previous decade, the Phillies traded a young Gio Gonzalez as part of a trade for Freddy Garcia. Gonzalez became one of the most dynamic pitchers of the 2010s, but he was traded in 2006.
Without further ado, let’s all feel terrible together as we look at the players the Phillies utterly whiffed on.
Ryan Vogelsong
The Kutztown University product looked washed up by the time he signed a minor league deal with the Phillies in the early days of 2010. His career 5.83 ERA made him look like a no-name depth signing.
On July 15th of the same year, Vogelsong was released. A year later, Vogelsong was pitching out of his mind with the San Fransico Giants. He went to his first All-Star Game with an ERA of 2.71 in 28 starts.
The year after that he helped the Giants win their second World Series of the 2010s. In the 2012 postseason, Vogelsong would allow just 3 ER in 24.2 IP against the Reds, Cardinals, and Tigers.
Brandon Moss
In December of 2010, the Phillies signed Brandon Moss to a minor league deal. He never showed much talent at the Major League level, but in 2011 he raked in AAA for the Phillies. He slashed .275/.368/.509 eventually earning a call-up to the bigs.
He would only get 6 at-bats as the Phillies had someone else in mind. The Phillies acquired John Bowker from the Pirates who played 12 games for the Phillies with only a 0 everything.
Moss would go on to have an .844 OPS in the next 3 years for the Oakland A’s with 76 HR. Big oof.
Jason Grilli
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Phillies had a minor league free agent perform well and never get a chance. Jason Grilli had a 1.93 ERA in AAA until the Phillies released him on July 20th.
He was immediately picked up by the Pirates and had a 2.48 ERA in the majors. From 2012-2015, Grilli would have a 3.16 ERA and go to his first All-Star game. His K/9 rate was 12.2 over that span.
Ender Inciarte
In the 2012 MLB Rule 5 Draft, the Phillies selected Ender Inciarte from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hadn’t played above the A+ level but would turn into a great centerfielder.
From 2014-2019, Inciarte hit .286, won 3 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, and earned selection to the 2017 All-Star Game. All of those awards came with the rival Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies gave a shot to Ezequiel Carrera instead of Inciarte. Go figure.
Dan Otero
Dan Otero spent only a month and a half with the Phillies and never even donned a uniform, but boy did the Phillies miss out.
After selecting him on waivers from the A’s, the Phillies sold him to the Indians less than 45 days later. Otero posted a 2.14 ERA over the next 2 years. The rebuilding Phillies didn’t essentially need another arm but relievers are hot commodities at the trade deadline. He could have brought the Phillies an extra prospect or 2.
Charlie Morton
In December of 2015, the Phillies saw something in veteran pitcher Charlie Morton and flipped a no-name prospect to acquire him. He pitched well in 4 games but went down with a season-ending injury.
The Phillies didn’t re-sign him even though he had an interest. He would turn into one of the best starters in baseball. In the last 3 years, Morton had a 3.24 ERA and averaged 15 wins each season. He’s made 2 All-Star Games and was the second runner-up for the AL Cy Young in 2019.
The 2018 and 2019 Phillies rotation desperately needed that. The end of season collapse both years could have been avoided with better starting pitching.
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
