Earlier in the day, the Phillies broke the ice with the Los Angeles Angels by trading for centerfielder Brandon Marsh. The team went for a double dip, acquiring Noah Syndergaard just 10 minutes before the 6PM deadline.
Noah Syndergaard is a Phillie
Thor would replace Bailey Falter in the rotation who is replacing the injured Zach Eflin. Thor has a 3.83 ERA this season after being out with Tommy John for almost 2 years.
Long gone are the days of Thor pumping 97-98 MPH. He now operates closer to around 94 MPH. His strikeout rate has also been at the lowest of his career (thanks to the lacking fastball) at 7.2 K/9.
The Phillies didn’t give up much to acquire the rental starter. They are sending former #1 overall draft pick Mickey Moniak and Jadiel Sanchez.
How Noah Syndergaard impacts the Phillies
Moniak was hitting just .130 in 18 major league games this season. He’s been much better in the minors, slashing .310/.364/.560 in 28 games. Sanchez was hitting .236 with a .714 OPS at Single-A Clearwater at the time of the trade.
The addition of Thor should help solidify the Phillies’ rotation. Bailey Falter had a 4.85 ERA in 11 appearances this season. Syndergaard’s ERA is a run better and will provide a veteran presence.
Perhaps the most exciting prospect will be when the Phillies face the Mets twice in the next 2 weeks. Thor was quite vocal about the Mets’ front office and could have a revenge game or two in store. He’ll also reunite with former teammate Zack Wheeler. The Phillies now have half of the Mets’ young stud rotation from the mid-2010s. Matt Harvey is MIA and Jacob deGrom is just returning from injury.
The Phillies now feature Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Noah Syndergaard as the top 3 pitchers of their starting staff. Let the playoff hunt begin.
Photo Credit: Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire
