The Philadelphia Phillies remain in contact with free agents Blake Parker and José Álvarez, both of whom have spent parts of the last two seasons with the team.
“Our organization does [remain in contact with the two], yes,” Dombrowski said Wednesday. “[It’s] not necessarily me personally, but yes, we do stay in contact with them.”
For as underwhelming as the Phillies bullpen has been over the past two seasons – specifically in 2020 – Parker and Álvarez have offered some reprieve.
Parker was underwhelming in 23 games for the Phillies after being acquired from the Minnesota Twins in July of 2019. But after posting a 5.04 ERA in 23 games in 2019, the Phillies brought Parker back on a minor-league deal. He wasn’t on the opening day roster, but Parker ultimately proved to be an excellent re-signing, as he posted a 2.81 ERA and 3.38 FIP in 14 games for Joe Girardi’s otherwise disastrous bullpen.
Meanwhile, the Phillies acquired Álvarez from the Los Angeles Angels in December of 2018. Though he started his first season with the team slowly, Álvarez ultimately posted a 3.36 ERA and 4.21 FIP in 67 games. Álvarez had allowed just one run in his first eight appearances in 2020, before suffering what turned out to be a season-ending testicular contusion in Buffalo on Aug. 20.
In a normal year, Parker and Álvarez would get guaranteed major league contracts. Given that they aren’t signed as mid-February approaches, could either end up having to settle for a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training?
“I cannot answer that, I just don’t know,” Dombrowski said. “I think everybody is looking for major league deals right to the very end, and then they make their final decisions. But, I’m sure both of them would like to have major league deals, and maybe they will, I don’t really know.”
Jon Heyman of RADIO.COM Sports says that Parker has interest from three teams, one of whom has offered him a major league deal. Álvarez’s market, at least as far as we can tell, hasn’t come into focus yet.
Wednesday, the Phillies inked veteran reliever Brandon Kintzler to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to major league spring training.
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