On X, Matt Gelb of The Athletic broke the news that the Phillies acquired left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert from the Reds. This move implies that the Reds will receive cash considerations in exchange. Since Gilbert wasn’t on the Reds’ 40-man roster, he won’t require a roster spot with the Phillies.
Gilbert, aged 30, signed a minor league deal with the Reds during the offseason. He has appeared in seven games this season, starting three, and has pitched for a total of 11 2/3 innings. While his earned run average (ERA) stands at 13.11, it should be noted that this figure is based on a small sample size. Other metrics paint a more promising picture.
Gilbert currently holds an exceptionally high .545 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) and a low 43.3% strand rate, both indicating significant, but unsustainable, bad luck. His strikeout rate (20.6%) and walk rate (9.5%) hover around the league average, and notably, he hasn’t allowed a home run this season. As a result, his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) sits at a much lower 2.94 for the 2024 season. Nevertheless, despite these statistics, the Reds appear willing to part with him in exchange for cash, thereby allowing the Phillies to take a chance on his potential.
With 91 2/3 innings of Major League Baseball experience, Gilbert served as a swingman for the Diamondbacks over the previous three seasons, including a memorable no-hitter in his first career start. His career ERA sits at 4.32, with a strikeout rate of 17.1% and a walk rate of 7.5%. After the Diamondbacks outrighted him last year, he joined the Reds on a minor league deal.
In terms of immediate pitching depth, the Phillies seem well-stocked, with recent returns from injury bolstering their rotation. However, the volatile nature of pitching suggests that depth can quickly diminish, hence the importance of acquiring additional arms. There’s also the possibility that the Phillies view Gilbert as a potential reliever, which could unlock further potential. Gilbert still has one option year remaining and less than two years of service time, providing flexibility for the Phillies should they decide to include him on their roster at any point.
