Phils Yank Jeanmar Gómez; Enter Joaquín Benoit
Philadelphia knew they had to keep a short leash on Gómez this year; now the 16-year vet gets to add more to his legacy
That was quick. After a 2016 season that saw Jeanmar Gómez give up six homers in 43 save opportunities (he got 37, bet you can’t guess what happened in those other six), the Phillies have had enough. Up to this point, Gómez has given up two homers in his three innings pitched. He’s only had two save opportunities. The first went swimmingly, he got the save; the second he gave up a game-tying three-run home run.
Apparently, Pete Mackanin and his staff have seen enough. On Monday, he had a conversation with Gómez and when that conversation ended Gómez’s role had shifted. Joaquín Benoit is now the closer of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Besides the home run that almost saw the Phillies lose Sunday’s game (César Hernández walked the Phillies off in the bottom of ninth), Gómez had also given away another homer this year. Whether or not last year happened, there was certainly a reason to consider making the switch. Gómez has posted a 2.00 WHIP in his few appearances. It’s a small sample size but your closer shouldn’t be posting that sort of WHIP at any point in the season, much less giving up two homers in his first three innings of the season.
The Phillies are lucky too. Not just because César Hernández saved Sunday’s game but because the win has them tied for first with the Marlins in the NL East. Things could be going much, much worse for the Phils with a closer like Gómez.
Joaquín Benoit is a much more safe option to fall back on. The 39-year-old doesn’t need to be much more than a band-aid for Philadelphia. But if they choose, Benoit can handle closer duties until he shows otherwise this season.
In his 16-year career, Benoit has accumulated a total of 51 saves. It’s not a lot considering how long he’s been in the league. He’s only served as the featured closer once in his career, in 2013 with the Detroit Tigers when he put together 24 saves (nine games were saved by José Valverde before being shown the door and Benoit effectively taking over). Nothing has ever screamed “doors slammed” about Benoit but he’s more than serviceable.
Despite a 1.231 career WHIP, Benoit has shown he has better potential on the rubber and he’s not far removed from that time. In 2016, Benoit’s WHIP was a 1.271, mostly hampered down by a tough time in Seattle before turning it around in Toronto. Before 2016 though, Benoit had a six year stretch that truly defined his career. From 2010–2015, Benoit had a WHIP of 0.93, a 28.92 strikeout percentage (422 strikeouts), and 42 saves. Consistent and reliable.
It’s hard to tell if this year will see Benoit return to form or if he will begin to fade away like pitchers his age do. But if someone were to use the short time Benoit has had this season to build up 2017’s resume, they’d be hopeful. Through three games, and three innings, Benoit has a 0.67 WHIP and has struck out 40 percent of the batters he’s faced (four batters). It’s a massively small sample size and should be taken with more than a grain of salt but the Phillies do have reason to feel comfortable with Benoit as their closer.
The question becomes who will fill the long-term role of closer. It can’t be expected of Benoit to last longer than this year to be Philadelphia’s closer. Longer would be problematic and foolish. Benoit is no Mariano Rivera, who put together several all-star seasons (something Benoit has never done) even in his age-43 season.
The Phillies traded away Ken Giles two years ago for five different arms. The two key names being Vince Velasquez, who has looked fantastic for Philly since arriving, and Mark Appel, who still toils away in the minor leagues trying to figure everything out.
That trade may benefit Philly in the rotation in the future if Appel figures everything out and gives Philadelphia a fourth young pitcher to trot out every five days. But the bullpen still hurts because of it. Giles has struggled in Houston but he was still revered as the future closer for at least a decade in Philadelphia before being traded. Philly has no answer for that position now; this past free agent class being the chance to lock up an elite level closer but instead settled for Benoit who doesn’t have much life left in his career.
Philly will need to either quickly develop one of their young hands in The Show or down on the farm (Joely Rodríguez comes to mind; he can touch 98 and has a mean slider) or make a push at the trade deadline this year if they want to quickly rip off the band-aid. If they don’t, they’ll need to hope they can pick up someone like Addison Reed or Luke Gregerson off the open market next Winter.
The Phillies are quickly coming into their own as a young complete team that has potential. But without a bullpen led by a dominant closer the team could flounder once reaching their potential and never see true success in an already loaded NL East. Joaquín Benoit is a great story and will add more to his legacy if he can be successful as closer this season. But he’s not a long-term answer and the Phillies should be listening to that ticking time-bomb that is their problem at closer.
