Phils land former top pick in 7-player Giles trade
On Saturday, the Phillies and Astros finalized the Ken Giles trade, and it is larger than originally reported. It’s a 5-for-2 swap and former No. 1 pick Mark Appel is among the five heading to Philadelphia. Both teams have announced the trade.
Here’s a breakdown of the deal.
The deal was reported to be a 4-for-1 swap, with Velasquez, Oberholtzer, minor league outfielder Derek Fisher and an unknown fourth player heading to the Phillies for Giles.
Appel, 24, was the first-overall pick in the 2012 draft, ahead of Kris Bryant, who went second to the Cubs. Appel has struggled in his career to date, pitching to a 5.12 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 253 minor league innings. He has reached Triple-A though, and may reach the majors in 2016.
MLB.com ranks Appel as Houston’s No. 3 prospect and the No. 43 prospect in baseball overall, though his stock is clearly down. He still throws hard and has good stuff, but he remains way too hittable, and batters are able to get comfortable swings. MLB.com says Appel still has a chance “to become a frontline starter in the big leagues.”
With both Appel and Dansby Swanson traded in recent days, the last three No. 1 overall picks are no longer with the team that drafted them. Swanson, the first-overall pick in 2015, was part of the recent Shelby Miller trade. Brady Aiken, the 2014 top pick, did not sign with the Astros after something popped up in his physical.
Appel is the fourth No. 1 overall pick to be traded as a minor leaguer, joining Swanson, Adrian Gonzalez and Shawn Abner. Gonzalez was the top pick in 2000 and the Marlins traded him to the Rangers for Ugueth Urbina in 2003. Abner was the No. 1 pick in 1984. The Mets traded him to the Padres in the eight-player Kevin Mitchell/Kevin McReynolds deal in 1986.
Giles, 25, emerged as a top-flight setup man last season and took over as closer when Jonathan Papelbon was traded at the deadline. He had a 1.80 ERA (221 ERA+) with 87 strikeouts in 70 innings in 2015. GM Jeff Luhnow said Giles’ role will be up to manager A.J. Hinch. He could serve as Luke Gregerson’s setup man.
The Astros have been looking to add a high-end reliever this offseason and Giles fits the bill. Gregerson did a fine closing this past season (3.10 ERA, 130 ERA,+ 31 saves) after spending the majority of his career in a setup role. Houston also pursued Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller this winter before getting Giles.
Velasquez is the second key piece to the deal for the Phillies. The 23-year-old had a 4.37 ERA (93 ERA+) with a 58/21 K/BB in 55 2/3 innings this past season, his MLB debut. He’s got a huge fastball and a bat-missing curveball, though he often battles control problems. Some think Velasquez will end up in the bullpen, though the Phillies can afford to be patient.
Oberholtzer, 26, has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Astros. He has a career 3.94 ERA (100 ERA+) in 253 2/3 MLB innings spread across 42 starts and three relief appearances. Oberholtzer is a finesse lefty who gives the Phillies a cheap innings guy for the back of their rotation. He’s under team control through 2020.
Neither Eshelman nor Arauz are among the Astros’ top 30 prospects, according to MLB.com. The 21-year-old Eshelman was Houston’s second-round pick in 2015. He allowed five runs in 10 1/3 innings after turning pro. Arauz, 20, had a 6.79 ERA in 54 2/3 rookie ball innings in 2015.
The other Arauz, the 17-year-old shortstop Jonathan, hit .254/.309/.370 with two home runs in 44 rookie ball games in 2015. MLB.com ranked him as the No. 29 prospect in the Phillies’ system and called him a “Freddy Galvis type of player.”
Though both Harold and Jonathan Arauz are from Panama, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the two are not related.
Former No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel has been traded to the Phillies. (USATSI)
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