3 Phillies who won’t be back next season if they miss the playoffs

The Phillies have their top three spots in the starting rotation set with Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Gibson not just for the remainder of this season, but next year as well. Speaking of next season, veteran left-hander Matt Moore is unlikely to be in their rotation plans.

Moore was brought into Philadelphia this past winter on a one-year, $3 million contract. Out of his 18 appearances this season, he has started 10 of them. Overall, Moore holds a 2-3 record, a 6.07 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP.

Given his numbers, it is hard to see the Phillies re-signing him. But that can all change, especially if he builds off his almost no-hitter from this past Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds.

Like Moore, the Phillies have another starter hitting the open market later this winter in Vince Velasquez, a player that has been with the organization since 2016. Based off what has happened as of late, you can expect that he won’t be brought back for the 2022 campaign.

Ever since joining the Phillies organization, Velasquez has failed to record an ERA lower than 4.00. Following a 2020 campaign where Velasquez posted a 5.56 ERA through nine starts, the Phillies brought him back on a one-year, $4 million deal for this season.

Velasquez failed to prove his worth in the starting rotation, and he was replaced by Chase Anderson and sent to the bullpen on July 31. Through 21 games this season (17 starts), Velasquez posted a 5.95 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, a 3-6 record, 85 strikeouts and 45 walks through 81.2 innings of work.

Given his demotion to the bullpen and his bloated ERA, the likelihood of Velasquez returning next season appears to be very slim.