Vince Velasquez is a professional baseball player who gained recognition for his impressive performances on the field. He started his career with the Houston Astros and later became a part of the Philadelphia Phillies team.
However, there were rumors that he might be traded, which left his fans curious and anxious about his future in the game. In this article, we will explore whether Vince Velasquez was, in fact, traded or not.
Background on the Trade
On December 9, 2015, a significant trade took place between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies. The trade involved five pitchers from the Astros, including Vincent Velasquez, making their way to Philadelphia in exchange for prospect Jonathan Arauz and closer Ken Giles. This trade caught many fans by surprise, as Velasquez was viewed as a promising young arm for the Astros.
Date of the Trade
The trade took place on December 9, 2015, during Major League Baseball’s offseason.
Details of the Trade
The Astros sent five pitchers to the Phillies in exchange for a promising young infielder and their closer. The Phillies received Vincent Velasquez, Mark Appel, Thomas Eshelman, Harold Arauz, and Brett Oberholtzer.
Velasquez, a right-handed pitcher, was viewed as the centerpiece of the trade due to his impressive rookie campaign in 2015. In return, the Astros received infielder Jonathan Arauz, who was only 17 at the time of the trade, and the Phillies’ closer, Ken Giles.
Giles was one of the most dominant closers in the game at the time, having posted a 1.80 ERA with 151 strikeouts across 115.2 innings over the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Reasoning Behind the Trade
There were a few reasons behind the trade. For the Astros, the motivation was to bolster their bullpen and add a dominant closer in Giles. The Astros were a contending team, and Giles was seen as a vital piece toward making a deep playoff run.
The addition of Giles also allowed the Astros to move former closer Luke Gregerson to a setup role, strengthening their bullpen even further.
On the other hand, for the Phillies, the motivation behind the trade was to acquire promising young pitching and prospects to aid their rebuilding process.
The Phillies were in the midst of a multi-year rebuild, and by trading a strong asset like Giles, they were able to start acquiring assets that could help them contend in the future. Velasquez, in particular, was viewed as a young pitcher with a lot of potentials, which made him an attractive piece for the Phillies to acquire.
In conclusion, the trade that saw Vincent Velasquez trade the Houston Astros for Jonathan Arauz and Ken Giles was a surprising move for fans all around Major League Baseball.
With different motivations behind the trade for each side, it was a trade that could pay off for both sides. Nevertheless, the Astros would lose one of their top young arms, while the Phillies would be taking a step closer to building their next championship team.
Players Involved
The trade that occurred on December 9, 2015, was between two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies.
In this trade, the Phillies received five pitchers from the Astros, including Vince Velasquez, Mark Appel, Thomas Eshelman, Harold Arauz, and Brett Oberholtzer. In exchange for these players, the Astros received two prospects, Jonathan Arauz, and Ken Giles, a closer pitcher.
Vince Velasquez was the centerpiece of this trade, as he was considered one of the Astros’ top pitching prospects. Velasquez made his MLB debut in 2015, where he pitched in 19 games and had an ERA of 4.37. He would go on to have a successful stint with the Phillies, where he has pitched in over 90 games and has an ERA of 4.40.
Mark Appel was another top prospect for the Astros, as he was the first overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. However, Appel struggled with injuries and inconsistency and never lived up to his potential. He retired from baseball in 2021.
Thomas Eshelman was another young pitcher that the Astros gave up in this trade. Eshelman made his MLB debut in 2019, and he has pitched in 25 games, mostly in a relief role.
Harold Arauz and Brett Oberholtzer were two pitchers who had limited MLB experience at the time of this trade. Arauz has pitched in only three MLB games, and Oberholtzer had a career ERA of 4.36 over six seasons in the league.
On the other hand, the Astros received two players in return. Jonathan Arauz was a young prospect who had yet to make his MLB debut at the time of this trade. He became the youngest player on the Astros’ roster when he made his debut in 2020.
Ken Giles, on the other hand, was an established closer pitcher who had saved 61 games over two seasons for the Phillies. However, Giles struggled with the Astros and was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018.
Overall, the trade between the Astros and the Phillies in 2015 was a significant move for both teams. The Phillies acquired several young pitchers who would contribute to their roster for years to come. Meanwhile, the Astros acquired a promising prospect and a closer pitcher to help bolster their bullpen.
Prospects acquired
On December 9, 2015, a massive and notable trade between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies was finalized. One of the key players in this trade was Vincent Velasquez, a right-handed pitcher who had shown promising performances during his time with the Astros.
Velasquez was traded along with four other pitchers to the Phillies in exchange for two prospects Jonathan Arauz and Ken Giles.
Jonathan Arauz is a shortstop who was born on August 22, 1998, in Panama City, Panama. At the time of the trade, Arauz was just 17 years old and had signed with the Phillies as an international free agent in July 2014.
He made his professional debut with the Phillies’ Gulf Coast League affiliate in 2015, where he played in 41 games and posted a batting average of .254. Arauz is known for his defensive skills as a shortstop, but he has also shown some potential as an offensive player. He has a good contact rate and has shown some power in his swing, which has given him the ability to be a solid hitter.
Ken Giles, on the other hand, was already a well-established player in the major leagues when he was acquired by the Astros. Giles is a right-handed relief pitcher who had spent the previous two seasons with the Phillies.
During his time with Philadelphia, Giles had posted impressive numbers, which included a 1.56 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 115.2 innings pitched. Giles was acquired by the Astros to be their closer, and he did not disappoint.
In his debut season with the team, Giles recorded 15 saves and posted a 4.11 ERA in 63 appearances. He continued to be an effective closer during the following season, where he recorded 34 saves and a 2.30 ERA in 63 appearances.
In conclusion, the trade that brought Velasquez to Philadelphia also gave the Phillies two promising prospects: Jonathan Arauz and Ken Giles. Arauz has shown potential as a strong defensive player and hitter, while Giles has continued to be an effective closer in the major leagues.
The trade proved to be a good move for both teams, as Velasquez has become a valuable player for the Phillies, while Arauz and Giles continue to show promise in their respective roles.
Impact of the trade
Impact on Velasquez’s Career
The trade to the Philadelphia Phillies had a significant impact on Velasquez’s career. He was no longer just an up-and-coming pitcher for the Houston Astros but now had to prove himself in a new team and market.
Despite a solid debut season with the Phillies in 2016, Velasquez struggled with consistency and injuries in the following years. However, he bounced back in 2019 with a 4.91 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 117.1 innings pitched.
The trade ultimately gave Velasquez the opportunity to showcase his skills and establish himself as a solid starting pitcher in the Major Leagues.
Impact on the Phillies Organization
The trade brought in several promising prospects for the Astros, including Appel, Eshelman, Arauz, and Oberholtzer, but it also amounted to something of a gamble for the Phillies.
Giles was considered one of the best closers in baseball at the time of the trade, but he had only been in the league for two seasons and had never pitched for a team with high expectations.
The Phillies had high hopes for Giles, however, and he delivered with 15 saves and a 1.18 ERA in 2016. The team also saw some potential in Velasquez and gave him plenty of opportunities to prove himself as a starting pitcher.
Reaction From Fans and Analysts
The trade was met with mixed reactions from fans and analysts. Some praised the Astros for acquiring Giles, while others lamented the loss of Velasquez, who had shown flashes of potential in his rookie season.
The Phillies’ side of the trade was more contentious, with some arguing that Giles was overvalued and that the team gave up too much in prospects for a player who had only been in the league for two years.
Others saw the trade as a necessary risk for a team that had been struggling to find reliable bullpen arms. Overall, the trade garnered attention from both sides of the baseball community and continues to be analyzed and debated today.
Who Did the Phillies Trade for Pache?
The Phillies traded reliever Billy Sullivan. They acquired outfielder Cristian Pache from the Athletics. The trade was made for the 2023 Phillies roster. Pache was highly rated in the Braves’ system. He struggled in limited MLB action with the Braves and Athletics.
Pache has a strong defensive reputation in center field. Sullivan was a mid-level prospect in the Phillies’ system. He was traded for Pache on Wednesday. The move adds depth to the Phillies’ outfield.
Pache joins a crowded outfield with Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen.
Who Did the Phillies Let Go This Season?
Kyle Gibson
- The Phillies traded starting pitcher Kyle Gibson to the Rangers mid-season.
- Gibson had struggled with the Phillies, posting a 5.28 ERA in 19 starts.
- In return, the Phillies received three prospects: Hans Crouse, Joshua Gessner, and Ian Kennedy.
Noah Syndergaard
- The Phillies did not technically let go of Noah Syndergaard, but he signed with the Angels in free agency.
- The Phillies were reportedly interested in Syndergaard, but ultimately he chose to sign with Los Angeles.
- Syndergaard has a history of injuries, but could be a strong addition to the Angels’ rotation if he stays healthy.
Vince Velasquez
- The Phillies designated pitcher Vince Velasquez for assignment in August and later released him.
- Velasquez had struggled with the Phillies in recent years, posting a 5.00 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 96 starts with the team.
- He was replaced in the rotation by Ranger Suarez, who has been a pleasant surprise for the Phillies this season.
Brandon Kintzler
- The Phillies released relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler in June after a rough start to the season.
- Kintzler had a 7.60 ERA in 18 appearances with the team, and had struggled to keep runners off base.
- The Phillies replaced Kintzler with new acquisitions like Ian Kennedy and Archie Bradley, who have been solid pieces in the bullpen.
Matt Joyce
- The Phillies released outfielder Matt Joyce in June after he struggled to produce offensively.
- Joyce had a .086 batting average in 35 plate appearances with the Phillies, with just one extra-base hit and two RBI.
- The Phillies replaced Joyce with Travis Jankowski, who has been a key contributor as a fourth outfielder and pinch-runner.
Who Did the Phillies Lose in Free Agency?
The Phillies lost several players in free agency, including Noah Syndergaard, Kyle Gibson, David Robertson, and more. These players will now have the opportunity to sign with new teams. Some of the notable names include Johan Camargo, Brad Hand, and Corey Knebel.
In addition to those lost in free agency, the Phillies previously let go of Odubel Herrera, Jeurys Familia, and Didi Gregorius. All of these moves are part of a larger strategy for the team. The Phillies may be looking to free up salary cap space or restructure their roster.
Losing some of these key players may make it a challenging off-season for the Phillies. However, they may also have opportunities to acquire new talent through trades or free agency. Fans will be watching closely to see how the team addresses these losses and moves forward.
Only time will tell how these adjustments will impact the Phillies in the coming season.
To Recap
In December 2015, Vince Velasquez was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, along with several other pitchers, in exchange for prospect Jonathan Arauz and closer Ken Giles. This trade had a significant impact on Velasquez’s career as he was handed the opportunity to showcase his talents in a new team.
While being traded can be unsettling for any player, Vince Velasquez took the challenge head-on and continued to impress his fans and his team. Today, he is regarded as one of the most promising players in the game, and his future looks bright.
