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With 'problematic' coaching staff gone, Pat Neshek left money on table to return to Phillies
By Stephen Gross
Pat Neshek left money on the table to return to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018. (Jason Behnken / AP)
CLEARWATER, FLA. — It will still be some time before the Phillies' decision to go with Gabe Kapler as manager can be truly evaluated.
But one thing is for sure, the Phillies wouldn't have been able to add one of their first free agent signings this winter, Pat Neshek, if they did not make a change from the coaching staff that was in place in 2017. Neshek believed they caused things to be "a little problematic."
"It wasn't really a conducive environment for communication, for guys to feel free and comfortable, especially the younger guys," Neshek said. "It just felt like last year was kind of sink or swim."
Neshek and former manager Pete Mackanin's communication, or lack thereof, was put on public display about a month before the Phillies dealt the reliever to Colorado days prior to the July 31 trade deadline. Two days in a row, their stories about Neshek's availability conflicted.
Unlike this spring, Neshek also described last year's clubhouse as one without energy.
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"Nobody talked," Philadelphia's lone All-Star in 2017, said. "It was a quiet clubhouse. It was as quiet as could be."
That doesn't mean he didn't like who was in the clubhouse though. That's part of the reason he decided to come back.
It was all about his comfort level with the club. The fact that the team played .500-ball from Aug. 6 on didn't hurt either. But knowing the teammates, the training staff and where everything was were all big reasons the Phillies were high on his list to begin with, if the money was there. Both he and his family also really enjoy Philadelphia.
Stability was another factor. He liked when he was able to spend the first 10 years of his career in Minnesota. He hasn't had that of late, bouncing between six teams over the last seven years. Coming back to Philadelphia meant he didn't have to make it seven teams in eight seasons.
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And while he didn't have many flattering things to say about last year's coaches, the front office is a different story. It's another reason he's back.
"They believed in me, they traded for me in Houston," Neshek, who wasn't getting used a ton with the Astros, said. "To me, I'm big on people that put their necks out on the line for you. It's reciprocal. I'll come back and pitch good for you. If [the Phillies don't trade for me and] Houston doesn't pick me up, I don't know what happens. I knew I was a good pitcher, but I mean it's hard to prove that to people when you don't get a chance to go out there and play every day."
He even left money on the table to return.
Neshek didn't want to wait long to sign after free agency began and once offers from Colorado and Philadelphia came in, because of his comfort level with the Phillies, he jumped at theirs. After he agreed, but before it was officially announced as he waited for his physical, another offer came in that beat the Phillies' deal, which was a two-year, $16.25 million contract.
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"I could have gotten more, I had better offers later actually," Neshek said. "But I liked the guys. I liked the familiarity."
Majors: The Phillies blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning against the Red Sox in Fort Myers on Monday, losing 6-5.
Tom Eshelman, one of the candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation, didn't do himself any favors, giving up five runs on seven hits in his 3 1/3 innings of work.
Aaron Altherr did a majority of the damage for the Phillies going 2-for-4 with a three-run homer off Chris Sale in the fifth. Altherr added another RBI in the ninth.
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The biggest news to come from Fort Myers was an update on Jake Arrieta. Kapler told reporters Arrieta is scheduled to throw in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. Arrieta was supposed to throw his normal side back in Clearwater Monday but weather postponed the workout until Tuesday.
Minors: The Phillies' Triple-A squad was shutout by the Pirates' Triple-A club 4-0 at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater.
Neshek did not make the trip to Fort Myers, staying back and throwing the first inning of the Triple-A game. He needed 15 pitches to make it through a scoreless first giving up just one hit. Cord Sandberg, Malquin Canel and Kyle Martin had the three hits for the Phillies' Triple-A team.
The Double-A squad was also at the Carpenter Complex, playing to a 5-5 tie against Pittsburgh's affiliate. Mickey Moniak was the only Phillie with multiple hits going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.
ToJo moving on: When the Phillies signed Jake Arrieta last week, they needed a roster spot for him. Tommy Joseph was the casualty.
It was unclear whether he would still be in the organization but that answer came Tuesday. The Texas Rangers claimed him off waivers, ending his tenure with the Phillies. He has been with the organization since the summer of 2012 when he was included in the return for Hunter Pence, who Philadelphia sent to San Francisco.
During his time in the Phillies organization, concussions forced Joseph to switch positions from catcher to first base.
New hire: At a time when cuts are expected, the Phillies announced an addition Monday, although it has nothing to do with their roster.
The Phillies hired Sean Walker to serve in the newly created position of vice president and chief technology officer. A news release from the team announcing the hire said Walker, in previous positions, has "helped to define strategies to ensure high performance and cost-effective technology solutions."
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Walker has held related roles with the Tampa Bay Lightning, NBA and PGA.
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