Heath

Phillips

“I’m not happy with our performance here, not happy with the performances down in Charlotte, the individual performances, nor the team performances,” Williams said Wednesday. “A lot of times in the minors people forget, they think it’s just based on how they do as individuals. Well, we look at things a little differently. We look at the team aspect as well, and I’m a little disappointed in a lot of the individual and team efforts down there.” The team brought up Heath Phillips and Lance Broadway because they needed help to protect the pitching staff, and Donny Lucy was needed as a third catcher.

It’s about time. We’re not at all sure the 25-year-old Phillips can pitch in the majors, but he’s earned a chance. He had a 2.96 ERA in Triple-A last year, but he wasn’t called up in September. This year, his ERA jumped to 4.30, but that was all because of an awful May. He was 7-0 with a 2.43 ERA after the All-Star break. Phillips doesn’t have more than fifth-starter stuff, but he could surprise. The White Sox will use him in middle relief for now.

Phillips finally made his major league debut in September after two fine years in Triple-A and allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings of relief. The White Sox have never taken him seriously, and any team that wanted him could likely have him for a lesser prospect. There isn’t much in the way of upside here, but he might be able to last as a fifth starter.

Joe Crede keeps his spot. The White Sox previously jettisoned two of the their three arbitration-eligible players in Luis Terrero and Alex Cintron. Both Gonzalez and Phillips made their major league debuts last season, with Gonzalez hitting 185/.280/.249 in 189 at-bats. Phillips had already been designated for assignment.

If the White Sox were willing to give him away, we’re rather surprised the Diamondbacks didn’t take Phillips back in the Carlos Quentin deal. A 25-year-old left-hander with a history of strong results in Triple-A, he deserves a legitimate chance to contend for a spot in some team’s rotation. Perhaps the stuff isn’t there to make him a long-term option, but he makes a lot more sense than someone like Brett Tomko or Tony Armas Jr..

Phillips and Rasner should have signed with teams with less pitching depth. Rasner, especially, could be a useful fifth starter, but he’ll need multiple injuries in order to get another shot with the Yankees. Besides Phillips, the most notable imports are Strickland, who could be a serviceable middle reliever given the chance, plus the two infielders, Green and Ransom. Either could be a better choice than Alberto Gonzalez when a spare is needed.

We’d trust either Phillips or DiNardo with a rotation spot before Horacio Ramirez. Phillips had a 3.86 ERA in his 11 2/3 innings this spring. DiNardo pitched five scoreless innings, striking out seven.

If it’s so important for the Royals to have a left-hander in their rotation, Phillips would be an upgrade over Horacio Ramirez. He probably wouldn’t be a fantasy asset or anything like that, but at least he’d give the Royals five or six innings most times out.

The umpiring crew was obviously alerted that there could be some hijinks today with the Yankees still upset about the Elliot Johnson-Francisco Cervelli collision on Saturday. It seems unlikely that Phillips was really throwing at a batter.

He also receives an invite to Spring Training. Phillips, who turns 28 in March, was 8-7 with a 4.99 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 27 games (25 starts) with Triple-A Omaha in the Royals organization last season.