The young righty has suddenly become more valuable.
As you’re no doubt aware of by now, the Phillies are going to be without Aaron Nola for longer than they originally anticipated. Mick Abel has been filling in more than admirably in Nola’s stead, Tuesday’s three-home runs allowed notwithstanding.
In three starts since being called up to the Majors, Abel is 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA. The Phillies are 1-2 in those three starts, but one of those losses is not the fault of Abel, as he only allowed one run in 5.1 IP while the offense was only able to score one run and Jordan Romano allowed a walk-off in the ninth. Tuesday’s start against the Cubs and their second highest scoring offense was the first real rough outing for Abel in the Majors. He lasted only four innings and allowed three runs on six hits including the aforementioned three home runs while also walking three batters.
It wasn’t a good start, especially considering he needed 89 pitches to go four innings, but Abel did show some impressive poise for a young pitcher at the end. He was able to strikeout early MVP candidate Kyle Tucker in a full count with the bases loaded to prevent any more runs scoring. You want to see him pitch deeper and keep the ball in the yard but escaping that type of jam to end a start like that is an important part of Abel’s development.
No one would’ve faulted you if you thought that the Phillies were close to being the enviable team that had too many starting pitchers. But as has happened so many times before, we learned that such a thing is hardly ever a reality. Nola’s injury has turned Abel from a luxury to a necessity as the team looks to navigate the middle part of the season without their best innings eater.
No one also would’ve faulted you if one of your first thoughts about Abel’s success was his trade value. As a young, controllable starting pitcher, Abel represents the type of trade chip that’s worth more than gold in the modern trade market. Every team, whether they are contender, pretender, or bottom feeder, craves for controllable starting pitching. If Abel continues to pitch well in the Majors, he will likely be able to fetch a big return at the trade deadline in a market that now perpetually benefits sellers.
The Phillies other, bigger name starting pitching prospect also weighs into the Abel equation. Andrew Painter is due to debut relatively soon, but he has hit a speed bump in Triple-A. The most important thing is that he’s healthy, but he has been roughed up a bit to the tune of a 5.54 ERA in six starts. With someone like Painter who is still working his way fully back from Tommy John surgery, results on the field matter less than health. But you wouldn’t be alone in thinking that the numbers are at least a little concerning.
Abel and Painter are the Phillies only real starting pitching depth besides what else is already on their MLB roster. None of the other starting capable pitchers on the 40-man roster are particularly inspiring. Plus, Painter is on a pitch count, so he will likely not be going deep into too many games.
So, has Mick Abel become un-tradeable? Does his usefulness to the Phillies now outweigh his stock as a trade chip? Or would you still move him in the right package?