The Colorado Rockies finally made the big free agency move fans had been waiting for, acquiring a pitcher with a fantastic ERA, minuscule WHIP and big strikeout numbers to add to the bullpen.
The Rockies announced Wednesday night that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Pat Neshek and cash considerations from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for three Minor League players.
Infielder Jose Gomez, right-handed pitcher J.D. Hammer and right-handed pitcher Alejandro Requena are all headed to the Philadelphia system.
Neshek, 36, is 3-2 with a 1.12 ERA (40.1 IP, 5 ER), five walks and 45 strikeouts in 43 relief appearances for Philadelphia this season. He boasts a 0.82 WHIP and a .199 batting average against.
The sidearm-style pitcher was acquired by Philadelphia via trade from Houston on Nov. 4, and is on the final year of a three-year contract that he signed with Houston in December 2014. He is a two-time All-Star, in 2014 as a member of St. Louis and this season as the lone representative of the Phillies
Neshek made his Major League debut on July 7, 2006 as a member of the Minnesota Twins and has played in parts of 11 seasons with Minnesota (2006-08), San Diego (2011), Oakland (2012-13), St. Louis (2014), Houston (2015-16) and Philadelphia (2017). In 466 career relief appearances, he is 31-21 with eight saves, a 2.76 ERA (432.2 IP, 130 ER), 125 walks and 423 strikeouts.
Originally selected by Minnesota in the sixth round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Neshek has pitched in four postseason campaigns with Minnesota (2006), Oakland (2012), St. Louis (2014) and Houston (2015), and is 0-2 with a 2.61 (10.1 IP, 3 ER) in 13 postseason appearances.
Additionally, left-handed pitcher Tyler Anderson has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list (left knee inflammation).
Anderson, was placed on the 10-day disabled list with left knee inflammation on June 26, his second DL stint with left knee inflammation this season. He made just one start and one relief appearance after being activated from the 10-day disabled list on June 22. In 13 appearances, 12 starts, this season Anderson is 3-5 with a 6.11 ERA (63.1 IP, 43 ER), 23 walks and 63 strikeouts.