When the Philadelphia Phillies struck a deal with the Texas Rangers for right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson at the trade deadline, many fans in Philly were excited about the addition.
Gibson was a highly desirable name on the trade market about earning an All-Star selection in the first half of the season.
The Phillies needed starting pitching in the worst way, and they did a great job of bringing in a quality arm.
Since his arrival in Philadelphia, Gibson has fully lived up to expectations.
The deal is panning out exactly the way the Phillies had hoped it would, and the 33-year-old veteran is proving to be a great fit with the organization.
Here’s why.
He Has Given The Rotation The Jolt It Desperately Needed
Gibson has been extremely effective since joining the team.
He has so far pitched to a 3.16 ERA, 3.73 FIP, and 1.19 WHIP over six outings (five starts).
All five of Gibson’s starts have been quality starts.
He has allowed just two home runs since coming over to the Phillies, and he has also accumulated a 1.2 WAR.
For context, that would put him on pace for a 6.8 WAR over a standard 34-start campaign.
Philadelphia’s rotation desperately needed some help before the deadline.
If you remove Gibson, the team has just one starter with an ERA below 4.00 (Zack Wheeler).
The Phillies needed a reliable No. 2 option, and they got one.
He’s One Of The Biggest Reasons The Phillies Are Still Alive In The Wild Card Race
With about a month remaining in the regular season, the Phillies are 2.5 games out of first place in the National League East and 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot.
They have a lot of work to do if they want to crack the postseason, but they’re certainly still in the mix.
Gibson is a major reason why.
Philadelphia is 4-2 when he pitches and 4-1 when he starts.
He has done a great job of keeping the team in games (save for one bad outing), and it looks like that’s going to be a trend the rest of the way.
It will be an uphill battle for the Phillies to make the playoffs, but if they were to sneak in, Gibson would deserve a ton of the credit.
He Figures To Be A Key Piece For The Team Beyond 2021
One of the most appealing parts of the Phillies’ deadline trade for Gibson was the fact that he’s under contract through the 2022 season.
At the end of the day, trading prospects away in deals for rentals isn’t a sustainable way of doing business.
However, when you’re able to trade for a guy that’s under club control for multiple seasons, it becomes a different ballgame.
The Phillies might not crack the playoffs in 2021, but they’re going to be in great shape to do so in 2022.
With Gibson returning, he figures to be a key rotation piece for the entire 2022 campaign.
That’s exactly what the doctor ordered for Philadelphia.
Fans should be very satisfied with the trade.
More must-reads: