C’est la vie, Phillippe! Aumont Elects for Free Agency
Todd Zolecki tweeted following the Phillies loss to the Yankees this afternoon that pitcher Phillippe Aumont has declined assignment and elected to become a free agent. As our Jon Nisula pointed out prior to his disastrous outing against the Cardinals, Aumont was out of options, and a poor start last week could potentially force the club’s hand on Aumont. Nisula highlighted Aumont’s struggles with command and walks in the minors – despite his 2.35 ERA in Lehigh Valley:
One of his biggest issues he had as a reliever was his WHIP. No Phillies reliever with at least 30 innings pitched from 2012-2014 had a higher WHIP than Aumont’s 1.89. In his ten starts for the IronPigs this year, he posted a 1.42 WHIP. Phillies starters this year have posted a 1.39 WHIP, so if Aumont can pitch they way he’s been pitching in those last ten starts, he’ll be okay.
Aumont was the opposite of okay. He was tagged for six earned runs on five hits, walking seven Cardinals in his four inning appearance.
As the cornerstone piece of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle, the Phillies now have no players remaining from that deal in their developmental system or major league club.
