For the Phillies to compete in 2019 they’ll need a bounce-back season from veteran starter Jake Arrieta. The former Cy Young winner is in year two of a contract that he could void at the end of the season to test free agency once again. To even consider that Arrieta needs to prove he’s healthy after offseason knee surgery.
In his spring training debut, the 32-year-old looks healthy as a horse, which is exactly what the Phillies will need him to be this season. Albeit in spring training, Arrieta threw three perfect innings with four strikeouts against the Twins in Fort Myers.