John Lannan upbeat to perform for Philadelphia Phillies-MLB Update
Starting pitcher, John Lannan is ready to join the rotation of the Philadelphia Phillies and help the club rebound from their last season poor performance.
Though he stayed in the minor league for the last couple of seasons largely, he is competent to perform well at the major league level.
Lannan is one of those hurlers that are desperate to make their mark at the moment.
He parted ways with the Washington Nationals mainly because he wanted to be given opportunities all through the season, instead of being used as a back-up option.
Lannan had issues with the management of the Nationals as he insisted for a permanent place in the rotation.
For Washington, it was not easy because they had the likes of Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and others present there.
The Nationals non-tendered him after realising that he will remain unused if he stays with their organisation.
By sending Lannan into the free agency, they made the path for him easier as he could find an organisation there, which is willing to offer regular opportunities during the season.
The Phillies have inducted him into their rotation, which is a big achievement for Lannan.
Getting such a high profile club to show interest and acquire proves that Lannan has something in his repertoire that can benefit the Phillies immensely.
Brodie Van Wagenen, an agent for Lannan, has explained the intent of the pitcher while negotiations for the contract were underway. Lannan is going to take the Phillies as a launching pad to assert his major league credentials.
"John made it clear to me at the beginning of this process that he valued opportunity above all else," Brodie Van Wagenen said. "It became clear that the Phillies were a unique fit for John to secure his spot in a rotation for a winning team. John sees this
contract and situation as a springboard, both to reaffirming his status as a Major League starter and to future earnings."
The fact the contract is of just one-year shows that the Phillies are reluctant to rely on Lannan permanently unless he stands out during the upcoming season.
It will be fascinating to see how Lannan makes sure he is retained by the Phillies after one season.
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