Phil Coke

Phil Coke

42-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Phil Coke in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a minor league contract with the Yankees in April of 2016.
Attempting comeback as knuckleballer
PFree Agent  
February 13, 2018
Coke, who spent the 2017 season in Japan with the Orix Buffaloes, is hopeful to sign with a major-league team as a knuckleballer, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.
ANALYSIS
Coke's lack of premium velocity -- his fastball has typically sat in the low-to-mid-90s throughout his career -- coupled with increasingly ineffective secondary offerings yielded little success during his most recent years in the big leagues, so the 35-year-old elected to reinvent himself as a knuckleballer in an attempt to keep his career alive. According to Cotillo, Coke has intrigued teams with the spin rates he's shown in bullpen sessions, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he landed a minor-league deal from a club at some point this spring.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Phil Coke See More
Tuesday Lineup Card: Pencil In The Eraser
June 22, 2015
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
After a disastrous 2013 campaign, Coke appeared to be on his last legs as a major-league caliber relief option. The southpaw’s situation only worsened after he posted a 9.39 ERA in his first eight appearances of 2014, but Coke was able to bounce back once the calendar flipped to May. In his final 54 appearances, Coke was able to post a 3.04 ERA and 37:17 K:BB ratio in 50.1 innings. Despite the tumultuous start to the year, Coke finished with respectable numbers, going 5-2 with a 3.88 ERA, one save and five holds. His fastball, which hovers around 93 mph, hasn't been an effective pitch for the last few years, but it remains Coke’s most heavily used pitch (63.7%). He mixes in a slider and changeup, but both pitches are more effective against left-handed hitters. The 32-year-old lefty is currently a free agent. After turning things around last season, he’ll likely be given an opportunity to catch on as a left-handed specialist.
Coke's 2013 season started on a high note, as he was originally tabbed to be a part of Detroit’s closer-by-committee approach and even managed to pick up the save on Opening Day, but his season quickly took a turn for the worse. His save on the first day of the season turned out to be the only game he closed out all season, as he promptly allowed runs in his next two outings and was never able to earn his way back into the ninth-inning discussion. He dealt with a pair of minor injuries (groin, elbow) and was even sent to the minors for a stint late in the season to work on his control. By the end of the season, Coke compiled a career-worst 5.40 ERA and 1.43 K/BB ratio in 38.1 innings. His fastball still sits in the low-to-mid 90s, but Coke wasn't nearly as effective against left-handed hitters, who hit .299/.364/.345 against him. Despite the bumpy 2013 campaign, Coke is once again tabbed to be one of Detroit’s primary left-handed relief options, but he won’t factor into any save opportunities unless the Tigers suffer a rash of injuries in the bullpen.
Prior to an unexpected breakout in the playoffs, Coke had put together a ho-hum season while working as a middle reliever last year. In 66 regular season appearances out of the Tigers' bullpen, Coke went 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB ratio while working 54 innings. He chipped in 20 holds and vultured one save for good measure, but it was pretty much a run-of-the-mill season for Coke. The 30-year-old lefty's outlook took a positive turn in the playoffs when he was forced to takeover closing duties from Jose Valverde, who had allowed nine earned runs in his final three postseason appearances. Coke seized the opportunity, finishing with a pair of saves while sporting a 0.82 ERA and 13:2 K:BB in postseason 10.2 innings. With Valverde now out of Detroit, Coke figures to be one of the names in contention for the closing gig if the team does not bring in a proven veteran option for the role. The fiery lefty definitely has a closer's mentality, but his career splits -- .233/.287/.305 for left-handed hitters, .299/.370/.379 for right-handed hitters - show he's much more effective as a situational reliever. That said, with his name possibly in the mix to close, Coke should be monitored in most formats.
Coke started the 2011 season in the Tigers rotation, going 1-7 with a 4.82 ERA and 37:30 K:BB ratio in 14 starts. After that failed experiment, Detroit moved Coke back to the bullpen. As a reliever, Coke rediscovered his 2010 form, going 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA and 32:10 K:BB ratio over his final 32 appearances. The Tigers will wisely slot back Coke into their bullpen for the 2012 season, a role that fits him perfectly as he performs much better as a max-effort pitcher. Coke will be a decent source of holds and might vulture a save or two, but that's likely the extent of his fantasy contributions.
Coke was a valuable piece of the Tigers' bullpen in 2010 after being acquired in a three-team swap last winter. He compiled a 7-5 record with a 3.76 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 64.2 innings. The lefty will be transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation for the 2011 season, which would normally give a pitcher's fantasy value a significant boost, but Coke's transition from a reliever to a starter may be bumpy. While he was originally a starter when he came up through the Yankees' farm system, he has been primarily a relief pitcher since the second half of the 2008 season. The Tigers aren't worried about Coke's transition to starter as far as stamina and endurance go, but we have our concerns that he'll be able to retain his 7.4 K/9IP as he switches from a "max-effort" reliever to part of the rotation. Deep leagues and Al-only formats might want to take a look at Coke as an option for the end of their rotations, but he'll be a risky selection in shallower formats.
The Yankees expected Damaso Marte to occupy the primary left-handed reliever role in 2009, but after injuries limited Marte to just 13.1 innings, Coke became the go-to southpaw in manager Joe Girardi’s bullpen. Although he endured a brutal August (11.17 ERA), he still held batters to a .209 season average and finished with 49 strikeouts in 60 innings. However, after he was traded to Detroit in the Curtis Granderson deal, Coke could be used as a starter again. He'll likely compete with Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis and Armando Galarraga for the final spot in the rotation. If he loses out, he could become a key figure in the Detroit bullpen.
Coke was an effective left-handed starter at Double-A Trenton last season, maintaining 115:39 K:BB ratio over 118.1 innings before making the switch to relief work and pitching well at Triple-A and eventually out of the Yankees' bullpen down the stretch. Opponents hit just .160 against him in September, while he surrendered just one earned run in 14.2 innings. Damaso Marte was re-signed to keep a late-inning role in front of closer Mariano Rivera, but Coke should be able to stick as a second lefty in 2009.
More Fantasy News
Signs to play in Japan
PFree Agent  
December 14, 2016
Coke signed a contract with the Orix Buffaloes to pitch in Japan in 2017, the Japan Times reports.
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Designated for assignment
PPittsburgh Pirates  
October 5, 2016
Coke was designated for assignment Wednesday.
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Called up to majors Friday
PPittsburgh Pirates  
September 23, 2016
Coke's contract was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
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Traded to Pirates
PPittsburgh Pirates  
September 22, 2016
Coke was traded to the Pirates on Thursday for cash.
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PNew York Yankees  
Undisclosed
June 7, 2016
Coke was placed on the 7-day DL with an undisclosed injury Monday, LoHud.com reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Attempting comeback
PFree Agent  
December 9, 2019
Coke is looking for a contract at the winter meetings, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The 37-year-old may be looking for work after recovering from Tommy John surgery in August of 2018, but it's not clear he'll find any. He hasn't played in affiliated baseball since 2016, having played in Japan and Mexico since then.
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