The “Last Man In” free agent tournament: Bryce Harper vs. Dustin McGowan

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 23: Dustin McGowan #40 of the Philadelphia Phillies walks off the field in the fourth inning after giving up two runs against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on April 23, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Marlins won 9-1. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In our last matchup, in the tournament between the last free agents signed before the season, Jake Arrieta earned more votes than Ricardo Pinto and moved on to the next round.

On to the next pairing:

2. Bryce Harper, 2019​

Stats with the Phillies: 858 games, .261/.357/.487, 179 HR, 530 RBIs, 26.3 bWAR

The Phillies had a lot of money to spend before the 2019 season, which put them in the mix for the two big free agents that offseason: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. The Phillies pursued both men – there was brief speculation that they might try to sign both – but ultimately decided that Harper would be the better fit.

Harper remained unsigned into February, but eventually, the Phillies came to terms with the former National, giving the team its new franchise player.

15. Dustin McGowan, 2015​

Stats with the Phillies: 14 games, 23.1 innings, 1-2 W-L, 6.24 ERA, 21K, 20 BB, -0.7 bWAR

After a failed last gasp to contend in 2014, the Phillies admitted they were in full rebuild mode heading into 2015. So, there weren’t going to be a lot of big names brought in via free agency. But the team still needed some veterans to fill out the roster, and one of those veterans was relief pitcher Dustin McGowan.

McGowan had a decent season with the Blue Jays in 2014, but he was brutal in 2015. Used mostly in low leverage situations, he still couldn’t get anyone out. His final appearance came against Baltimore on June 16th after starting pitcher Jerome Williams was knocked out of the game in the first inning. McGowan absorbed 3.1 innings, allowing five home runs. This would infamously come to be known as the “white towel” game.

Jerad Eickhoff is sixth #Phillies pitcher since 1908 to allow five or more home runs in a game. Dustin McGowan did it last on June 6, 2015, otherwise known as the "white towel" game. Cory Lidle and Vicente Padilla each did it in 2005. pic.twitter.com/cqP7KqYvex

— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) June 11, 2019

Who should advance? Vote now!

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