The Phillies head into the offseason with a star-studded roster and substantial payroll obligation, although proprietor John Middleton has already expressed confidence that the 2025 payroll will enhance. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has at a number of factors hinted at potential trades fairly than free agent pursuits, talking of a have to be “open-minded” as he appears to be like to reinforce a roster that’s been a perennial playoff membership however fallen shy of a World Sequence win (or perhaps a World Sequence look). The Athletic’s Matt Gelb stories that the Phils have signaled a need so as to add an outfielder and at the least one right-handed reliever.
As specified by our Phillies Offseason Outlook, including within the outfield is likely one of the most obvious pursuits for a Phillies membership that has established contributors at catcher (J.T. Realmuto), first base (Bryce Harper), second base (Bryson Stott), shortstop (Trea Turner), third base (Alec Bohm), proper discipline (Nick Castellanos) and designated hitter (Kyle Schwarber). Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas provide choices within the remaining two outfield spots, however the Phils aren’t prone to merely roll the identical lineup again out in 2024 after one other shorter-than-hoped season. Marsh and Rojas might type a platoon, as Marsh bats left-handed to the extra defensively gifted Rojas’ right-handed bat. That’d open a path for one incoming outfielder, however Dombrowski’s repeated refrain of “open-minded” approaches to reshaping his offense have prompted pure hypothesis about trades.
From that standpoint, it’s onerous to think about offers involving Realmuto, Harper, Turner and Schwarber. All have been seen as core items in Philadelphia. The Phillies would in all probability love to maneuver on from the ultimate two years and $40MM on Castellanos’ contract, however Castellanos is a poor defender who hasn’t hit practically as nicely in Philadelphia as he did in his free-agent platform season with the Reds. The Phils would want to pay down an excellent portion of that contract and/or embody a prospect to discover a taker.
Bohm, Marsh, Stott and to a lesser extent Rojas are the massive league place gamers who might extra plausibly be flipped elsewhere because the Phillies attempt to reshape their identification. Gelb additionally lists lefty starter Ranger Suarez as a chance. Their contractual statuses are as follows:
- Suarez: Managed by way of 2025 by way of arbitration, projected to earn $8.9MM in 2025 (by way of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Bohm: Managed by way of 2026 by way of arbitration, projected to earn $8.1MM in 2025 (by way of Swartz)
- Marsh: Managed by way of 2027 by way of arbitration, projected to earn $3MM in 2025 (by way of Swartz)
- Stott: Managed by way of 2027 by way of arbitration, projected to earn $3.5MM in 2025 (by way of Swartz)
- Rojas: Managed by way of 2029, pre-arbitration in 2025
Clearly, the valuation on every participant will differ. Suarez can be a one-year rental for a membership and would require the Phils — already in want of a starter and certain hoping to dump the remaining two years and $36MM on Taijuan Walker’s contract this offseason — to interchange him. He posted a 3.46 ERA with sturdy strikeout (23.2%) and stroll (6.5%) charges in 150 2/3 innings this season but in addition missed a month with a again harm and struggled from July by way of September. Loads of groups would nonetheless like to plug him into their rotation.
Bohm is probably the most persistently productive however has the very best wage and lowest quantity of membership management remaining of the place gamers. He additionally cooled off significantly after a blistering begin to the season. He was one of many sport’s best hitters by way of early March (.360/.430/.576 in 142 plate appearances) earlier than reverting to his standard model of roughly common offense for the rest of the season (.256/.302/.410 over his subsequent 464 plate appearances). Bohm improved his glovework this yr and hit righties higher than standard however was nonetheless notably extra productive towards left-handed pitching.
Marsh can deal with all three outfield spots however is greatest fitted to left discipline. He’s by no means hit lefties nicely however is nicely above-average versus righties. He runs nicely and will in all probability pop 20 homers with a full season of at-bats, although that’d imply lesser fee stats and extra plate appearances versus lefties. He’s hit 28 homers in 948 plate appearances throughout the previous two seasons. Marsh is a helpful part-time participant, however his 31% strikeout fee since 2023 (and 32.8% profession mark) is fairly regarding, particularly since he’s been platooned so typically.
Stott is a plus defender and robust baserunner with 15-homer pop. He makes loads of contact however has actually solely had one common season on the plate (2023), along with a pair of below-average campaigns throughout which he’s nonetheless been a stable total contributor due to his glove and pace. If a crew with price range issues and no concrete choice at shortstop would view him as an outside-the-box candidate at brief, his market might increase. Stott hasn’t graded as nicely there in 770 huge league innings however has greater than 2000 skilled innings at brief.
Rojas is an much more excessive case of the speed-and-defense ability set. He’s a plus heart fielder with glorious pace however turned in only a .243/.279/.322 slash in 2024 (68 wRC+) and is a profession .261/.298/.355 hitter (81 wRC+) in 527 huge league plate appearances.
Dombrowski has publicly prompt that he must be open to buying and selling “good gamers” with a view to get expertise in return. Speculatively talking, Bohm looks like probably the most believable match, as he’s set to earn probably the most cash, has the least membership management remaining and performs a place (third base) the place the free-agent market is kind of skinny this offseason. There might be paths to flipping Bohm for a bullpen arm, a back-of-the-rotation starter or an outfielder, and shedding his payroll might additionally free the Phillies to pursue different choices on the sizzling nook or give them extra money to deal with wants elsewhere on the roster.
Former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and longtime Phils beat writers Todd Zolecki and Jim Salisbury took a deep dive into the chances on the most recent episode of their podcast. All three acknowledged that Dombrowski’s repeated phrases this offseason have not-so-quietly signaled a commerce is probably going. Along with repeating the “open-minded” line on a number of events, Dombrowski has at the least twice prompt the Phillies have sufficient star gamers on the roster. At his end-of-season press convention, Dombrowski stated his membership has “as many star gamers as about anyone in baseball” earlier than including that generally “the supporting solid” is the place the most important want sits.
Gelb notes within the beforehand referenced piece that Dombrowski doubled down on that pondering at this week’s GM Conferences. Requested if the Phils can be “big-game looking” this winter, the Phils’ president replied: “Our possession permits us to do loads of issues. However generally that’s not what you need. We’ve loads of good star gamers on our crew. So, learn that as you’d.”
