2018-19 Phillies Off-Season Discussion (2019 version)

[andyb]

I don't want them to have to sign him to a huge contract starting in his age 32 season.

His first year after his current contract would be his age 29 season.

[Austinfan]

Trout would likely give them a hometown discount, he's already filthy rich, he doesn't seem to be driven by ego (got to be the highest paid) and I think he'd consider the highlight of his life to lead the parade down Broad Street.

If that's all the White Sox offered, the market has been grossly overrated by the media and amateurs.
Phillies will easily beat that, 8yrs, $220M would be much sweeter. (extra year and $27.5 v 25M a year)

[David_Criss]

Funny how just last night MLB network began talking about the possibility of a mystery team for Machado. Wouldn't surprise me if his agent floated that idea to get the White Sox to up their offer. The Yanks seemed to have cooled and by all accounts it is the Phillies vs. the White Sox. The White Sox are smart to not bid against themselves. Man then offer a 7/200. That is less than I thought it would take to land him and no draft pick loss.

Signing Machado makes Franco available in trade with some of the extra pen arms.
Signing Harper costs a draft pick and makes Williams available in trade.

I am liking these possibilities.

[zambonir]

The White Sox not coming off their offer would seem to be based on the belief that the Phillies might prefer Harper. Our front office is obviously less leaky but their first offer to Machado probably wasn't much better. It's still a dance.

[allentown]

That's $25 mill/year. Pathetic if Phillies don't beat that.

[bigegypt0417]

That's $25 mill/year. Pathetic if Phillies don't beat that.

my feeling is Machado will wait out Harper...if the Phillies don't sign harper I would imagine they will blow that offer out of the water.

[bkox]

Jon Heyman (JonHeyman)

[zambonir]

If there was a prop bet in PA's new legal sportsbooks I'd take "after February 15." Heck we didn't sign Arrieta until March 11.

[EDmuch]

Ok, we are kind of in fantasy land now, but ........ if the Phils get both Manny and Harper, then Franco and Williams are available in a trade. Whisper Franco and Williams to Cleveland and they might glance at you.Add the names of Medina or Sixto and you probably get the Tribe's full attention and them looking straight at you. Then you add Hellesley. The you add Eflin. At that point, you would get Kluber because you would have met the Tribe's demand: outfielders plus young pitching prospects. So imagine we get both Harper and Manny, would you then part with Franco. Williams, Medina, Hallesley and Eflin to get Kluber? You add Kluber to the Phil's team with Manny and Harper and you are talking about a World series contender imho.

[bkox]

Mark Feinsand (Feinsand)

[tom81]

So imagine we get both Harper and Manny, would you then part with Franco. Williams, Medina, Hallesley and Eflin to get Kluber?

No way do I include Eflin in that deal, the others sure. This board is down on Eflin but he put up a 2.2 bWAR last year in his age 24 season, not far removed from surgery on both his knees. He is a potential #1 or #2 in the near future! Kluber will be in his age 33 season and he didn't even make the majors till his age 25 season.

[zambonir]

Sounds like Lozano doth protest too much, especialy considering that agents leak stuff too. But still an enjoyable verbal spanking to read.

That's too much for Kluber but there's something there. I certainly don't consider Eflin untouchable. Is he Happ or Worley? (And even if he is Happ it wasn't a bad trade at the time.)

[tom81]

Eflin isn’t untouchable and maybe him for Kluber without much else makes sense for both teams. If we get both Harper and Machado though I don’t see us taking on Kluber’s salary for Eflin’s.

[David_Criss]

Adding Kluber would mean 2 of Velasquez, Eickhoff, Eflin, Pivetta gets bounced from the rotation. Adding either of these two big names immediately gives the Phillies some real ammunition in trade talks. I hope in addition to Cleveland, they could use this ammo and talk with AZ about Greinke and the Giants about Bumgarner.

Keuchel and Gio are still out there, too if they truly want a lefty in the rotation.
Eflin and Pivetta both had a 1.30 WHIP while Velasquez had a 1.34. Pretty similar guys stat wise.

[EDmuch]

The Tribe will never trade a Cy Young Award winner even up for Zach Elfin. The Tribe price for Kubler has always been 2 outfielders plus young pitching talent.

[donaldorc]

The Tribe will never trade a Cy Young Award winner even up for Zach Elfin. The Tribe price for Kubler has always been 2 outfielders plus young pitching talent.

Williams, Altherr and Velásquez.

[EDmuch]

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha !!! Donald, you are killing me. Funny, funny, funny. You do understand, don't you, that the Tribe IS NOT rebuilding. They are planning on winning the AL Central again and competing against the Red Sox, Yanks and Astros in the play offs. They are not "unloading" Kubler for chump change, such as an outfielder who could not earn a starting position on the team that finished third in the NL East.

[donaldorc]

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha !!! Donald, you are killing me. Funny, funny, funny.

Glad to make you evening!

[xogfog]

More interesting to me is what it would take to get Robbie Ray from the Diamondbacks, who are rebuilding.

[Dirk41]

The White Sox not coming off their offer would seem to be based on the belief that the Phillies might prefer Harper. Our front office is obviously less leaky but their first offer to Machado probably wasn't much better. It's still a dance.

Gotta be someone with the agents leaking these offers. Seems like Machado wants to be a Yankee, they don't want to pay him, Phillies gave him the best offer, and he's stuck trying to play on side against the other.

The fact that he is even still considering the White Sox after that offer makes it seem like no one wants him. The fairness of economics of baseball aside, the fact that the Phillies could hypothetically get both Harper and Machado for the price of what it was assumed one would cost is beyond lucky. This isn't stupid spending like Middleton mentioned. It would be smart