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

[bigegypt0417]

I still believe the Phils have not given up on the idea of signing both of them, this is merely a negotiating tactic.

I think it's not the fact they can't sign both...it's the fact they want to sign others...I think the Phillies still want keuchel and it seems like they also want kimbrel...the Phillies seem to be looking to build the modern bullpen where you can get 3 innings a night out of them...

Bleacher Report on Twitter

[California_Dreamin]

I don't believe it, just don't. Nightengale just posted a tweet that the Phillies Executives have visions of signing Harper, Keuchel and Kimbrel. Now please tell me when this Phillie organizational group EVER shows their hand, it never happens. This is a leak...probably meant for Machado, who is the one guy who the Phils feel is really dragging his feet [I am not saying he is, but considering he went shopping before Christmas, he sure is late in giving a team a Christmas present.]

And I simply do not believe Kimbrel is on their radar screen, can't believe it. This Phillie group has never gone crazy for a reliever, my gosh they lost out on a couple of hurlers because they wouldn't go 3 years...and now they are going to cave on 4? As for Keuchel, can't see the Phils going 5 years for him and Boras is not going to settle for 3 years in January.

And for the life of me, why would you pay big money on declining talents when you can spend just about the same amount for a future 26 year old HOFer. I think they want both but would never say it publicly. Why would they?

This is the perfect storm equation for the Phils we will never again see a Phillie team with tons of money to spend and two future 26 year old HOFers ready to be gobbled up. It will never happen again in Middleton's lifetime.

If he can get both, he will.

[andyb]

I'd rather have the second star than both Keuchel and Kimbrel. We already have a deep bullpen. Any problems can be addressed midseason if it came to that. Keuchel at a big discount would not be bad - just think he is not a good candidate for 5 years if that is what it takes to get him.

[saycheese]

Is Kimbrel a Boras client? If so I would think the leak could also be coming from Boras. Heck it could be coming from a rival team who is on a free agent with the Phillies we don't know about.

[bigegypt0417]

Or it could be the Phillies actually are looking to make the moves when they only cost money.

[arpax]

Jon Heyman on Twitter

[Philsmania]

Bleacher Report is citizen journalism. Take everything from there with a big grain of salt.

[donaldorc]

Phils would forever rue the day they had the chance to get both and simply settled for one. Foolish and short sighted.

Please make it happen! Pretty please!

[zambonir]

The Bleacher Report has been an actual news organization for a long time but they are just parroting Nightengale in this case and he is also frequently wrong (let's wait and see if he's right that Harper rather than Machado is coming here). Also as Matt Winkelman pointed out his tweet doesn't say "Phillies" executives. Basically it's possible that some drunk assistant GM for the Mets said that as a joke and that's still good enough to put the rumor out there.

Similarly, the Heyman tweet has no more substance than any of us posting on this board that the Phillies are going to want Trout, as we do all the time.

I do think the Phillies are still interested in Keuchel but it will be on Arrieta-like terms, late. Kimbrel is not a Boras client.

[bkox]

Buster Olney (Buster_ESPN)

[Patchmk88]

I hope we beat that.

[kmc1019]

If 7 years is longest that anyone is willing to give Machado, Phillies should offer 7 years and $225M total and give 72 hours to accept. It would be a huge win for Phillies if they can land Machado and Harper (or Trout or Arenado or Betts) without having to commit to paying in the player's likely twilight production years beyond say 33 years old.

[saycheese]

Nightingale is has a similar tweet to Olney however he says that the White Sox don't want to bid against themselves? That is an interesting piece of information. considering we all believe the Philies are in on Machado

[Patchmk88]

The thing is if the numbers are that low, I think the Yankees will resist and throw their hat into the ring.

[bigegypt0417]

The thing is if the numbers are that low, I think the Yankees will resist and throw their hat into the ring.

Even if they do...if the Phillies engage they will offer more. There is no doubt in my mind he wants to sign with the Yankees...he just isn't going to take a significant haircut to do it.

[xogfog]

I would love the Phillies to get Mike Trout, but i don't think it should happen unless they could trade for him this offseason. I don't want them to have to sign him to a huge contract starting in his age 32 season. I'm not sure he'll be able to stay in CF, which means his value will be a little less, but he will still demand a huge contract, no matter how much he'd like to play here. He also throws his body around which as he ages might start leading to injury issues. I'd much rather get the two 26 year old all stars now and see how the Trout situation pans out in 2020 or 2021.

[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.