2024 Phillies Season Discussion

[Austinfan]

So I guess they do like Dahl. He earned his shot, now it's up to him to take advantage of the opportunity.

[andyb]

Not sure it is that the love Dahl. He is just their best option at the time. They recalled Wilson too with both Marsh and Clemens on the IL.

Actually a good baseball time to do this with the extra off days in the 10-day period. Now I am curious if they get Trea back for London as they get a 27th man that has to be a hitter.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

That’s quite a change in itinerary for Wilson and Dahl this week. Congrats to both of them for getting to see London with the major league team.

[zambonir]

It will just be interesting to see how it plays out in terms of how it affects the make-up of the bench once everyone is back. Clemens was already likely returning to AAA once Turner came back (remember when that was a debate?) but can Dahl or Wilson give them something to think about longer-term? And will Wilson barely play or actually get a look over Merrifield?

[andyb]

Marsh's injury did seem a little more serious than Kody's. So there is a path for Clemens to stay with the team after Turner is back if they like his bat more than Dahl's. Not sure they like the defense from any of them so I imagine we'll see Pache against all left-handed pitching somewhere and as a defensive sub on other nights.

Happy for Wilson. Besides the roughly $4,000 a day he gets for the major league minimum, he also gets a $70,000 bonus for being on the London roster. Nice reward for a kid who never got big money along the way as a 17th round college draft pick.

[bkox]

Bryce Harper named the NL Player of the Month for May

[zambonir]

That's awesome about the London bonuses.

I would think they pick Dahl over Clemens because he's an OF and he can't be optioned. Clemens originally came up for Turner, the need to find him playing time has been pushed aside by the greater need to find it for Sosa, and they don't want him to be a starting or even platoon OF, just a guy with OF in his quiver. Doesn't mean it won't change over the next 2-8 weeks but they won't want to expose Dahl to waivers until they have to. Even if he doesn't continue to hit .667.

[phillychuck]

Bryce Harper named the NL Player of the Month for May

Dahl ahead of him now in June...

[andyb]

ESPN trade deadline article has us looking outfield.

Passan's early MLB trade deadline preview: The latest intel on all 30 teams

Kyle Tucker among the names thrown out. He'd be expensive (like Crawford plus Painter plus Caba expensive). One more year of arbitration before free agency. Still intriguing to think about. Might make us a little too left-handed in the lineup.

[phillychuck]

The price you suggest is too steep for one year of control. I would pass.

[David_Criss]

Everybody needs pitching this is the chance to trade Walker......Man if it were only that easy.

Castellanos, Walker and Merrifield are going to cost the Phillies big bucks, limiting trade options, whether they are wearing Phillies pin stripes or not. They can rid themselves of the bad players, but not their contracts......Here is hoping there is some Dombrowski magic left.

[andyb]

The price you suggest is too steep for one year of control. I would pass.

I don't disagree. Tucker is one of the best players in baseball and we could use a RF upgrade. My gut says they should do very little if they get guys like Turner and Marsh back in the next few weeks but we kind of know our GM often goes big at these deadlines.

[zambonir]

Things would really have to fall into place and be a critical need for them to go big on an OF, versus a more modest platoon/bench bat (ideally to replace Merrifield and/or Pache). They probably don't want to go over the last threshold either (though often the other team will pick up a lot of $. Except then you're giving up more talent too).

I don't know that Tucker would really cost that much - rumor season always starts with the biggest names being traded for 2-3 of a team's top 10 prospects and then ends with it being more like 1 at most (and then 2 from the Top 20 or 30). The year of control counts for something but I don't think you do that unless you're planning to extend him and have figured out what do about Nick.

I wouldn't say DD has gone big with the Phillies yet, really. He's been careful and judicious and only the Marsh deal involved a top prospect, for tons and tons of control. The way this team is playing does make you think big swing but if they are already going to win the division that one big deadline add isn't necessarily going to have much impact - especially not in a short playoff series.

I think it will be a lot like last year, a bullpen piece if the need is clear (right now it's not and they even let a guy who could have been the next Jeff Hoffman go for free) and the OF they didn't get last year. But a long way to go with Walker and how all the injuries and replacements play out.

[Callison]

Great game yesterday. Home to first DP which Wheeler nearly threw away, Rojas throws a guy out at home AND hits, Dahl debut. The level of intensity was there too for the Brewers who look headed for the playoffs. Some of the camera coverage of the fans shows what's going on so well - in one far, upperleft corner a couple teenagers were dancing between innings.

As Kruk noted, Dahl brought his AAA performance to the Phils - did not tense up back in the bigs. A really good omen, IMHO. With the addition of Sosa, the OF is getting crowded WITH HITTERS! Dahl has time to prove himself. Relief pitcher seems a more critical need rather than another OF right now.

It is likely true that Sanchez will not be moved to the pen, that Walker will remain at #4 and Turnbull will remain in long relief. The Phils' first reaction to a problem is to stare at it. But the suggested changes would make the team stronger.

[gmwannabe]

Way, Way, Way too much for Tucker. Boyd, Simmons and Petit. That sounds better. Where would he play? or just get him as a free agent.
gm

[andyb]

He'd play RF and I am guessing you are making a joke with your offer because none of those 3 are likely to make it much beyond AA much less the majors.

[Austinfan]

Miller, Crawford and Painter should be untouchables.
They will fill spots where the Phillies may need cap relief in a couple years or plug holes.

Doubt they make a move until July, with Marsh back, if Dahl is for real or Sosa looks comfortable in LF, no point in adding an OF. Clemons off the IL gives you a LH bat at 3B/2B/1B. Marchan off to a good start if you need a catcher.

Probably go for a RP if the back of the pen looks shaky or Turnbull has to return to the rotation.
But they'll look at the veterans in Lehigh first and see if they can find another Hoffman (Ruiz?).

[BostonRoss]

Tucker to the Phillies is clickbait.

[andyb]

It is not clickbait. It is an ESPN article that assesses what the Phillies want and what the GM has done in the past. Houston is not selling yet also. It is more reasonable speculation than clickbait. With a year plus of control he'd go for less than Soto but more than most people here would offer. The question is more what Dombrowski would do if he decided to upgrade in RF and that is just a tough question to answer. His history does not suggest he'd get a platoon bat for a marginal upgrade. His history suggests going for a starter with an extra year of control ideally.

[BostonRoss]

I don’t think there’s any chance of the Phillies acquiring Tucker unless Marsh is out a long time or someone else gets hurt. I don’t recall Dombrowski giving up on an expensive player he signed who still has a few years left. The Phillies have not shown any inclination to give up on Castellanos.