Phillies 2025-2026 Hot Stove Discussion

[zambonir]

Well, I guess he's due to win a championship right?

He and Thomson actually never overlapped on the Yankees. But I dunno - qualified as he is, still doesn't seem like the best look having the GM's Dad be your bench coach, especially when it's assumed Topper could be one really terrible stretch (a la the one that got him the job in the first place) or fourth straight playoff disappointment away from being done.

[Philsmania]

Well, I guess he's due to win a championship right?

He and Thomson actually never overlapped on the Yankees. But I dunno - qualified as he is, still doesn't seem like the best look having the GM's Dad be your bench coach, especially when it's assumed Topper could be one really terrible stretch (a la the one that got him the job in the first place) or fourth straight playoff disappointment away from being done.

The nepotism part is new but putting an experienced manager on the coaching staff is not. Remember prior to 2007 when Gillick hiring Jimy Williams, Davey Lopes and Art Howe (who left just a few weeks later), all of whom had prior ML managerial experience was widely seen as a shot across Charlie Manuel's bow. Suffice it to say, Charlie saved his job in 2007 and the next season.

[zambonir]

Right, it's not at all new (see also, Ryne Sandberg being promoted to the big league dugout).

The nepotism part might actually give the team pause - like, should the worst happen and Topper get gassed in-season, might be better to let someone else have the interim gig (nearly all the coaches could do it) and then let that person and Mattingly and others be part of a proper search.

[andyb]

It was a Phillies Nation rumor so who knows if it is true or just speculation on the announcement.

[julio]

[zambonir]

If memory serves the first rumored name was Shelton, and he got the Twins manager job.

Only one job left if Mattingly wants to manage again and it's the worst one.

[andyb]

Schwarber and Suarez get qualifying offers. Compensation is only a pick after the 4th round if we lose either of them, but I guess that is better than nothing. Note in 2024 there was only one pick after the 4th and it carried a slot of $539,700 (Braves).

[biggsphils]

I'm assuming there is a rule why J.T. was not tendered ?

[zambonir]

You can only be QO'ed once in your career.

[zambonir]

MLBTR with a few unpredictable predictions from individual writers here, including Tucker, Bregman and even Cease to the Phillies, even as they all think Schwarber stays ($135M/five years).

They all think Bichette stays in Toronto. None of them have Ranger returning.

2025-26 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions

Three of the four say JT comes back, one says Padres. $30M/two years.

Bader, $26M/two years (nobody predicts that with Phillies).

[zambonir]

Salisbury says Phillies have discussed it.

https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/don-mattingly-could-be-candidate-for-phillies-bench-coach

[bkox]

no idea where to put this since its not really hot stove... but..

Those details from ESPN were the only details on the altercation until a new report from sports agent Allan Walsh. During an appearance on “Agent Provocateur,” Walsh reported that, later, a “deputy” of Manfred’s allegedly threatened Harper.

“Don’t ever say that again to the commissioner,” Walsh said, quoting what was allegedly said to Harper. “Don’t ever disrespect him again publicly like that. That’s how people end up in a ditch.“

New shocking details from last summer’s confrontation between Rob Manfred and...

[zambonir]

We might already be due for a "the next labor dispute approaches" thread.

Can you imagine some Rob Manfred flunky talking like he's in the mob? Though it was probably an ex-player, from what I recall about this story and the various people pushing MLB's side.

[andyb]

This is kind of how every labor dispute is handled in America these days. Try mentioning Bezos (even respectfully) in a comment on a Washington Post editorial these days and you'll see how difficult it is to get that comment past the AI.

MLB players have more power than virtually any other sports union and it is pretty amazing how they accomplished it. The NFL has much bigger profit margins for instance. The players still win in baseball though because the owners are still making a profit. Almost all of them especially the small market teams with low payrolls.

If MLB were serious about a cap they would share much more revenue and increase the floor for each team dramatically (like to $200 million). There is enough money in baseball to do this and that might get a majority of players to go for it since so many more of them would be paid well. This type of revenue sharing would also enable baseball to implement national TV deals for local games. Instead baseball just wants to guarantee themselves more profits while offering the players less (i.e. a cap without dramatic changes elsewhere would not help the players).

[Austinfan]

Actually two negotiations.
1) share of revenue that goes to players
2) revenue sharing between teams

[bkox]

Paul skenes wins NL Cy Young unanimously. Cristopher Sanchez gets all 30 votes for 2nd place.

[zambonir]

Ah, I had trouble reading the results I saw (in an email) at first. That is pretty cool. Luzardo and Wheeler both got votes too. Wheeler probably deserved more but understandable.

[schillingfan]

I agree with AF here. They have to do the old “Ed Wade” rebuild...make moves to get younger and better at the same time. Not that Ed Wade ever followed through on that plan...

Ed Wade was terrified of the “R” word. He always insisted on trading for major league ready players, so they got younger but NEVER better.Four major eagle ready players do not equal the talent of a Schilling or a Rolen. He never made a trade for a highly touted prospect. The one good thing about Wade’s timidity was that he also never traded a Phillies prospect, which gave us our 2008 team. I thing he was afraid to make a mistake, so trading a prospect and having them become a star terrified him, just like trading a star fr a prospect who became a bust was also bad. Being afraid of failure makes for mediocrity.

[Philsmania]

I agree with AF here. They have to do the old “Ed Wade” rebuild...make moves to get younger and better at the same time. Not that Ed Wade ever followed through on that plan...

Ed Wade was terrified of the “R” word. He always insisted on trading for major league ready players, so they got younger but NEVER better.Four major eagle ready players do not equal the talent of a Schilling or a Rolen. He never made a trade for a highly touted prospect. The one good thing about Wade’s timidity was that he also never traded a Phillies prospect, which gave us our 2008 team. I thing he was afraid to make a mistake, so trading a prospect and having them become a star terrified him, just like trading a star fr a prospect who became a bust was also bad. Being afraid of failure makes for mediocrity.

Yes, but, at the same time, how many times do teams trade prospects who don't work out? I don't mind trading for young up and coming ML players. In the Rolen deal, the Phillies did alright getting Polanco. In fact, they may have arguably won that deal if he was our 3Bman from 2002-12 (no Bell signing). The Schilling deal wasn't so hot but the Phillies were over the barrel (Schilling had a list of only six teams he could be traded to and the Diamondbacks was the only team on that list which made a serious effort to trade for him).

[zambonir]

It was fine that the Phillies were sort of in win-now mode then, they just weren't as close as they thought (and, perhaps, prevented themselves from being closer by not bringing up the younger players they already had sooner). And both deals were not as good as they could have been due to the players wanting out.

Things are really different now, and I don't mean for the Phillies. Teams don't trade major league-ready prospects, and said prospects are younger than ever. The only reliable way to get better and younger at the same time is when a team like the Rays or Pirates dumps their guys a few years before free agency.