Phillies 2025-2026 Hot Stove Discussion

[jimbomill]

they do not have the payroll flexibility to acquire another big-time free agent

I wouldn't mind Bellinger ....

[zambonir]

As Dombrowski is already defensively saying, it's not running it back if Crawford, Miller and Painter are all ultimately part of the line-up. Hardly surprising they were never gonna sign a co-called big-time free agent other than Schwarber, at least not without other moves. Even bringing back Bader for what he's looking for was going to be a stretch. Also why Ranger's really never been on the table.

Nor should they sign a QO free agent (so not Tucker or Bichette).

If they trade Bohm that would get them closer. But trading a more valuable player (Marsh? Strahm? Stott?) for an OF a more likely path. Or you trade prospects but you've gotten some back for Bohm.

Bellinger's probably not a fit as a LHB. Much as I'd love to see them go full Dodgers, signing either him or Bregman along with the three existing high $ older guys would just cause more problems down the line. Then again, the whole point of spending that much money is to be able to buy your way out of mistakes like Castellanos and Walker, which is what they are faced with this year.

[andyb]

I wouldn't mind Bellinger ....

I think Schwarber coming back means they pay attention only to right-handed bats. And if they decide they can't afford Bregman that probably means outfielders (Bader but other corner types to replace Castellanos also).

[zambonir]

It's actually too bad things soured so much with Nick because it seems pretty likely they are going to have to release him, and he'd be not only fine, but potentially great, as Marsh's platoon partner in either corner. .

If they bring back Bader, not sure there's a corner OF type bat in the mix (both because they can't afford one and because the market is so thin to begin with). And if Crawford is really our CF they'd be done. Either way odds are we're gonna end up with another Hays type, or a RH Kepler (which would not be bad if also a good fielder). Of course Harrison Bader has also historically been that guy, not the guy we saw hit for six weeks.

[jimbomill]

I think Schwarber coming back means they pay attention only to right-handed bats.

That is a good point < sound of air rushing out of a balloon >

[andyb]

I think they could have interest in Adolis Garcia who is kind of Castellanos with better defense these days. Their priorities also might shift depending on whether they see Crawford as a CF or in a corner.

[andyb]

MLB scouting report on the rule 5 we just drafted:

Zach McCambley, RHP, Marlins

A third-rounder taken out of Coastal Carolina in 2020, McCambley gave up starting for the bullpen in 2023, and he’s coming off his best season as a pro, finishing with a 2.90 ERA, .208 BAA, 1.097 WHIP and 12.0 K/9, to go along with a tremendously trimmed down 3.2 BB/9 rate. He relies on his mid-80s slider that produced a 51-percent miss rate in 2025, according to Synergy, while also throwing an effective upper-80s cutter and a 93-94 mph fastball that touches 97 mph.

Maybe not quite as high end stuff as McGarry (selected by the Nationals) but also likely more major league ready.

[andyb]

Looks like we are acquiring a 40-man DFA arm from the Rays also.

Phillies To Acquire Yoniel Curet

Top 20 guy in the Rays system before an injury filled 2025.

[zambonir]

We give back Tommy McCollum

[zambonir]

Seems like a pretty solid pick-up for a Rule 5 in terms of his age and experience. Maybe he doesn't stick, but no different from taking a flier on a guy who is out of options.

[andyb]

These new moves use 3 of our 8 open spots on the 40-man (Schwarber, McCambley, Curet).

Curet has one option left so seems a pretty good AAA risk. He has better stuff and worse command than McCollum if he could ever put things together. Another high velocity arm (more than McCambley).

[zambonir]

With JT to come. But also, Casty still on there. Remains to be seen if both Rojas and Wilson make it to April too.

[BostonRoss]

I kind of feel like Wilson's time has come and gone. Kemp has passed him, not to mention anyone else they might add this off-season. Too bad he got hurt last spring.

[fish]

Looks like we are acquiring a 40-man DFA arm from the Rays also.

mlbtraderumors.com

Phillies To Acquire Yoniel Curet

Phillies have a new arm. Click over to MLB Trade Rumors to learn more about him.

Top 20 guy in the Rays system before an injury filled 2025.

I love when they go shopping off the Rays' 40-man pinch list. He's like as if a 6'8" tall got compressed down into someone 6'2. Huge torso and and one mean fastball that sure looks like it has great pitch qualities.

https://www.milb.com/montgomery/video/yoniel-curet-strikes-out-seven?t=t421-default-vtp

[zambonir]

Yeah he's out of options. Rojas they can still stash but they might just trade him, depending how the OF shakes out.

[allentown]

If he could hit LHP ln 2026 as well as he did in 2024, then he could be a plus platoon OF. OF course, if he hits LHP as well as he did in 2025, not ss much. There is, however, the problem that Castellanos remains a star in his own mind, who feels entitled to create fuss if lifted late in the game for a defensive replacement or not allowed to play every game. I can't see him ever accepting a reasonable role with the Phillies. He's an underperforming team cancer. He must disappear. If that means a release, then that is what must be done.

[zambonir]

Yeah, I think he probably has some bat for 200 ABs from one side, but he probably still thinks he has some bat for 500 ABs from both sides. Even if he hadn't behaved so poorly (which he did) and it could be smoothed over (it probably could) he and the Phillies are both better off moving on, and he should also hope to land on a team that can DH him. He's getting his $20 million either way, and if he has a better year will get traded to a contender in July (assuming one doesn't give him a shot to begin with).

in theory if it's darn near impossible for the Phillies to find a decent RHB OF it should be not be impossible to trade him but it will probably be a while (until some team finds they've missed out on all the FAs).

Apparently he's also been working out at 1B.

[andyb]

Matt on the rule 5 draft. He has Curet just outside our top 10. Bullpen full time and probably one year to figure it out, but he might have a better chance than McGarry for instance. Note McGarry was a UVA guy so that might have been one of the reasons the nearby Nats drafted him. The Nats pitching is a mess so he has a chance to stick, but as Matt said a bullpen role is not one he'll likely be good at.

2025 Rule 5 Draft Results, Phillies Lose Griff McGarry, Select Zach McCambley,...

Steve Potter's thoughts here also:

12/10/25 : 2025 Rule 5 Draft

[zambonir]

More nutritional advice from the Phillies roster

https://www.tiktok.com/@garrettstubbs21/video/7582697262304873741

[andyb]

Nothing really new here but DD seems to almost guarantee Crawford will start somewhere in the OF and he really likes Kemp's bat. I think they might trade Bohm and put Kemp at 3B to give them a half season to figure out where Miller fits in. The outfield also needs more power somewhere.

The Phillies are sticking with a veteran core in 2026. But this time the kids...