Phillies Hot Stove 2022-23

[zambonir]

My gut feeling is Song won't work out; Dombrowski's smart, but I can't imagine not one of the 10 or 15 teams picking ahead of the Phillies didn't know about him or think about this, and they reckon he can't stick as a Rule 5 if he gets the waiver, or just don't figure he'll get the waiver. But Dombrowski knows the kid, so he figured it was worth it. As he said, it's a long shot. And if you read his quotes it explains why it could be exciting (if you think Dave Dombrowski - as well as that Red Sox front office at the time - is a good judge of baseball talent, which I reckon people do!)

The Phillies took Noah Song, the Red Sox’s fourth-round pick out of the Naval Academy in 2019, even though the right-hander has just 17 pro innings on his resume, and none since 2019. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was with the Red Sox when they drafted Song, so he was well aware of his upside.

Boston had hoped Song would be able to get out of his Naval commitment, but that has not come to pass, and he’s been on the military reserve list as he served. The Phillies can keep him on that list, so he won’t take up a spot on the 40-man roster, making it as low risk as possible.

“We made sure to double-check that he was available to be drafted, which he was,” Dombrowski said. “I knew him at the time (of the 2019 Draft). We loved him. We thought he was a No. 1 Draft choice; we thought he might be the best starting pitcher in the country. We took a gamble at that point because we thought maybe he wouldn’t have to serve, but he ended up having to do that.

“Being available like this, we really had nothing to lose. We like his talent a lot. We get to put him on the military list right off the bat, so he’s not on our 40-man roster. We figured we’d take a chance and just see what ends up happening. This is a long shot by all means, but it’s worth taking a shot, we thought. I don’t know if anybody knows exactly when he’ll be released from his service. But for the cost of the Draft, we thought it was worth taking him.”

Once Song is reinstated from the military reserve list, he is subject to the usual Rule 5 requirements, meaning he must be placed on the active Major League roster and remain there for the full season.

2022 Rule 5 Draft results: Pick by pick

[nycphils]

He probably already sees Ritalin to improve his focus.

Pretty sure that’s a no - I believe it that’s banned in the service academies so I doubt it’s permissible for aviators.

[Austinfan]

Pilots use Provigil as their stimulant of choice.

[phillychuck]

I've read that Dextroamphetamine and Modafinil are approved in the Air Force, but just for long sorties. I've also seen conversation online that dex is pretty widely used.

[julio]

I've read that Dextroamphetamine and Modafinil are approved in the Air Force, but just for long sorties. I've also seen conversation online that dex is pretty widely used.

Greenies? The open bowl in the 1970s clubhouses?

[zambonir]

Maybe he's going to the Army-Navy game? (For that matter, is Song?)

Free Agent Starter Chris Bassitt Appears to be in Philadelphia

[BaseballCat]

Twitter feed said he was in town for a wedding

[Philsmania]

After an eventful winter meetings, the hot stove has gone cold. However, the Walker signing has yet to be officially announced. Something to see there?

[zambonir]

Probably just haven't gotten him into town yet (but no reason to think he'll fail a physical). He hasn't posted on social in a week either (and his sister just had a baby).

I don't imagine we'll see much Phillies action regardless but will be interesting to see if any big names go before Christmas or not.

[Aquapong]

I didn’t see a thread and didn’t want to start a new thread. My mother in law is moving and was cleaning out the basement. She found a ball signed by the 1986 Phillies.

[julio]

I didn’t see a thread and didn’t want to start a new thread. My mother in law is moving and was cleaning out the basement. She found a ball signed by the 1986 Phillies.

First, don't be hesitant to create a thread, if there is none on the topic you want to discuss. My first reaction to your first sentence was, simply, "Why not?"

Secondly, good on your mother in law! But beyond that... is there something more you wanted to say about her discovery, or about the 1986 Phillies?

[zambonir]

I'm thinking there was gonna be a picture. But yes, by all means, start a thread. That way people can also decide if they want to see what you're posting, whereas we have no choice in this one! (No offense, I look forward to it).

[Philsmania]

I didn’t see a thread and didn’t want to start a new thread. My mother in law is moving and was cleaning out the basement. She found a ball signed by the 1986 Phillies.

First, don't be hesitant to create a thread, if there is none on the topic you want to discuss. My first reaction to your first sentence was, simply, "Why not?"

Secondly, good on your mother in law! But beyond that... is there something more you wanted to say about her discovery, or about the 1986 Phillies?

One of only two Phillies winning seasons between 1983 and 2001. For some reason, I have fond memories of that season. Phillies hovered from four games under .500 to a game or two over .500 through mid-August before moving over .500 for good on August 19. Phillies played really good baseball over the season's final two months and went 37-25 in August, September and October to finish 85-76.. Best of all, in September, they swept that despicable '86 Mets team when they and hordes of their fans invaded the Vet in anticipation of seeing the Mets clinch the NL East. But, the Phillies swept them and sent them on the road emptyhanded. I was there for the first game of that series when they hit Dwight Gooden around. The '86 Phillies was the only team in baseball that could claim a winning record agains the vile '86 Mets. Bruce Ruffin was a rookie and had his best year as a starter (and, was never quite as good again in that role). Mike Schmidt had his third MVP season. Von Hayes had a great season as well. I really thought the Phillies had found their way back to respectability, but, alas, it was a mirage and just a hiatus from the team's decline to oblivion.

[xogfog]

I would try to sign Jurickson Profar if you could get him for under 10 mil a season, on a short deal. He'd be a great RH hitting platoon OF and also plays SS and 2B, so he could get some platoon starts there too. I'd try to then move Maton with another prospect for a bullpen arm.

[Austinfan]

Given that Turner gives us another RH bat to go with Castallenos, JT, Hopkins and Bohm, no real need to pay for a RH platoon bat. And I think Maton has more upside than 30 year old Profar, coming off his career season. Phillies need to develop cheap depth with all the expensive contracts on the books, Stubbs/Sands, Sosa, Guthrie, Maton, Vierling all have shown enough to give them a shot - if they need to, they can take a contract off a small market team after the All star break.

[andyb]

Given that Turner gives us another RH bat to go with Castallenos, JT, Hopkins and Bohm, no real need to pay for a RH platoon bat.

I tend to agree. We just need to live with playing a LH bat (Marsh or Stott) against lefties that we might sit when Harper is back. I am less sure Vierling is the answer, but he is fine is a reserve/platoon role for now. Maton is not certain to make the team but is nice depth.

I spend money on a little more pitching (bullpen - one more $3 million guy) and everything else is minor league deals with a major league roster bonus. If somebody beats Hall or Vierling or Maton out for the last roster spots that is great. Just not worth paying too much for that.

[zambonir]

Make Profar lefthanded and $5 million and I give him Maton or Hall's roster spot. But I also think they can get by.

[xogfog]

Maton has less value with Stott at 2B, because it's not a platoon, as Maton also bats LH, so if they platoon Statt, it will be with Sosa. We can't field three RH outfielders so Maton won't really get much playing time unless it's a rest day for Castellenos and that's not worth keeping him on the roster. I love Maton, but I don't want to watch him wither in a meaningless role, or be sent back down. The Turner signing has kinda boxed him out, I'd rather see him moved to a team he could play with and get a RH bat that can platoon in a couple spots, like Profar.

[andyb]

We do have Sosa as a right-handed infield bat. So any second infield reserve probably does need to play both infield and outfield and it is not the worst thing if they are left-handed since Stubbs is the only other left-handed bat on the bench.

It does not have to be Maton. Profar would be better, though the playing time for this spot might be gone if Harper is back and everyone is healthy. That just may not be worth spending much money on though it would be fine to bring in competition for Maton.

[xogfog]

If Sosa could play left field, which I suppose he could being the athlete he is, he could play left and Schwarber could DH against lefties, but then you don't have a RH platoon for Stott... hence Profar solves more problems against lefties. Your bench when lefties start would be Stott, Marsh and Stubbs, so not a bad LH bench.