Phillies Hot Stove Discussion 2021-22

[Aquapong]

Plenty of dead wood on the 40 that can be removed for the new additions. I count at least 7 or 8 spots that could be freed up. First off, MLB doesn’t seem to have updated Romero’s moved to the 60 day dl. That might be one spot there.

Emanuel, Lopez, Jones, Moss, Sheriff, and Nelson will not mean anything to the team. Haseley is damaged goods.

Moniak would probably get claimed by someone who thinks they can fix him. Same with Sanchez and Morales. I don’t think we would realistically Dfa these guys.

Stubbs or Sands would probably be last to go.

[BaseballCat]

I would not be sorry to see any of these names to go if we got an impact addition. If we can afford the money, I would prefer Bryant as I think he is a decent defender over what is left for 3B / OF. Plus I think that combo with Bryce makes for a motivated pair. If we can afford him, I would prefer that over getting rid of our few prospects. I am hoping Bohm can be worked out as I am not ready to give up on him. We have to make progress in using the up years of Bryce, Wheeler and hopefully Nola.

[allentown]

Herrera had almost 2 bWAR last season. I prefer this signing to a trade.

[EDmuch]

It is nice to talk about trades, but as our discussion with the A's reflects we do not have much to trade other than a few strong prospects with whom we should not want to part.

[allentown]

Per Jeff Passan, Hand is now a Phillie. My concern with Hand is that he stunk in Aug/Sep last year the way that Ian Kennedy stunk for the Phillie

Really only partially correct. He stunk with Toronto. Pitching for the Mets in September, he did quite well in 13+ IP to finish the season. This greatly reduces my concern.

[andyb]

My concern with Hand is that he stunk in Aug/Sep last year the way that Ian Kennedy stunk for the Phillies.

That was more July/August that he stunk. I am fine with a 1-year deal here. He is actually not that old also.

[fish]

If they were to get Bryant, they would have moved the needle far enough that I can start to talk about Chapman. I guess the question is if any other club regards him high enough to give up any of their top prospects. For Chapman and Trevino I could do Abel/Rojas and whatever else to fill out the deal. I'm sure an A's fan would spit at the notion.

[Austinfan]

I'm not trading Abel, Painter or Rojas for almost anyone.
It's not like we're loaded with top end talents in our system - we can't afford to trade any potential 1st tier players.

[bkeich]

How can a team have the reigning MVP in RF and still have a horrifically bad outfield?

The 2019 and 2020 Phillies were unbelievably bad in most advanced defensive metrics. Somehow this team is actually shaping up to be worse defensively, with many of the same players here, just older. Add in Bohm’s adventures at 3B and God-Knows-What-Bum in RF and we’ll, we can win if our pitchers throw a 27 Up, 27 strikeout game, but other than that…

I have been impressed with Herrera’s effort when he doesn’t have a job and has to fight his way “back”. When he is considered a “lock” on the team he has showed up out of shape and put minimal effort into his job. Let’s hope I am wrong.

We really need right handed power pitchers, because if any right handed batter pulls the ball we are in immense trouble. We literally need every opponent to hit the ball to RF, it is the only defensive position where we are even average (not counting Catcher).

[fish]

I'm not trading Abel, Painter or Rojas for almost anyone.
It's not like we're loaded with top end talents in our system - we can't afford to trade any potential 1st tier players.

They are good prospects by Phillies standards, but so far they've just shown promise without the performance to support much confidence. I'd hate to lose any of them (and I'm more than likely going to watch more Phillies minor league games than major league games), but even a big free agent addition is just one step forward. If they do that, and only that, then it's a wasted half-measure. No way I trade any of them for a half-measure but if it's to try to push the needle close to the finish line...well, then it's time to try. But again, that's only in combination with other additions to strengthen the roster.

[allentown]

They are good prospects by Phillies standards, but so far they've just shown promise without the performance to support much confidence.

Which means you'd be trading them dirt cheap. The only reason one trades young, high-end talent is because one is so pessimistic that one can't believe one's development/training/medical staff are able to progress them. If DD believes that, then he hired the wrong people.

With an MLB team short of 85-wins, now is definitely not the time to trade our best young talents. A $10 million, iffy guy like Chapman is not the guy to trade for, even if the Phillies were closer to the finish line. Spend the $ on FA's, who cost only $ (with comp for QO players vanishing next year, the Phillies shouldn't sign any comp-required FAs this year).

[Aquapong]

I read they were having Abel purposely pitch backwards at times and his season was basically ignoring results and working on his pitches. I’m no worried about the numbers yet. When he gets to Reading I’ll worry about numbers. But just watch him…easy velocity, filthy movement.

Personally I’m not as high on Painter…he’s more of a straight power pitcher.

[zambonir]

I would like to hear that Herrera's salary is low enough to suggest his role is not a given. But I also would not be prepared to just hand that role to Haseley or Moniak. It would be nice to think that one or the other of them could be a 1.0 major leaguer this year, and that might also be what they get out of Herrera (let's hope that's his floor and the late 2018-2019 performance is behind him). But it's also possible Herrera puts up 3.0 WAR. He's still reasonably young and neither of the last two seasons were normal for him. If he does that the Phillies will look pretty smart, especially if the older and more expensive Kiermaier isn't better.

[Austinfan]

Patience with Painter, he's younger with a body that can still fill out (not just added velocity, but stamina to maintain velocity over 100+ pitches).

[Austinfan]

They also want to think in terms of keeping CF open if Rojas or Muzzioti emerge this season, they're good enough defensively that you could live with offensive growing pains if it allows you to fill LF with a good hit/limited range guy or platoon.

[EDmuch]

Wow !!! Braves just obtained Mat Olsen from the A's. So I guess they are going to get Freddie Freeman leave. Kind of a shocker.

[zambonir]

Acquiring Kiermaier would have left CF plenty open for either of those guys (they ain't coming this year). And if you acquire someone like Laureano you either trade him or trade the younger player when the time comes.

It's a needle that can't be threaded, but bottom line, barring a big change in fortune or roster construction: Aaron Nola, JT Realmuto, Zach Wheeler and, most likely, Rhys Hoskins and Zack Eflin - are never going to play in a World Series for the Phillies, let alone do so with Abel, Painter or Rojas as their teammates. So what's the goal for the next two seasons really? Same as it has been since 2019 I guess, wild card contention and luck. It's almost enough to make me miss when the team stunk because they were cheap.

[zambonir]

That's in the other thread.

But do we want to take a run at Freeman? Plenty of ABs for him and Rhys between the two spots. Obviously not cheap (or short).

[fish]

Which means you'd be trading them dirt cheap. The only reason one trades young, high-end talent is because one is so pessimistic that one can't believe one's development/training/medical staff are able to progress them. If DD believes that, then he hired the wrong people.

Well, it's not dirt cheap if you are getting back good big leaguers with some control. "You shouldn't trade any of them because they could be good in 3 years" doesn't help a team trying to win now. Again, I'm not suggesting they give anyone away, I'm just in favor of a deal if it is part of a larger spectrum of deals to improve the roster into a viable contender.

[Taudawg]

Baring a trade, I think Bohm is moving to 1b. Sounds like Didi might be at 3b if Stott shows he’s ready.

Did not realize link was posted in separate thread.

Shortstop competition? Didi Gregorius says he was told by Phillies to prepare...