Phillies Hot Stove Discussion 2021-22

[zambonir]

I'm gonna win a couple of hundred bucks if Bryce takes MVP so I guess I'm good for at least 50 on that.

https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/sports/pro/2021/11/03/could-have-been-phillies-instead-braves-doing-more-deadline-mlb-world-series/6252569001

I think the answer to this story above is yes, but the Phillies didn't have players to trade (he makes a lot of the fact that the Braves didn't give up any top prospects but their #19 was not the same as our #19).

[EDmuch]

While I recognize that the Phils did not have that much to trade from at the deadline, it is rather amazing how little the Braves had to give up to get the OF reinforcements they did acquire. Certainly Rosario and Duvall were very inexpensive to acquire.

[BostonRoss]

If the Phillies got two of those outfielders and the Braves didn’t, the season would have been a lot more interesting.

[julio]

As expected, the MLBPA today announced that 160 players have become free agents under Article XX of the Major League Collective Bargaining Agreement. Among these are seven (former) Phillies:

Cam Bedrosian
Archie Bradley
Freddy Galvis
Ian Kennedy
Bradley Miller
Matthew Moore
Héctor Neris

All officially free agents as of this morning. With this, the 40-man roster stands at 38.

[bkox]

#Phillies have declined club options for the 2022 season on outfielders Odúbel Herrera and Andrew McCutchen. Herrera is eligible for arbitration; McCutchen is a free agent.

— Scott Lauber ( @ScottLauber ) November 3, 2021

[zambonir]

Wasting no time, I like it.

I still gotta think Odubel is a non-tender too, as his likely arbitration award combined with the buyout wouldn't represent much of a savings. Not that the flawed but competent everyday player he was isn't worth that $ amount, but he'd probably be best in more of a platoon role next year, and his baggage likely depresses his value on the open market considerably. Best option if the Phillies even want him would be for the two sides to make a deal immediately, something cheaper with PA or games started escalators.

[LoneStarPhan]

From the official website of the Phillies.

Phils decline '22 options for Cutch, Herrera

For the right price, I could see bringing either or both back. I expect they non-tender Herrera, so both would be free agent signings if brought back. Don't know what to expect this off season and what salary range either of them might be able to get on the open market.

[zambonir]

I imagine those are both guys that will remain unsigned if it is a slow market/lockout. Cutch needs the DH to become official too. Honestly I want nothing to do with him if he still sees himself as an everyday player (let alone wants to be paid like one) but if he finds nobody is offering that I'm sure he'd be interested (but might also have better options).

[xogfog]

I dunno, I kinda like McCutchen, if he would come back at a significant discount.

[flyers19rw]

It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Pirates finding a way to bring him back.

[DurhamBull]

Cutch seems like a great guy in a lot of ways. I'm glad he's on the team. I didn't know anything about him before he joined the Phils, and I've enjoyed what I've seen of him. He crushed lefties in 2021 but otherwise didn't put up very good numbers. His defense is just OK. How much should the Phils pay for a RH power bat in a reserve role, and can they afford to use a roster spot on a player like that?

[zambonir]

I'm sure Cutch would enjoy going home, but he's also probably ring-chasing. Unless a team does offer him eight figures and a starting role, which seems unlikely.

The question then is, are the Phillies a team he can ring-chase with?

[bkox]

The question then is, are the Phillies a team he can ring-chase with?

Depends if the Phillies have a contract with cracker jack and if cracker jack still puts rings in the boxes

[allentown]

combined with the buyout

The buyout shouldn't enter into the discussion. It is a sunk cost, whatever direction the team takes. The only real questions are 1)does his value match or exceed the likely arb salary and 2) what are the odds they can re-sign him for significantly less than arb amount

[zambonir]

Well sure it's a sunk cost but his projected arbitration award is a tick higher than his option (11.6 million to $11.5 million), and that's without the buyout. I think if they really wanted him on the team they would have exercised it. Now their only shot is to say, "listen, we've stuck by you, you don't want to deal with the drama of going to a new market and we've already paid you $2.5 million. Sign this $6 million deal with incentives or we're going to non-tender you, and good luck beating that in free agency."

[andyb]

Keith Law Top 50 free agents:

The 50 best MLB free agents of 2021-22, starting with Carlos Correa: Keith Law

No predictions or team specifics. He loves Correa more than Seager for the defense. Things Marte (13) is a $20 million player. Schwarber 20th and Conforto right behind him as we look at LF bats. Iglesias the top closer (31) in a thin field of closers. Jansen (35), Kimbrel (39). Cutch at 43 and no Hector on the list.

[fish]

I realize there is no shot and a first baseman is the last thing they need, but Freddie Freeman might be just as impactful on the Phillies as anyone else they could go after for his ability and presence to make some clubhouse culture improvements.

[bkox]

I would be SHOCKED if Freeman doesnt re-sign with the Braves

[zambonir]

For whatever reason it feels like the narrative has turned towards the possibility that he won't though. Maybe that's because of the World Series win - if he left now nobody would really begrudge. And in the modern game nobody would also blame the Braves if they didn't want overpay.

Would you really want the Phillies to, even? A 32 year-old, $22-25 million AAV player, would you go four years?

[fish]

Would you really want the Phillies to, even? A 32 year-old, $22-25 million AAV player, would you go four years?

If Freeman doesn't get 140 million+ I'd be shocked. I know he'll go back to the Braves, but I wouldn't mind running up the price on them.