Phillies Hot Stove Discussion 2021-22

[allentown]

If that's true, it is bad communication and management skill.

[Taudawg]

This blogger suggests that the Phillies nontendering Torreyes may have been Dombrowski's way of sending a message to Girardi.

I read this blog as well and thankfully, (IMO) passive aggressive doesn't seem to be Dombrowski's style. I find Dombrowski to be very open and honest. Maybe a bit too much.

[fish]

I agree on the premise on them wanting Didi.

No way you get kimbrel for Didi. Teams will offer more than that.

They picked up his option with the explicit intent on trying to recover some of what they traded to get him in another deal.

[Taudawg]

I can't see a straight Didi for Kimbrel swap, but I could see a variation. The Sox need LH bats and 2B is a need.

Baseball Trade Values has a -9 on Didi, while Kimbrel is +.6 a pretty wide margin

[zambonir]

I wouldn't put any stock in any Fansided blog post. It was a 100% logical baseball move.

[zambonir]

More of Dombrowski's comments. It seems pretty likely one if not both of Moniak and Haseley end up in a trade.

Dave Dombrowski's second Phillies offseason: a 'better pulse' will guide...

Hey, why not trade Segura for Kimbrel? Of course that only really works if you sign a FA SS (then Didi could play 2B with Stott on the way).

(The comments in this story also mention that I see. Along with the reminder that Scott Kingery still exists. Dombrowski hasn't mentioned him.)

[flyers19rw]

On the Kimbrell for Didi topic, at their age and with their contracts being what they are, the deal makes sense. Kimbrell ($16M for one year) wants to close too that he can have another payday. I doubt if he's interested in being a set up guy or sharing the closing opportunities. Didi ($15M+for one year) is in a similar boat-needs to play to make another payday. WSox need a MIF; Phillies need a closer. It fits in many ways.

[Taudawg]

Segura's trade value listed as -4.1 still doesn't match up well for straight trade for Kimbrel. Segura's value is highest to the Phillies. Other teams can sign Johnathan Villar or Freddy Galvis for a fraction of the price. Not as good as Segura, but better value.

If Didi is a -9 as a SS, his value is likely worse at 2b. Any trade for Kimbrel will likely need prospects included and for that reason, I'm out.

[zambonir]

Except for the equal value part. Phillies would have to sweeten the deal, but it would be worth it to both get Kimbrel and shed most (probably not all) of Didi's contract. Didi is a guy with no trade value right now. Kimbrel has plenty or the Sox would have simply passed up on the option.

Other than the shorter-term commitment there is really no reason to give up talent for a $16 million closer when you can just sign one in free agency (unless it is a QO guy) so we'll see how hot the market really is. But if the Phillies' unloading Didi allows them to sign Correa or afford their dream LF/CF, it's worth considering. Unloading Segura provides that same value. (Of course, they could also do those things by just paying the tax).

Gelb's column says DD is mostly focused on trades right now, though obviously it is early, and likely to be a very long and slow free agency process.

[EDmuch]

I wonder how Elgin’s condition factors into the off-season plans. Does not sound like he will be ready until at least a couple of months into the season. Do they audition Falter in training camp? Or go with a couple of junk veterans like they did last year? A closer & 2 starting OF is already a big off-season load.

[zambonir]

The Eflin thing is tough. But Dombrowski doesn't have to take two $4 million fliers, plus, of course, he doesn't have to pick so badly. Maybe one $8 million guy and one minor league invite for depth gets you through it, and the former is more of a clear upgrade over the guys from last year (when it was actually three different $4 milllion fungibles, plus Howard).

And if they do stick with Didi and Stott there might be more money to spend on a pitcher (besides the bullpen).

Eflin also might be ready to pitch by the time the first MLB game is actually played.

Of course all of this is talk for now. There's no reason for Dombrowski to say anything other than what he said about Stott. It motivates both Stott and Didi, and it sends a message to the free agent shortstops that they're not desperate.

[Austinfan]

They probably won't need a 5th starter until May, Wheeler, Suarez, Nola, Gibson.
So they could add a couple guys, see how they look, see how the young pitchers look in AAA, and not panic to start the season.

Medina and Sanchez got cameos last year, but I think Crouse and McArthur are at least a year away.
Someone to watch is Miller in Reading, he's 24 so if he turns it on they won't worry as much about rushing him.
After that you have guys like Eastman, Lindlow and Skirrow.

So Dombro will want to at least build up some depth in AAA with veteran arms b/c his best minor league arms will probably start the season in Jersey and Clearwater.

[bkox]

Remember that Bailey Falter was going to get a shot in the rotation before he ended up being a victim of his own covidiotocity

[BostonRoss]

I’m not sure they should trade Segura for Kimbrel. He’s the Phillies’ best defensive regular (other than JT). If they could trade him to save enough money to put toward someone like Correa, that would be fine, but I don’t see a Segura trade saving money. Either the Phils would have to pay part of his salary or the return would include another player with a high salary.

[zambonir]

Well, I think you trade Segura as a sell-high type proposition. If he's a 2.5 (FG) to 3.5 (BBRef) player again this year he's worth his salary. But I am trading him because I think he might not be able to do that again, and because 2B is not that hard a position to fill (and we can fill it with Didi. It's not like Segura is a great defensive 2B, he was just better than most of the other Phillies at other positions, and better there than at SS).

Problem is if most other teams see it that way too, than yeah, they won't want to pick up all his salary.

I just think there has to be one creative trade involving major leaguers and, sure, $, on both sides. Maybe it's Segura or Didi, maybe it's someone unexpected. Obviously the DH means there is less urgency/more ABs to go around if we carry an extra middle IF who can (theoretically) hit.

[Austinfan]

I'm not worried about Segura, as he's aged he's improved his plate discipline and his power, one key to aging gracefully as a hitter - knowing which pitches you shouldn't swing at.

Didi on the other hand is a bit of a free swinger, which is why I think even if healthy, he won't bounce back all the way - if you have a habit of swinging at bad pitches, you can get away with it with good bat speed, but as you age, you'll be exposed.

Problem is Stott is also a LH, so it's either/or, since a platoon is not in the cards.

[EDmuch]

However all of this goes, for the first time in a long time, I have faith in the course that the FO will choose. DD has a track record of success, from his interview he has a very clear idea of what he wants to do to make the team better, and he has such extensive contacts around the the league that he has access to sources we could never know about. Hopefully for once in a long time, the off-season is encouraging rather than disappointing.

[BostonRoss]

I don’t object to trading Segura necessarily. I wouldn’t trade him for Kimbrel, or for another player who makes similar money unless it’s a clear improvement. Stott-Didi as the DP combination is a downgrade in my opinion.

[andyb]

The best trade for Segura would be to add younger players without the salary commitment (maybe you take a bad contract back to make the money even, but the point would be to add a regular with a low salary in addition to other prospects).

Trading Segura would clear an immediate spot for Stott if you think Stott is better suited to 2B. Then the trade could add another low cost contributor elsewhere. One trades Segura to make the team better in the future because playing Stott might mean you do not hurt the current team (without Segura) at the same time. Trading Segura purely for the present seems like it would be wasting an asset.

[David_Criss]

Segura should not be given away. He was second in OBP for the team and has been one of the most consistent hitters the past few years. You know what you get from him nothing more nothing less. He anchored 2B just fine. They need his bat in the lineup. Segura is a guy that DD should dangle and if he gets a great offer jump if not, see where the team is in July. He is not a salary dump nor should he be treated like one.

On another site somewhere, I think Phillies nation, I saw the suggestion of Didi returning to the D'Backs for Nick Ahmed. Ahmed would solidify SS for the next two years as a glove first SS, well he'd hit better than Didi did. But if somehow that could happen, that gives Stott some AAA time at 2B to replace Segura in 2023. I bet our pitchers want a much better defensive infield.