Phillies Hot Stove Discussion 2021-22

[el-pietro]

Yeah its not straight forward. The solution to a lot of these problems is to ignore the Luxury tax, but it seems unlikely Middleton will go for that. Hoping he is spurred into action by the expenditure in Flushing.

[fish]

I can't help but think we could get the same production from centerfield by allowing Moniak/Haisley/Vierling a chance to win the job.

Same production, but with head slammingly poor defense from that group. I wouldn't be looking forward to watching Kiermeier hit for an entire season, but if they've determined there is no one better out there that they are willing to pay for, then at least lets get a CF that's good at one thing. Maybe adding Kiermeier is the most palatable way to plan to fit Vierling in- platooning in left/center as the righty.

[EDmuch]

One of the truly unique aspects of Moniak is that there is nothing that he can do well. Kiermaier, as bad at hitting as he is, will at least consistently catch fly balls.

[Austinfan]

Problem for the Phillies is they have two young CFs who are going to be good defensively and are a year or two away in Rojas and Muzzioti. So you don't want to make any real commitments to an aging defense first, subpar hitting CF when you can get the same at a cheap price (i.e. fielding is easier to project than hitting).

[bigegypt0417]

Problem for the Phillies is they have two young CFs who are going to be good defensively and are a year or two away in Rojas and Muzzioti. So you don't want to make any real commitments to an aging defense first, subpar hitting CF when you can get the same at a cheap price (i.e. fielding is easier to project than hitting).

Which one of those two is actually two years away? Are you really asking for the franchise to wait for two more years just in case one of those 2 works out?

Wasting two more prime years of Harper and Wheeler waiting for players who have no real track record doesnt seem like a way forward...IMO.

[bkox]

Problem for the Phillies is they have two young CFs who are going to be good defensively and are a year or two away in Rojas and Muzzioti. So you don't want to make any real commitments to an aging defense first, subpar hitting CF when you can get the same at a cheap price (i.e. fielding is easier to project than hitting).

Kiermaier only has one more guaranteed year on his contract. 2023 is a 13M team option or 2.5M buyout. So if you are looking for 1-2 years until Muzzioti or Rojas is ready.. then Keirmaier's contract is perfect

[andyb]

The "problem" with Rojas and Muzziotti is we actually don't know if they will be any good. They are prospects, but not top 100 prospects where there is at least a level of talent or proximity that they can make it. We know Muzziotti can play defense. We don't know if he'll hit enough for AA much less the majors. And Rojas has so much risk in his profile that you do not count on him for anything.

Other than Stott, we really don't have any other prospects good enough to save a starting position for in a long term plan. Everybody else has to get better and closer to the majors to do that.

[zambonir]

I'm sure the Phillies would have happily included one of Rojas or Muzziotti in a Buxton deal, and still could for another CF (if not Kiermaier).

[EDmuch]

The only problem with sending Rojas or Muzziotti in a trade with Tampa is that with Tampa they will almost certainly develop into All Stars.

[EDmuch]

I am wondering if they should take the gamble on Laureano, particularly if his cost is low, such as Rojas or Muzziotti or Moniak. Once Laureano could play, having a bench with Vierling, Kiermair, Brad Miller and Galvis would not be too bad.

[saycheese]

It seems that Joey Wendle is also very obtainable right now in Tampa. Local kid from the Philly Suburbs that could fill a super sub roll for the Phillies. He seems like the perfect fit to hedge bets on Bohm and Didi and is an arbitration eligible guy.

[EDmuch]

I would definitely like Wendell on my team. But I wonder what Tampa would want for him.

[EDmuch]

Wendell's salary is $4.5 million. Middleton would probably never approve it.

[BaseballCat]

Clears salary and a 40 man spot for Kluber. Plus they have a ton of infielders in majors or near ready in Durham. Seems like a potential good get if you can swing the right deal with Kiermaier.

[andyb]

Not sure I have too much interest in Wendle though if the price is next to nothing I suppose it is possible. Rays need to clear one player off the 40 already, so maybe it is prudent to wait through the non-tender deadline and see if he is the odd man out there.

I just have a feeling that the Rays would take guys like Maton and Kingery and make them better than Wendle. No confidence that we would not get an aging 650 OPS guy also. Maybe we should just sell Didi on a utility role as we probably can't trade his salary and he actually could be decent in a role where he could be spotted against RHP and playing less difficult defensive positions.

[Aquapong]

Obviously nothing is going to happen at this point before the CBA lockout. But if we are going to go for Kiermeier, I can’t see how Muzziotti can do much worse.

[BostonRoss]

It’s unlikely to happen, but getting Correa and Kiermaier immensely helps the defense. What did they use to say, strong defense up the middle? We’d have a plus defender at all four positions.

It improves the offense in the infield, too.

[ahb]

Adding Kiermaier in CF and Schwarber in LF would make a lot of sense.

Kiermaier basically gives us the same offense we were getting out of Odubel last year, but with elite defense that could help cover for Schwarber and Harper.

And if Schwarber's 2020 numbers are reflective of a new approach and sustainable (which, if he's paired with Long again, I'm bullish on), then he'd be a huge boost the lineup.

1. Schwarber, LF (L)
2. Segura 2B (R)
3. Harper RF (L)
4. Realmuto C (R)
5. Hoskins 1B (R)
6. Didi/Stott SS (L)
7. Bohm 3B (R)
8. Kiermaier CF (L)

Then slot in the DH somewhere depending on who it is (and it could be Schwarber pretty often, with a better defender in left).

Heck, I know it won't happen, but let's get crazy and sign Schwarber to be the primary DH, and Suzuki to be in LF.

If they were going to fit all that plus at a reliever or two under the tax cap, they'd have to do something like trade Segura and a prospect to the White Sox for Kimbrel with the Sox picking up half of Kimbrel's salary (or just sign Knebel and another reliever and trade Segura for prospects).

That'd mean we're counting on Didi and Stoff to be the middle infield, which would be a huge risk, but I'm not sure I'd hate it for the upside in the OF.

1. Schwarber, DH (L)
2. Suzuki LF (R)
3. Harper RF (L)
4. Realmuto C (R)
5. Didi SS (L)
6. Hoskins 1B (R)
7. Kiermaier CF (L)
8. Bohm 3B (R)
9. Stott 2B (L)

(you can shift the order around; I just went with one that had us alternate lefties and righties).

Anyway, it's an idea.

[bkox]

Marlins get Wendie: Minor guys.. Who would have been comparable to Misner in our system?

The Miami Marlins have made a trade to acquire infielder Joey Wendle from the Tampa Bay Rays per sources. Tampa Bay will receive OF Kameron Misner.

— Craig Mish ( @CraigMish ) November 30, 2021

Outfielder Kameron Misner, headed from the Marlins to the Rays for Joey Wendle, was the 35th overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Missouri. Reached Double A last season.

— Ken Rosenthal ( @Ken_Rosenthal ) November 30, 2021

[Aquapong]

Now Wendle can be a Philly killer 27 games per year.

Personally I would’ve kept Odubel and put him in LF.