Phillies Hot Stove Discussion 2021-22

[andyb]

I do get the feeling the Phillies will sign somebody by tomorrow morning. The whole market seems to be moving quickly with Spring Training already started. Just took a few days for all the necessary contacts to happen after the lockout.

[zambonir]

Yeah. They will get the LF/middle-of-the-order bat they need. And arguably have an adequate CF answer. But what about the top of the order? Even the #2 spot is questionable (Segura not necessarily going to match last year, though Rhys could get back to being a high on-base guy I guess).

With 2020 Bohm and 2020 Didi this is not an issue, and I suppose they might still sign another bat (bench/DH). But if it's a Bohm/Didi platoon at 3B and Stott at SS the offense is still suspect, particularly because it's still not a strong defense.

[allentown]

I like Schwarber. The one QO FA I'd go over lux tax to sign is Correa, of course that would be it for the off-season.

[zambonir]

I wonder if some of what we've seen so far - Herrera signing, Didi possibly playing some 3B, interest in Soler, interest in Chapman - suggests they are more interested in Bryant than we might think, simply because of his positional flexibility.

But Schwarber>Castellanos for sure. And agreed on Correa. Sounds like Houston may be back in the picture there (especially with the Yankees out).

[andyb]

I have always thought Bryant was their number one target. Big name is the type of move Dombrowski would make. Plus the positional flexibility gives them a 1B option with Bohm knowing another LF is an easier thing to find if they have to.

I am guessing they have decided Haseley and Moniak are not roster worthy till they prove something in AAA. With Bohm it is hard to know what they are thinking.

[Austinfan]

Atlanta has a lot more young talent than the Phillies. Easier to trade from surplus.

[andyb]

The point is the price that Oakland is extracting, not the quality of the Phillies farm system versus the Braves. We all know it is much worse. The Phillies are not getting Chapman without Bohm and at least one of their top 3. Plus probably Rojas.

[zambonir]

Olson is maybe a tick more valuable than Chapman despite the positional gap. A year younger, bigger bat, coming off a much bigger season. I guess I read the Phillies Olson rumor (that A's wanted one of Abel, Painter or Stott) as not including Bohm. Or just Bohm and one of them and that's it (except maybe a throw-in).

[fish]

A combo of Bryant and Harper would sell some tickets too.

[andyb]

This article on Didi does mention that Kyle Schwarber and not Bryant is the priority target for LF. I think a Bryant move means they are not interested in Chapman. A Schwarber move, however, probably leaves that move on the table because there probably would be enough salary room for both Schwarber and Chapman.

Phillies' Didi Gregorius was hurt more than anyone knew. A bounce-back year is...

[Austinfan]

Geez, Braves must have prospects to spare.

Olson, 27, has a .252 career average, 142 homers and an .859 OPS over six seasons.

The A's have acquired RHPs Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes, C Shea Langeliers and OF Cristian Pache from Atlanta for 1B Matt Olson.
Pache is the Braves No. 1 prospect, Langeliers is No. 2, Cusick is No. 6 and Estes is No. 14.—

A's trade Olson to Braves for four prospects in blockbuster

Braves Acquire Matt Olson as Freeman Replacement in Blockbuster Swap

[zambonir]

The Olson trade has already been posted about here and in the thread where it actually belongs.

[andyb]

With Chapman going in a trade, I am guessing the Phillies options are narrowing to signing either Bryant, Schwarber, or Castellanos. Have not heard much talk about Conforto. What do the Phillies do if they get shutout of their top 3 choices? And even with Bryant are they much more than a .500 team? The bullpen seems about the same as last year. The starting rotation has major injury questions and no depth. And even if LF is an improvement over last year, we really are counting on Bohm to improve, Didi/Stott to be better at SS, and Bryce to not regress at all.

That is a pretty tall order though I guess 85-87 wins and the last playoff spot are definitely achievable.

[andyb]

And the tea leaves seem to be pointing to Schwarber.

Phillies making progress on free agent Kyle Schwarber, sources tell @TheAthletic .

— Ken Rosenthal ( @Ken_Rosenthal ) March 16, 2022

I guess they do not want to be tied into a long term deal. Maybe this signals more confidence in Bohm as well. Possibly they think that Bryant also is not adequate at 3B defensively anyway, and for this year they potentially could get Didi playing there as well if Stott is ready.

[julio]

A post was split to a new topic: Phillies Sign OF Kyle Schwarber

[andyb]

Roster seems to be taking shape other than all the extra pitchers that will be around if they start at 28 players.

Bench now has one OF (Vierling or Herrera), Camargo, a backup C (Stubbs) and room for one more infielder (Stott or Maton) and one more OF (Haseley or Moniak or Kingery or Luke Williams or Justin Williams or someone not here yet).

[Aquapong]

i guess Schwarber is going to play LF? I guess we’re ok with our defense being poor.

I suppose we will be looking for another right handed outfielder that can play the corners unless they use Williams for that role.

[phillychuck]

Schwarber's defensive metrics from pretty much all sources are better than Cutch's, actually. Surprisingly. Still below average, but not that much. Sign Bryant and let him stand next to 3B and go for the all-masher team.

[Aquapong]

Get a lead and bring out the defensive replacements.

[julio]

i guess Schwarber is going to play LF? I guess we’re ok with our defense being poor.

I suppose we will be looking for another right handed outfielder that can play the corners unless they use Williams for that role.

Schwarber in LF and Harper in RF suggests they should think about finding a seriously good CF defender, bat the guy ninth, and not worry too much about his offense.