Phillies Hot Stove, Winter 2023-24

andyb 2024-02-16 00:10:07 UTC #1275

It actually was not above average offense. The whole International league had an OPS of 794 and LHV was 821. Muzziotti was down at 761 and his defense in CF is not really considered above average.

AAA stats from 2023 really need to be taken with a grain of salt.

zambonir 2024-02-16 00:26:20 UTC #1276

Per Matt's Twitter, Moore is expected to fetch something in trade though.

zambonir 2024-02-16 03:01:41 UTC #1277

More notes from Lauber:

DD surprised more guys haven't shaken loose yet, but:

As for any rumors that have connected the Phillies with big-ticket free agents Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bellinger, or Matt Chapman — all Scott Boras clients, not coincidentally — Dombrowski sounded amused.

“I know our name’s been out there,” he said. “We haven’t been in any of those conversations.”

Also, Bohm's hearing coming up. $3.4 million vs. $4 million. Bohm may not be an above- average 3B but he's certainly worth the second figure. As ever the system stinks.

andyb 2024-02-16 20:59:15 UTC #1278

Or not.

Clearly the arm has value and there are 2 options left. The team probably wishes they had not recalled him last year because he would not have been claimed in any rule 5 draft. 40-man pitching arms need to be really good prospects or offer immediate help. Moore did neither.

Squire 2024-02-16 21:27:17 UTC #1279

Phillies signed INF/OF Whit Merrifield, 1 year/$8 million

BaseballCat 2024-02-16 21:34:05 UTC #1280

One move I was hoping they would make. Not what he was, but a good bench option with the ability to play almost anywhere.

andyb 2024-02-16 21:41:40 UTC #1281

I hate Bowden being right. At least we are not paying his prediction of 2/18. I think that overestimated his value. Clearly he took decent money over playing time with the Phillies. Can play mediocre but not awful defense everywhere without much of a platoon split. It is kind of the depth we needed even if his speed is diminishing (he'll be 35 this year).

Probably ends any chance of both Pache and Rojas making the team. Assume bench is likely Sosa, Stubbs, Merrifield, and probably Cave now (though another left-handed bat could be added to compete with Cave).

bkox 2024-02-16 22:16:40 UTC #1282

Whit Merrifield’s deal with the Phillies includes a club option for $8 million with a $1 million buyout, per sources. His salary this year will be $7 million, and with bonuses, he can max out at $16.6 million over two seasons. First with the news: @Ken_Rosenthal .
— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) February 16, 2024

phillychuck 2024-02-16 22:29:40 UTC #1283

Merrifield is about replacement level, although he had great seasons in 2018 and 2021--maybe the Phils are hoping he can recapture that production in a limited role.

Not a great acquisition in my opinion, but about what was to be expected.

At least he can stand anywhere in fair territory and look decent.

zambonir 2024-02-16 22:46:58 UTC #1284

Yeah I just don't get this one. Josh Harrison 2.0. A better player than Harrison at this point in his career for sure but not the player he was (probably) - and far more expensive (if still not actually expensive). Hits from the same side as Bohm and Rojas and Turner, shouldn't get that many starts at 2B (i.e. Stott shouldn't sit), very light bat for LF (where I assume he'll play the most). He hit 11 home runs but so did Sosa (well, 10).

Purely as depth - and as the player who, like andy says, finally said yes to decent money but less playing time - not terrible to have. If anyone gets hurt, actually good to have.

Pretty much seals Rojas's status as the starting CF (vs. going after someone like Pham or Duvall who would have pushed Marsh back there). Merrifield can stand out there but he's old (oldest player on the roster in fact!) and hasn't played much CF (ever or over the last three seasons).

andyb 2024-02-16 22:58:01 UTC #1285

I think Merrifield is terrible in CF these days. Last year confined to 2B and LF pretty much. He does not even play much 3B. I guess they could still get a left-handed bat that can play LF and 3B to provide some backup for Bohm. The more I look at this I guess the less I like it. Not sure he'll be much more valuable than Cave or Pache out there since the defense is worse. I also want Stott to play every day and this will provide some temptation to not do that.

VoteForKalas 2024-02-16 23:02:40 UTC #1286

Agree with Z on this one, ok signing, but with not much upside and it screws with Marsh's playing time instead of Rojas who is the one who needs to be pushed to perform.

I also do not want to see this guy at 2B instead of Stott.

zambonir 2024-02-16 23:03:31 UTC #1287

I'm guessing this costs Weston Wilson his 40-man spot in the meantime.

Austinfan 2024-02-16 23:06:41 UTC #1288

Meh signing. On the downhill slide at an age when players fall off the cliff.
Doubt he'll contribute anything, maybe 0.5 WAR. Too much money given they want to save some room for a July acquisition if needed.

zambonir 2024-02-16 23:34:22 UTC #1289

Unfortunately it took him nearly 600 PAs (592) to put up 0.7 WAR last year. Cut that in half and assume he won't actualy touch 100 OPS+ and you are probably looking at 0.3.

I don't think it will stop them from acquiring a big corner OF bat or bullpen help or depth SP if they need one though. Heck they'll just bust past the next threshold if they have to. For all we know Jordan Montgomery's still going to show up in Clearwater.

andyb 2024-02-16 23:40:36 UTC #1290

The one way he gets better is by playing much less 2B. 1.5 offensive WAR paired with -0.8 defensive. And he is worse at 2B than LF.

Of course if we wanted a LF we could have gotten a real LF like Tommy Pham for the same money. I guess that is where I always wanted to go. Offense over flexibility. No problem with the money to Merrifield really. It should not prevent them from doing anything because I never thought we were in on Montgomery or other big pitchers. Stott and Sosa being able to play SS give us plenty of flexibility if we need it.

zambonir 2024-02-16 23:45:02 UTC #1291

I think Pham is expected to get a better deal, though probably not by much (he'll either get $9-10 or two guaranteed years). But signing Pham or Duvall would have pushed Rojas to the bench, this shouldn't. We'll see, it's a bit of a test for Thomson.

It would be nice to just swap Pache or Cave for someone else's marginal bench player, except a LH 3B.

I don't actually think we're in on Montgomery but I didn't think we were in on Merrifield either. I figured they were gonna pick someone up off the trash heap for $4 million (or a minor league deal) not sign the guy they always wanted to be Scott Kingery at the exact time he's no longer very good. Guess at least he's still better than Scotty (but probably not defensively).

allentown 2024-02-17 00:09:50 UTC #1292

The Phillies did not need to add a 35-year old. This was a waste of $ and a roster spot.

xogfog 2024-02-17 00:23:22 UTC #1293

Bohm wins arbitration, gets 4 mil.

zambonir 2024-02-17 00:42:09 UTC #1294

I gotta assume the Phillies knew they were gonna lose that one and probably didn't make an especially vociferous case, just kind of silly it had to go all the way.

I hope Merrifield has a bounce-back year in him - he got in 2022 after being traded to Toronto - but I also don't want to see him play that much.

He does strike out a lot less than most of the Phillies players, but without any accompanying walks or OBP. Plus it's not like he can replace the biggest chase guys.