You may be right about Bohm not being traded. And I'm fine with that if they can't get something of significant value in return. Nothing wrong with having a 2 WAR 3B. It would have been foolish not to shop him, but if the return wasn't there, no problem.
They've quietly tried to trade him, he's a year older, and less money to eat.
So less need to keep him happy.
Running it back again should not be an option / the goal. We won 95 games, but had unusually good health and every single player will be a year older, and every single of our top 8 players on the team is past or in their prime, mostly slightly past.
The idea should not be to win a few less games as that will result in not making the playoffs as teams like the Mets are not sitting pat, the Braves will get multiple all stars back that did miss most of the season, etc.
We will need to improve just to stay competitive. As I stated before, the easiest way to lose a race is to stand still
It's a multi-period game.
Better to gamble on 2025 and be in better shape from 2026-28.
Phillies built better teams in 2009-11 but the result was no brass ring and a complete collapse.
Just because you're a big money team doesn't mean you can't make good small money moves.
They don't need another star if it blow their budget for the next five years.
A couple tweaks could have a significant effect, one thing to do with an aging team is have a good bench and use it to rest your starters - Sosa can fill in at SS, ??? at 1B, DH, ??? in LF, RF.
Get me another RP and a solid bench player (not another Merrifield) and I'll be happy.
Thank you for this.
Does the ~$8 million for potentially signing Sasaki also play into the tax threshold or is that different because it's coming from international money? If it's "taxable" then I suspect DD is waiting on Sasaki before making any other moves, even though him signing with the Phils seems unlikely. It also means we have to wait until January 16 to do much else unless a Bohm trade comes to fruition.
Ok, what would we do…
I accept that no one will trade for Castellanos, even if we pay most of his salary. If we could give him away I would.
I think we can trade Schwarber so I would. We need to clear one of them so the other can DH. Getting Castellanos out of the field will alone be worth 2 WAR. Maybe Schwarber can at least be traded with his salary.
That should free up some capital for an OF. Not a top level guy, but maybe a middle of the pack rental.
Or Move Turner to the OF. He is a defensive liability, you could get some wins just by not playing him at SS and instead in the OF where he probably is at least good, maybe even above average defensively.
Obviously we still need a Reliever. Don’t go big.
See if any team is willing to trade their salary disaster for Walker. He is toast, no point in continuing this disaster.
I would really push Crawford if we are still missing an OF. He doesn’t need to be a finished product to contribute.
Bring up Marchan and demote Stubbs. Start Marchan at least 50-60 games.
I agree, spend on the bench. We are going to get more injuries this year than last, we need more competency in backups. Rojas as a #4 OF means we can at least improve the defense if there is an injury.
Give Realmuto reps at 1B to be Harper’s backup. Casty also. Realmuto doesn’t need practice catching, I would give him maybe 30 innings in spring training behind the plate it is a long season. The rest of the time he learns 1B
Painter needs a starting partner/tandem. Extend him by limiting him to 5 IP in ANY start so that maybe we can get close to a season out of him.
No. Sasaki would make the major league minimum his first year. No extra taxes on the bonus amount (though there will be a posting fee).
After that he'd have at least 2 years pre-arbitration but I just assume any team might pursue a long term deal at that time.
Well, as I said I would rather trade Casty, but I just don’t see that as realistic. You have to do something to improve the team, and the absolute easiest way to do that is get Casty out of the OF. That alone is worth 2 WAR. You can also use Schwarber’s salary to improve other areas (better reliever, better bench)
What other ideas?
They could lose between six and nine fewer games and still make the playoffs. Not what you want obviously. But you have to pick your spots. Staying in the wild card race until the trade deadline and saving all your powder (both CBT threshold money and prospects) until then is not a bad option if you don't like what your money or major leaguers or prospects can buy now.
I hardly think Suarez hiring the same agent as Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm is a problem for the Phillies, but sure, it signals that he intends to test free agency (and the Phillies have pretty clearly signaled that they're going to let him. If they don't trade him let's hope he pitches well enough again to get the QO).
If the Phillies trade Casty it will either be so they can spend 50% of his salary on a FA OF or because they've taken back as much or more salary in return. And I'd say it's more likely that Schwarber would be the Phillies everyday LF than on another team.
JT is also no longer a good enough hitter to play 1B on days Marchan plays (which he will, but I doubt he'll be healthy enough to play 50-60 games, Stubbs will inevitably be in the mix), plus you'd be removing Harper or Schwarber from the line-up on those days.
If Nick falls off the cliff anything goes but in the meantime, just play him a little less, you could even just put Marsh in RF on those days.
But they still need a LF regardless.
I see DD made a play for Miller from the A's and was rebuffed. But there is a certain RH power hitter who plays DH and left field who would be a choice acquisition in exchange for Bohm.
I just realized the cubs just traded their third baseman without having another internal option. Then again, the Philly trading Bohm to them leaves them in a similar position unless they want to commit to Sosa. Bohm for Suzuki is a pretty even trade talent wise. Suzuki’s salary difference would need to expand the deal to get more in return.
Matt Shaw is the Cubs number one prospect and he is a third baseman that is assumed to take the job. Number one pick in 2023 who already spent 35 games in AAA last year with a 900+ OPS.
Cubs are definitely going for it, though trying to balance their salary commitments. They are not a good destination for Bohm though even if Suzuki might be a good fit for us (at least if salary is close to neutral).
The bat's lovely but adding another over-30 (even though he's affordable salary-wise) high-strikeout DH (he doesn't belong in the field any more than Schwarber or Nick) just doesn't make sense. You'd also be buying high now; he'd cost way more than just Bohm. A's can afford to hold out for good offers on anyone because they don't have to actually dump salary this year.
He might look good on the '26 Phillies if Schwarber leaves.
Yeah Cubs were originally going to (possibly) trade Hoerner to make room for Shaw.
I don't understand the notion that Casty at 20 mill per year or 40 mill total for two years is untradeable but folks wanting to give up high level prospects for Bellinger. If Bellinger is tradable at 53 million over the next two years, then Casty certainly has value. I think in Casty case his value is more to the Phillies than they can muster in a trade but he still has value. I keep seeing he is untradable. I am sure the Yankees would love to have him for two pieces of string and a worn out baseball. Which is what they are trying to trade for Bellinger. Because the Cubs backed themselves into a corner. Trading for Tucker before having a deal in place for Bellinger took away their negotiating power. They don't have a place for Bellinger unless they put him at 1st base. Heck they really don't have a place for Suzuki either unless he DH's. Which he has said he does not want to do.
Once the Bellinger trade happens and it may not be to the Yankees at this point. I think it will open up more reasonable options to trade for outfield wise. Not having to give up 2 to 3 of your top 10 prospects for a 1 year rental.
I also agree.
Suarez is going to be pitching for a big payday and contract, so hope the Phillies keep him and he pitches light out and is extended a QO...He probably has the most trade value of anyone on the Phillies roster at this point.
Casty would be welcomed in KC, Detroit or Cincinnati and his $20 million isn't horrible when looking at what other aging current FA's are looking to get.
