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.
The bottom line to me is that the Phillies basically appear to be stuck. They simply don't have enough expendable valuable assets to trade. So, as a result, it's either buy free agents or run it back.
I don't think the difference between Casty and Bellinger is that hard to understand. Nick is going to be 33 years old this season and shouldn't own a glove. Bellinger won't turn 30 until July, can still play CF (as well as both corner OF spots and 1B) and has been both a ROY and an MVP. Both of which are ancient history but so is Nick's time as a true star. Bellinger's also put up 8 BB WAR in the past three seasons to Nick's 2.4.
If you're the Phillies you still want both. If you're another team, the price you are willing to play - or having interest at all - for one or the other is completely different.
What's wrong with running it back, then evaluating at the AS break whether you should sell (everything fell apart), buy (you need one or two players) or the kids have pushed their way into roles (Crawford tears up AAA and forces a promotion, etc.).
The issue with trading Casty at his mildly overpriced salary is that to replace him with something better would cost even more money or prospects. Alternative A is trading him while picking up $10 million in salary to get midlevel prospects. Then we need to fill the starting position and then we might be signing a $20 million player in addition to that $10 million in salary you pick up. Alternative B is trading Casty for a more expensive player and using the salary as part of the offset. But if we have to add prospects to Casty to get Bellinger, is that really worth it. Alternative C is trading Casty to get a younger player. Really hard to do that with including top prospects.
This is why each option of trading Castellanos really leads to trading better prospects or spending even more money. Both of those options may be inferior to just keeping him and adding a LF platoon bat.
Bohm and Rojas and a midlevel prospect for Rooker ?
By midseason the batting order could be ;
Crawford, Turner, Harper, Rooker, Schwarber, Casty, Stott. Realmuto and whoever you put as 3b. That would be a pretty formidable lineup.
BK has some really good ideas.
Turner would have to like the idea. Are the Phils afraid to ask him? Ask him already. Like this: Trea, you're one of the stars on this team and we want you to be fully satisfied where you play, but we'd like you to consider moving to LF. We feel the team could be a level stronger that way. How do you feel about the move? If you dislike it at all, you're our SS.
You don't have to insult the guy with the question. IMHO Sosa is the best IF on the team and he should play SS. Stott is nearly as good a fielder and better than Turner. Sosa has shown he can play 3B, SS and 2B equally well. Then the Phils don't have a crater in the lineup as they do now in LF and they can devote resources elsewhere.
The Phils' talent evaluation scouts have been whiffing for a while going after players with potential and having down seasons. The Phils biggest need is in the pen and they better get a proven arm or two. This is where they should spend a buck.
Not even Boras could sell Walker. Efforts to sell him would be disconnected faster than a telemarketer. He's ours for 2 more years. At the end of the season, it seemed that the Phils and Walker had an understanding that he needed to be rebuilt, in particular, get a lot stronger. He should be on a hellacious conditioning regimen like he's never imagined. He should be motivated to save his career. Let's watch and wait and hope for the best.
This move is a season late. With more rest, JT might play a level better. Marchan could be the catcher of the future, too. I love Stubb's D, the game he calls and his hustle, but he's another .200 hitter. Proved it all last season. Can Marchan stay healthy?
Marchan will be the backup this year or could be gone. He is out of options. They could stash him on the IL for awhile, but really the decision point for him is now. The Phillies could very well choose Stubbs in Spring Training and try to get Marchan through waivers (50-50 to lose him), but if they make that decision they are essentially saying Marchan is not that good anyway.
