Phillies Off-Season 2024-2025 (Hot Stove)

[mdougherty12]

I am really hoping that DD can get Rooker away from the A's without destroying our prospect pool.

It seems like the Phils already have more than enough 30-something DH candidates.

[Austinfan]

It doesn't only cost you money, it costs draft picks and LA bonus money.

As far as Soto, we're talking Boras, master of seeding rumors to up the price of his players.

[zambonir]

Of course and I don't think the Phillies will outbid anyone for Soto. But I do think they'll bid. And I think the lost draft position (not a lost pick) and international $ are a foregone conclusion even without that kind of signing. And worth it for a Soto. Just not for a Tyler O'Neil.

I find it far more interesting that people believe the Phillies might consider signing a relatively major starting pitcher, which is based on their previous interest in both Yamamoto and Crochet. And you definitely can't rule out the idea of a trade for a reliever, whether it's a small one a la past moves (Alvarado, Soto) or a bigger deal.

But not sure trading for Williams makes that much sense when you'd just have to give him the same $ as Hoffman after this year anyway.

[dcsman]

If DD and the Phils decide to bring back virtually the same roster from last year, I am going to be very disappointed. I'm not saying I know the answers, but I just don't see this team as currently constructed, winning the WS anymore.

[dicemen99]

Of course and I don't think the Phillies will outbid anyone for Soto. But I do think they'll bid. And I think the lost draft position (not a lost pick) and international $ are a foregone conclusion even without that kind of signing. And worth it for a Soto. Just not for a Tyler O'Neil.

I find it far more interesting that people believe the Phillies might consider signing a relatively major starting pitcher, which is based on their previous interest in both Yamamoto and Crochet. And you definitely can't rule out the idea of a trade for a reliever, whether it's a small one a la past moves (Alvarado, Soto) or a bigger deal.

But not sure trading for Williams makes that much sense when you'd just have to give him the same $ as Hoffman after this year anyway.

I think this just confirms the fact they are going to move on from Ranger. They are locked into Wheeler, Nola, and Sanchez long-term and in 2026 you will have Painter at full usage. Looking at 2025, Painter is only part-time, and adding a legitimate starter insures against an injury, and can be managed in the post-season (moving Ranger and Painter to bullpen). This also lessens the pressure of adding multiple high-leverage relievers - Ranger has already proven he can thrive in that role in the postseason when you need them the most.

Then in 2026, you let Ranger go, I don't think he is the type of starter the Phillies have been building their staff around. Or if Ranger is unsuccessful as a starter in 2025, he can be retained as a reliever (doubtful, very doubtful).

[zambonir]

I think if they go biggish on a starting pitcher they should probably trade Ranger though, unless they are somehow able to unload Walker at 50%.

I don't think you can build a team to win the World Series. You build a team to win the division, or you don't. Both approaches are proven to work as far as getting you to the World Series, even if this year the two best regular season teams got there.

But the Phillies can't necessarily expect to win 95-100 games running it back both on their own merits and because the competion will be better. So if the goal is to be better than last year, yeah, they need to change it up. But if they also want to just be good enough to make the playoffs and then see what should be done in July, that's valid too.

But, our owner and GM's temperament, and the money, and the competitive window for this group, suggest they will be aggressive.

[Austinfan]

I'd think this is a transition season. There are some flaws that need time to fix.
1) Do they extend Schwarber or move on? Castellanos in a DH platoon/RF in 2026?
2) When does Turner move off SS and to where? LF?
3) When and if Crawford, Rincones, Miller, Caba and Tait arrive? 2026, 2027?
4) If Painter is 100%, he becomes #3/#4 to start 2026, how do they address #5?

To me, the current team is 90 wins going into 2025, how much do you want to invest in April for marginal improvements?
Marsh is a top fielding LF but average in CF. Can Rojas hit better?
Rest of the lineup is set, bench could use an upgrade but who will accept that role?
Walker/Ranger/Painter for the last two starting spots, but you need at least one more SP you can stash. Abel? Phllips? FA?

If they could shed $40-50M after 2026 they have the flexibility to make a big move.

[andyb]

This is not a transition season. The Phillies have a limited window to win with this core and every season is important. That does not mean they'll be crazy trading top prospects, but we really have only a handful that we would not trade for win-now pieces. I think it might not go beyond Painter and Miller at the moment. Every other prospect could be tradeable for the right return (which will be relatively low salaried if we include our better prospects).

Right now Caba and Tait are risky prospects far away. Rincones is never healthy and might have a platoon ceiling. Crawford has issues with his swing so it is unclear how the organization really sees him. It could be CF of the near future. It could be someone to platoon with Rojas.

Obviously we want to get younger long term. But DD is not going to treat this as a transition season. Guessing he'd rather argue for a temporary payroll increase to get what he needs to win now.

[Taudawg]

1) Do they extend Schwarber or move on? Castellanos in a DH platoon/RF in 2026?

QO after 2025 to Schwarber, no extension. If he accepts, good problem to have. He'll be 33 in 2026, I wouldn't want him after that. If Ranger has a good 2025, QO him as well, but I wouldn't extend him either.

Not a transition season. It sounds as though the Phillies are going to exceed the 3rd CBT level, and while some dislike that, it does mean the ownership is all in on 2025. They have a path after 2025 to get back under the 1st CBT level if they want to reset.

[allentown]

First, winning 95-games and the NL East ain't scrapple. Second, the Phillies teams which have gone to or won WS weren't outstanding teams. The 2008 team was less talented than the 2009, 2010, and 2011 team. They also weren't regular season world beaters. Same for the 2022 team.

[allentown]

Obviously we want to get younger long term. But DD is not going to treat this as a transition season. Guessing he'd rather argue for a temporary payroll increase to get what he needs to win now.

If he wants to win now and not kill the future then sign a top international vet, Japan or Cuba preferably. Next best, a non-QO FA, if good enough to be worth the draft penalty (this is far lesser preference than Japanese or Cuban star)

[andyb]

Number 2 on the Athletic off-season power ranking. Now we don't have a lot of free agents so our current team looks good relative to clubs like the Yankees without Soto, but still a pretty good base to start with.

The Way-Too-Early 2025 MLB Power Rankings: Who’s on top at the outset of the...

[julio]

Several changes, after the 5 pm end of the Quiet Period:

#Phillies announce moves:

—RHP Devin Sweet acquired from DET for cash, added to 40-man roster

—RHP John McMillon claimed off waivers from MIA

—RHP Alan Rangel added to 40-man

—Yunior Marte, Luis Ortiz, Freddy Tarnok, Kolby Allard, Rodolfo Castro outrighted, now free agents

— Scott Lauber ( @ScottLauber ) November 4, 2024

[zambonir]

haha oops I posted in the minor league transactions thread that they cleared out a lot of spots but I guess only a net minus two for now!

First, winning 95-games and the NL East ain't scrapple.

Now let's not go insulting scrapple here!

The one thing the Phillies really can't control or spend $/sign for, unless they really do add a major starting pitcher, is the incredibly good health they've gotten out of the rotation. Even with the injuries to Ranger and Walker and Turnbull that is a whole sight better than losing either of the top two guys for a half-season, or having a TJ guy (besides Painter). The position player health has been a little tougher. I mean, as much as I think pitching was what made this team so much better than the teams from the previous two years, last year's team may well have been closer to 95 wins with a full Harper season and Hoskins (though that still wouldn't have caught the Braves. Would have liked to see Rhys in that NLCS though).

[Austinfan]

My suspicion is these guys they added are placeholders, all three seem highly expendable if they need a spot on the 40.

[bkeich]

My suspicion is these guys they added are placeholders, all three seem highly expendable if they need a spot on the 40.

Yea, I guess it makes some sense, you sign FA that replace these guys, if you for some reason can’t find a FA then at least you have a camp body and hope for a miracle. Probably all these guys are someone that at least intrigues them for some reason, some scout or coach is saying “I can get something out of that guy”.

I can’t imagine one of these guys makes it to the opening day 40 man roster, but pretty soon these roster spots are going to be at a premium when the Rule 5 draft comes around.

[Austinfan]

I think some of that is avoiding injury prone pitchers.
Wheeler might be the exception, but even when he had issues, he's a horse, that is, there's just less strain when he goes 100+ pitches.
One reason, as much as I love him, they should not give Ranger a long-term deal, just look at Eflin.

I think once past the TJ, Painter will be a work horse, like Wheeler, he's built to sustain velocity through 100 pitches without max effort. Same with Abel if he gets it together.

[zambonir]

They're always expendable but you also never know. Last year the only guy they added in November or December was Josh Fleming and he was able to elect free agency. But in 2022 they got Vasquez and Ortiz, who both stuck (and Jake Cave was also a waiver claim). You always need three or four of these guys on the 40, and the young players they're likely adding aren't going to be in the major league bullpen mix early in the season.

Phillies have not protected a lot of people the past few Rule 5s, and also did a few compression trades IIRC.

[Austinfan]

They've also signed guys in November, dropped them when needed, and they weren't picked up b/c the deeper you go into the offseason, the more reluctant other teams are to expend 40 spots on marginal veterans.

Right now it's marginal veteran stockpile time, basically they're offering trips to ST and probably minor league contracts with out clauses.

[Squire]

McMillion is 26 and was dominant in 2023 in the minors but bad in 2024. Sweet had decent numbers in AAA last year at 28. High K numbers but a tad high on the WHIP 1.32