Phillies Off-Season 2024-2025 (Hot Stove)

[zambonir]

I don't know that we are even the third team (versus Toronto or Boston or even LA). But it would be fun to be surprised (and keep him off the Mets).

[bkeich]

I wonder if they are enlisting recruiting help from Harper and Turner.

[zambonir]

And Long.

[dcsman]

I believe I read somewhere that said Turner, Harper, and Schwarber would be in attendance at their meeting with Soto. I think the Phils are quietly putting on a hard court press.

[Austinfan]

Meh. They have a good relationship with Boras.
This sounds more like doing Boras a favor, creating the impression of a deeper market.
Middleton is rich, but not as rich as the NY owners.
And if you were Soto, wouldn't you want to stay in NY with that kind of money?
Livin' la vida loca!

Phillies were 5th in runs scored, the real need is to fill out the bullpen and get some insurance at SP.

[jimbomill]

I guess my question is why is Bohm available and the player the Philliies want to move? What problem are they trying to fix?

Seems silly to give up on a good young player and the first good 3B they've developed since Rolen

Amen to that. He's coming along nicely. It's not a meteoric rise, but he's a sound home-grown player so far.

[zambonir]

And if you were Soto, wouldn't you want to stay in NY with that kind of money?
Livin' la vida loca!

You just love your stereotypes.

Middleton has already publicity stated he doesn't mind being used as a stalking horse by Soto and Boras. There is no reason to think the Phillies would really outbid the Mets, particularly, in which case, nothing to see here. OTOH the fact that he's already created that expectation makes it pretty easy to imagine they are low-keying their interest publicity and are more serious privately.

The money's not the issue, he can still afford it (and these new owners aren't here to cut the budget). The CBT is a bigger factor but if they're pretty much planning to go over the last threshold anyway wouldn't you rather do it for the best player?

Yes, it's still a good offense but just bringing back the same offense (of aging players and younger question marks) is hardly guaranteed to stay in the Top 10. And they were 8th in runs scored post-All Star break.

[xyzabc25]

The reported problem is with his attitude, which apparently is less than ideal. Again, reportedly he does not handle difficulty easily. He becomes angry. Since Topper is clearly a players manager I doubt he has been going out of his way to criticize Bohm. So I'd conclude that the desire to move him has been well hashed out.

[Taudawg]

Bohm's attitude aside - The Phillies want to make changes/upgrades. Bohm's value is high after an all-star season plus 2 years of control remaining. Outside of dealing Painter or Miller, he offers the most in return. The FA market is pretty weak. The attitude issue may mean nothing to the FO or Topper, we'll likely never know. It simply comes down to team strategy and the offseason market. Can they upgrade the team the way they want without trading Bohm? It sounds as though they don't think so. The noise around Casty and Ranger suggests they might pivot away from trading Bohm if they can make alternate moves. However, trades of Casty and Ranger create new holes - new RF and starting pitcher. Ranger is a pretty good #4 and Casty, for all his flaws, was still 4th among RFs in OPS (all qualifying players) and 26th among all OFs.

[zambonir]

Yeah it's hard to know how much stock to put into the rumors that Phillies have simply soured on him, which stems from both his October benching and one dubious podcast report (A.J. Pierzynski). But you can 100% believe there's nothing at all to that and still see why he'd be on the block compared to Casty (who has less value) or Marsh (probably about the same value but can be a Phillies player for a lot longer).

trades of Casty and Ranger create new holes - new RF and starting pitcher.

But trading Bohm creates a hole too. I mean, if they go get Soto you can probably live with Sosa and Clemens (or equivalent) at 3B. You've lost Bohm's 3 WAR but added back 7.9. But if the LF addition is more modest you still need some more offense.

[Taudawg]

MLB rumors: Phillies 'haven’t had a single conversation' with Juan Soto or his...

I don't know how much of this story is believable. I can get with the Phillies are focused elsewhere. Long shot odds, sure. Not having one conversation with Boras about Soto seems like a stretch. How can they plan to meet with Boras/Soto and not have a conversation before now? Did they ask about Bregman and skip the Soto convo altogether, lol.

Also, why would the White Sox want Bohm. They can't realistically think they can get back in contention before Bohm is an FA. No doubt the Phillies like Crochet, but Bohm as part of the deal? Doesn't make any sense to me.

[Taudawg]

But trading Bohm creates a hole too. I mean, if they go get Soto you can probably live with Sosa and Clemens (or equivalent) at 3B. You've lost Bohm's 3 WAR but added back 7.9. But if the LF addition is more modest you still need some more offense.

Certainly. I don't know what they plan to do at 3b. I hope it's not another long term deal with Bregman or Adames. Hopefully they are playing chess and not checkers. Without prospects waiting in the wings, some of these potential moves could backfire incredibly.

[zambonir]

Well, Nightengale is famously unreliable, and I'd say he's also exaggerating. It's hard to believe Soto's name hasn't come up in a conversation with Boras. But that also suggests there's still no hard confirmation that the Phillies are in fact meeting with him (and that they definitely haven't yet).

Would make more sense for the White Sox fo flip Bohm. I'm sure that is more the Phillies trying to talk them into taking Bohm instead of Crawford (because you wouldn't give up both).

[Austinfan]

Crochet doesn't really make sense unless you have buyers regret over Nola.

With Wheeler, Nola, Sanchez, and Painter part-time in 2025 and full-time in 2026, this is more like trading for Oswalt instead of patching bigger holes.

[Taudawg]

Report: Phillies, White Sox have discussed Bohm, Crawford in "extensive trade...

Nightengale again - suggests the Phillies offered both Bohm and Crawford for Crochet. Sox aren't high with Bohm as part of the deal which makes sense as previously discussed. If the Phillies are serious about Crochet, I think it's a prospects only deal.

[zambonir]

Here’s why the Phillies are itching to acquire Garrett Crochet

[Taudawg]

Makes sense to me. A team can never have enough pitching. If the Phillies can match up with the Sox for Crochet on prospects alone with Crawford being the only top 5 they give up, I'd be onboard.

[phillychuck]

I may be the only one, but I have no interest in trading Crawford. His floor is a 2.5 WAR CF/outfielder, and his ceiling is much higher. Sometimes you have to hold on to your prospects.

[saycheese]

The first sentence is very true. Nightengale is very unreliable. Fact is most of these guys don't get much. They get what is fed to them. I am not sure I would trade Bohm straight up for Crochet let alone put Crawford in that deal. I don't want to demean Crochett but we are looking at a guy who has thrown 219 innings in 4 years. Yes there was an injury, yes he was on a pitch count last year, yes he struck out 209 in 149 innings. Yes he was a 4 war guy last year but something just seems off. He is 25 and the White Sox are desperately trying to trade him instead of resign him? I think there is a bigtime risk in this move.

We have been struggling to find a CF for a long time. We have a kid who is probably half a minor league season away from solving that problem. I am not going to be jumping for joy to trade him.

Again to me with Bohm , if he is truly being shop he is the best 3rd baseman out there. Yeah we can talk about Bregman but he comes with a 25-30 mill per year price tag and in most instances multiple draft picks lost. The cash plus the draft picks mean something.

Now I know you have to give something to get something. I am willing to trade any minor leaguer not named Painter, Miller or Crawford. I can't believe the White Sox would turn down a package headed by Abel who has immense talent. The adjustment they made to his motion started to get better as the year went on. If the light goes on for him he is going to be a top of the rotation starter. Maybe a Johnson or Chace, Caba could be in the conversation, Otto Kemp tore the cover off the ball in the Arizona league. Heck they could even want a defensive catching prospect like Jordan Dissin who could catch in the Majors today. The Phillies have talent in their minor league system.

[Austinfan]

Or Tait. Who has a chance to be the best player in the Phillies organization.
How many 17 year olds hold their own in A ball?
He's going to add more power the next few years as he physically matures and he's a LH hitting catcher.