Phillies Off-Season 2024-2025 (Hot Stove)

[biggsphils]

I was just looking at it through Seattle's POV, were not getting Kirby or Gilbert for that and for them to give up a top prospect for Ford another team might have to take a salary dump from them. We need another quality starter and Walker isn't going to magically start throwing 95 again. What's the plan for J.T.'s repacement ? I think he frustrated me more then Casty and Bohm this year

[biggsphils]

Why wouldn't he want to test the free agent market ?

[biggsphils]

Have to be concerned about his 2nd 1/2 of season ?

[allentown]

Why wouldn't he want to test the free agent market ?

He probably does want to.

[zambonir]

JT was pretty darn good after he came back from the injury. I still re-sign him, but his starts should start going down by 15 or 20. Hopefully by 2027 you've got another guy who's ready to play 80. The JT who could hit like a position player is gone but there aren't many catchers who can do that (who are also good defensively).

[allentown]

The whole

Have to be concerned about his 2nd 1/2 of season ?

The whole season counts.

[zambonir]

It's hard to get a read on it, supposedly Ranger was more than happy to talk about an extension as were the Phillies. I'm sure he was aiming pretty high in the first half of the season. Now the Phillies might have gotten lucky that they didn't meet whatever he was asking for in the first half (and they went and locked up Sanchez along the way, in June).

Now there is probably no deal to be made as Ranger bets on himself bouncing back (and pitching enough innings) while the Phillies seem eager to get someone who won't be 31 in 2026. Certainly not a bad thing if he's here and pitches well enough to merit a QO (or well enough for the Phillies to make another offer in-season). And if the Phillies can't make a trade and don't get Sasaki that will change things too.

The whole season counts but so does his whole career. Probably he's neither the guy from last year's first half nor the guy from last year's second half. Just a really good #3 and those aren't even as cheap as they were when the Phillies cut loose Eflin and signed Walker. .

[saycheese]

Back injuries and always tough. Especially for pitchers. That is the risk with Ranger and a long term contract. I do think he is going to get dealt. Might be the first player to get dealt off the team. Keep an eye on the Cubs who have the outfield surplus and prospects to make something happen. Suzuki for Ranger is a nice framework for a deal. Now to be clear I said framework not straight up. Other players on both sides would need to be involved.

[EDmuch]

If one of the goals is to get real protection for Harper and Schwarber, whoever we get has to be a right handed hitter.

[saycheese]

I agree, the issue is there isn't much of those out there. That is why if Chicago is willing to deal Suzuki and it sounds like they are. He would be my target. I also wouldn't be opposed to trying to get Matt Vierling back.

[EDmuch]

Among UFA's Santander is a switch hitter. So he coyunction well hitting between Harper batting third and Schwarber batting fifth.

But it does seem like Suzuki would be a rather obvious target.

[EDmuch]

Vierling has turned into a pretty good ball player. He could play 3B if Bohm is traded.

[saycheese]

Yes he has. With the way Soto struggled here that trade goes down as one that DD didn't win on.

[zambonir]

Why would he be available?

[Jazzhead]

POV

Bellinger and Suzuki? If they'd take back Casty, I'd throw in the prospects needed to get them both. Put Suzuki in right and Belli in center. Or put Belli at first and let Harper DH.

[zambonir]

And where's Schwarber play?

"The prospects needed" to get them both in addition to taking back Casty would be Painter and Miller and a few others.

[flyers19rw]

Suzuki in the OF is an adventure per pitch. It's why the Cubs are willing to cut ties with him. Bellinger wants the Cubs' money but not much more with the organization. He's out of there after the coming season. If the Cubs got Castellanos they'd be getting a player with whom they are familiar and didn't mind being there. Two seasons of this isn't a bad addition for them.
I'd be careful with adding prospects to any trade. Assuming that Painter is on the big club, the organization needs talent such as Miller, Crawford, Tait and even Abel. It might not be saying much but Abel is the best young arm in the system. Next up if there's an opening in the rotation.

[julio]

Next up if when there's an opening in the rotation.

Minor correction. Openings in the rotation, in a full season, are pretty much inevitable.

[zambonir]

I think it's safe to say that neither Walker nor Painter will be the Phillies' first #5 starter. If they don't land a big fish (or if they do and still trade Ranger) they will be looking to add another Turnbull type and another Allard type. And Tyler Phillips gets another chance in LHV too. If Abel isn't trade they will probably prefer to keep developing him to spot starts or premature call-ups.

Nick plus a prospect or two straight up for Suzuki (with the Phillies' picking up $) or Bellinger (with the Cubs picking up $) is possible. For both, not. But neither move is guaranteed to have made the Phillies better if Bellinger isn't great or Suzuki has a down year, and they still would have to get another OF.

[flyers19rw]

Absolutely right. Unfortunately right now, as we saw last season, there isn’t much depth with the pitching in the Phillies’ system. Abel is the guy who is seen as being closest to the show. Moving him out could be a major problem.