Phillies Off-Season 2024-2025 (Hot Stove)

[zambonir]

I'd be more interested in Bohm for Williams. That gives you more money to spend on something else, plus the possibility of re-signing him. Not sure the Brewers even do that, they probably prefer prospects for him to a guy they wouldn't want to pay next year either (unless they like the idea of having him for one year and then trading him).

[bkeich]

Not sure it's a bad plan with a few minor tweaks.
Are there any "needle movers" out there?
This team would have won 100 games with a decent 5th starter.

I'm not against making moves, but there should be no urgency and they should definitely not get older and more expensive.

I can’t think of a better way to lose a race than to stand still at the start.

We were oddly lucky with injuries last year given the age of our team. Never lost an important player to season ending injury and had older players still playing in October. There is literally not a single player at the top of this team that isn’t a veteran, and our pitching staff is old. Bohm is our best young player, and he is really a middle of the road player who is not really that young. Suarez is our best young pitcher (Painter is still to be proven that he will pitch), but after that it is a wasteland.

I can’t see it just being a sit still and repeat. How many guys in their 30s do we need to play well? 10? 12?

[zambonir]

No question the team could backslide, plus the Mets and Braves will likely be better (which means not only competing with them in the standings but not beating them as often, though they didn't really do that last year either - 13-13 between them regular season).

But there's still no reason to freak out or think they aren't going to do anything. They didn't sign Turner, Strahm and Walker until after the Rule 5 draft in 2022. They didn't sign Merrield last year until February, which, yeah, but there were other guys available. The two relievers they wanted last year (Hicks and Stephenson) didn't sign until mid-January either.

And we know the Phillies are interested in pitching which also means waiting out the Sasaki process if they think they have a chance.

Check back in four days.

[fish]

My barometer for off season success or failure hinges on whether or not they double down on guys in their 30s and rely strictly only their own farm system talent for the next refresh.

[zambonir]

That seems more like a 2025 crossroads. I don't imagine you'll like the answer, mostly because the talent doesn't seem to be there yet (i.e. no obvious replacement for Schwarber or JT, or a corner OF).

But I don't think they are really going to go hard after Bregman or Santander, or trade Crawford this off-season unless it's for someone at least a couple of years under 30.

[saycheese]

I wouldn't be so sure to already say the Mets and Braves will likely be better. They both could lose key players like Alonso and Fried. The Mets starting rotation has its issues right now. I am not ready to crown anyone better or not. Lets see how the rest of the off season plays out.

[Austinfan]

Problem is the only way to make a significant move is to "eat your seed corn."
And that move won't guarantee anything in 2025.

If you trade off the existing lineup you open up one hole to fill another.

[zambonir]

I'm still pretty comfortable saying the Mets will be better than they were last year overall. They were the best team in baseball in the second half after being garbage in the first half. They just have to be a reasonably good team for a whole season to be in the mix for both the East and the same WC the Phillies might be chasing. They're also not nearly done. Can they get lucky with the patchwork pitching again? Maybe not, but they already have a better and younger offensive line-up than we do.

And the Braves might lose Fried but they get back Strider as well as an MVP. And they're not done either.

Nor are the Phillies, of course. But the Phillies could also be this year's Braves (barely got into post-season or DBacks/Rangers (none).

[Callison]

Or available (by his choice or the Angels)?

Hello, Mike? This is Dave Dombrowski. We're interested in a WS championship and we think you could help us get one. We were thinking maybe you'd be interested in a title before retiring. How would you feel about coming to the Phils?......Lukewarm, huh? Well, to make it financially attractive, why don't we just offer you a $5M bonus for a WS title with us for the next two years? OK, now that you're all in, all we have to do is get the Angels to accept it. When we talk to them, we're counting on you to confirm you really want to be a Phillie. We'll do the rest.

Hello, President of Baseball Operations for the Angels, this is Dave Dombrowski from the Phillies. We're wondering how you'd feel about trading Trout to free up cash to rebuild? We're thinking Trout has little trade value because of injuries and age, so let's discuss your priorities in rebuilding and maybe we can make a contribution in exchange for Trout. You want Stubbs??? OK, you drive a hard bargain, I don't know how we'll compete without him, but for Trout, he's yours!

[zambonir]

Obviously you are not following the Angels' off-season. They are trying to win. Or at least pretending they are. Trading their star doesn't help either of those realites.

And he has never wanted to leave. In fact, you could argue he has no interest whatsoever in playing here as he does not enjoy the spotlight. Easier to just fly home six times a year for Eagles games.

Which is great because I don't think there is any scenario in which he is attractive to the Phillies, whether due to the $ on his contract, the prospects the Angels would still want to make some of that work, or, frankly, because he might not even be better than Brandon Marsh at this very moment.

[andyb]

Looks like we are adding Jordan Romano to the bullpen on a 1-year deal.

[zambonir]

Planning to add two arms instead of one maybe? I bet this means Hoffman is signing somewhere as a starter (or just for a lot).

[andyb]

Looks like it. Pretty risky signing though it is not a huge amount of money in the larger scheme of things.

Phillies add Jordan Romano to late-inning bullpen mix with 1-year deal

[zambonir]

Bargain version of Knebel really

[zambonir]

Juan Soto is a (very rich) Met. What will the Phillies do to stay ahead of their...

The Phillies continue to look for an outfielder, a right-handed reliever for the late innings, and starting rotation depth. But with a payroll that is butting up against the third luxury-tax threshold ($281 million), they would face a 95% tariff on every dollar spent up to $301 million. And if they push beyond that mark, the tax rate will rise to 110%.

Think of it this way: Signing a free agent for more than $20 million per year would actually amount to nearly a $40 million expenditure.

It’s almost certain, then, that the Phillies will be more active in the trade market than free agency, according to multiple major-league sources. And the trade market might not develop until more free agents come off the board.

I don't know that the money is the issue (nor should it be if they are going into the draft penalty regardless). More that the OF FAs aren't worth it, and neither is rotation "depth."

[saycheese]

As long as he isn't the only signing I am fine with it. His numbers from 21-23 were darn good. Last year he battled an elbow injury and was not so good. He still has to pass a physical which if he does have elbow issues isn't a slam dunk. Worthy risk, the dollars are not horrible. Now if he is the only one they add then the story is different.

[andyb]

Supposedly he has passed his physical already.

[VoteForKalas]

I guess it could work out if he stays healthy, but at age 32, who knows.

I hope they can work something out with Hoffman and he wants to stay here.

[zambonir]

It's certainly in keeping with the Phillies history and philosophy. Bullpen upside plays are usually better than overpays.

What's his salary?

[bigegypt0417]

This may be me but i want hoffman back as much as i wanted mitchy poo back after the world series...which is not at all.

He was a post season deer in headlights.