Phillies Off-Season 2024-2025 (Hot Stove)

[saycheese]

Garcia is one of those read between the lines could be available guys. The Rangers have Wyatt Langford, Taveras and they really like Evan Carter who was hurt most of last year. They also have Josh Smith who can play out their some.

On Taylor Ward, one of the Angels writers on Tuesday said they were close to a deal with one of their outfielders and they speculated it was Ward. Gelb said this morning the Phillies were pretty serious on a ew things on Tuesday that never came to fruition. So you could be right. Ward could be the guy they want. Just not sure once again what they give up to get him.

[fish]

Pirates “willing to listen” on Mitch Keller. He’s 3 years older (28) and not as good as Crochet, but he’s a guy that is good now and has potential to unlock more like Wheeler did. Under contract for 4 years on a good deal, so it will take as much to get him as it did Crochet. Would you do Miller and Crawford? Probably not but they need to start working towards a plan to layer out the team to be competitive the next 4 years so it may not be the worst idea.

[allentown]

The other reason Bohm is tradeable is that he has value without a high salary. Guys like him and Suarez and Marsh fit that category.

That makes zero sense to me. This makes them tradeable but is the exact reason they should not be traded. The Phillies apparently will not (and should not) exceed the next lux tax level. That makes replacing Bohm and Suarez (and Marsh) with older more expensive players a losing proposition. Arenado is a big salary. The SP who have been discussed above, and are largely already signed elsewhere, would be big salaries. The only mentioned OFs who might replace Marsh and actually be an improvement are big salaries. The (only way without going into next lux tax bracket) best way to compete with a team built around very high salary ($20 mill and up AAV) older vets is to have compensating cheap guys who add $ efficient WAR. Bohm, Marsh, and Suarez gave us an inexpensive 9 WAR last season. Phillies couldn't have afforded a possible, differently constructed through trades and FA, team last season which could have won 95 games.

The Phillies problems last season were largely limited to the first (and only) playoff round. The in-season performance was excellent. This tells me that the need isn't to improve the talent on the team, the issue is to have the team more ready entering the playoffs. The bullpen was a problem. Trading Dominguez was part of the problem. He put up 10 saves with a decent ERA after we traded him. Hays helped not at all. We overpayed because he had team control beyond last season and then quickly cut him this off-season. He was injured last year, maybe when we acquired him, but the Phillies thought so little of him that they didn't even wait to see what he could do as a healthy player in ST. Seranthony was superior to some of the guys in our playoff bullpen. The offense slumped in the playoff games. The Phillies need to work out how they keep the team hot into and through the playoffs. Otherwise, we can spend big for vets, like we did with Pence, and do worse in playoffs.

[Austinfan]

They gambled on Estevez over SD. Estevez and Hoffman came up short.

SD had FIP of 4.84, 4.68 last two seasons, at some point it was time to move on.
Nor did he pitch much better in Baltimore.
Basically had a great PO run in 2022 which he is unlikely to repeat.
In fact, his entire career, two good seasons, 2018 and 2022.

Romero is another gamble, same cost as SD but more upside.
They need to add another BP arm, an average BP and they probably go deep into the playoffs.
And they need to develop another "Kerkering," a young live arm.

[Callison]

The bullpen was a problem.

True dat. Time was when the Phils' pen was the strength of the team. No question the Phils need relievers even more than a LF THAT CAN HIT. That's really saying it.

The LA billionaires don't even stop to think about profit and loss when they build a roster. Their financial mangers make it all work. Seems like all of their contracts are back-loaded big time. Until the rest of the league figures out how to copy it, they're at a huge disadvantage. IMHO, the Phils must sign at least another star to keep pace. I'd love it to be an OF that can hit. The Phils' shopping in the bargain basement for one has not worked for years. Ditto for relievers. Stats geeks can tell us exactly how weak the Phils' OF hitters have been, but watching the games, most fans already know - plenty weak.

[VoteForKalas]

The Phillies problems last season were largely limited to the first (and only) playoff round. The in-season performance was excellent. This tells me that the need isn't to improve the talent on the team, the issue is to have the team more ready entering the playoffs.

I think the first half of the regular season was excellent.

First half: 62-34
Second half: 33-33

From June until the end were slightly above average at 55-49.

June: 15-11
July: 10-14
August: 15-13
September: 15-11

Signs were there that they would fall shorter in the playoffs than previous seasons. The starters good, the pen solid and offense inconsistent. If everything aligned, they were great, but, beyond the first half, that did not happen for very long.

I believe the offense and pen need talent, but in a targeted way. We need a full time LF with decent defense, good plate discipline and some extra base pop. I would stick with Rojas in CF and Marsh would be great as a CF/LF bench option. The pen needs at least 1 more good option IMO especially if Hoffman and Estevez both leave.

The starters with Wheeler, Nola, Sanchez, Painter is a good foundation. Suarez is up in the air and Walker, Turnbull, Allard IMO are long shots so perhaps we need some better depth options, but I think the focus should be (and appears to be) on the offense and pen.

[saycheese]

I am not going to criticize the Phillies for not spending. Fact is they have spent. Right now they have the 2nd highest payroll in baseball going into 2025. Now have they spent wisely is the question. Have any of the players lived up to their contracts? Just spending for spending sake doesn't make much sense. They have to figure out LF and get a few more relievers. Whether its bargain basement or high dollar I really don't care. I just want to see improvement.

[zambonir]

Yeah what's really being described here is a team that got its money's worth in the first half and not in the second half - but they don't really have much cash to burn. The Bohm trade talk is not just about hoping he has value but making a big move that costs neither big FA money nor prospects. If they aren't going to go over the next threshold there's not much they can do other than hope for more out Turner and Bohm and Stott and Marsh (all of whom played a role in the second half swoon though I still say it was really the 4th and 5th starter spots).

I do think they are basically done in the bullpen, barring another smaller surprise move a la Soto. Seranthony was only the 5th or 6th-best guy last year and Ruiz worked his way into that spot (while Alvarado pretty much dropped down to Soto's spot once they made their trades). They have their top four guys (so long as Alvarado can be worth his salary and Kerkering can continue to improve), they have Banks and Ruiz, they are going to have a long man, so that's really just one spot for someone who is already on the 40 (and preferably guys with options) or maybe a minor league deal with a bounce-back vet.

Turnbull and Allard are not in the organization, btw.

[Aquapong]

I’m not including Miller in that. We drafted two Crawford clones in this past draft, so I’m fine trading Crawford.

[EDmuch]

I think DD is finding that he kind of boxed in by his unwillingness to give up any of our top 3 prospects. I would give up Crawford in a trade for Taylor Ward. I wonder if there is any chance that DD could still pull of a Taylor Ward move without doing too much damage to our farm system.

[andyb]

Taylor Ward will be 31 next season and is coming off OPS 756 and 748 years (with below average defense). I am not trading a top prospect like Crawford for that. We could have had Austin Hays for only money and the big difference with Hays vs Ward was lack of health.

I continue to think we'd prefer a left-handed bat anyway and play Marsh in CF.

[zambonir]

The current version of Taylor Ward seems like a platoon partner for Brandon Marsh but not much more. OPS against RHP down to around 700 the last two years whereas Marsh was just under .800 last season (and .864 in 2023). And of course, there are far more RHPs. Marsh still out-WARed him in less playing time and matched his OPS+ overall. It could certainly work better than Hays, in the same way (split the two positions between the three players). He's got a few years of control adding to his value where most players his age would be UFAs, but declining numbers and rising years don't make him someone you give up a Top 5 prospect for. Which I guess might be the good news.

[allentown]

The current version of Taylor Ward seems like a platoon partner for Brandon Marsh but not much more

He was a 2+ WAR guy in 600+ AB in 2024, but other than against LHP he is a step down from Marsh. I doubt he'd be a happy platoon guy coming off so many ABs last season. I still don't get why fans (and team?) are so anxious to trade players/prospects to get guys who aren't as good as the current Phillies whom they would replace. Why in the world would we want Arenado. His OPS+ last season was 101 and he'll be 34 this season and, if we get him, we get him for 2 more seasons, through his age 36 year at big bucks, for which it's suggested we'll get back $10 million in 2025. Hardly a dent in what he is owed. And, he was only 2.5 WAR last season and 2.4 in 2023. The Arenado of 2022 seems long gone and extremely unlikely to reappear -- definitely not for 3 more seasons. 2022 was a fluke. I think a stretch to bet he'll be better than Bohm over the 2 years of Bohm control we have left. Might not want Bohm 2 in 2027, but almost certainly won. 't want Arenado.

I understand the interest in Tucker. He would be a major upgrade and is relatively young. I do sort of shudder at what it would take to get him, but certainly well worth exploring.

[zambonir]

He's young but you only get him a for a year. That means there's a deal to be made (and some value in having a shot at keeping him or getting the draft pick) but it shouldn't be outrageous (like, yes, Crawfrod, but the rest of the package shouldn't include any of the top guys).

[xogfog]

If Charlie Morton would sign a one year deal, I would be interested in him as a 5th starter, he owes us for the last time he was here. I would then trade Suarez at the deadline and slot Painter in for the stretch run.

[dcsman]

If Charlie Morton would sign a one year deal, I would be interested in him as a 5th starter, he owes us for the last time he was here. I would then trade Suarez at the deadline and slot Painter in for the stretch run.

Agreed he owes us, but not worth it for me. Apparently, they are exploring signing Patrick Sandoval though for 2 years, because if he does return this year it won't be towards the latter part due to TJ surgery.

[xogfog]

Well, the dream scenario is Sasaki, but I’m not holding my breath. I hope Dombrowski actually gets a chance to make his case and I would hope the Phillies would have a plan to provide him a support system to help him acclimate and thrive in Philadelphia, it would have to be an incredible offer in order to keep him off the West Coast. A rotation with Wheeler, Nola, Sasaki and Painter for the next few years and then Sasaki and Painter could be the aces as Wheeler and Nola ride into the sunset. Aah, to dream..,

[zambonir]

The Phillies certainly seem focused on pitching, but they are not going to pay for a free agent fifth starter of any notable cost when they need that money for a bat. Unless they also trade Ranger. Morton made $20 million last year and will still cost too much even on a pay cut. Sasaki would only make major league minimum. Even Crochet is only projected to make $3-4 mi.

Sandoval would be 5 or 6 AAV, they'd back load it to next year cash-wise but that would also pretty much guarantee Walker or Tyler Phillips etc. is the #5 until Painter's ready.

Also I know it's a bit but Charlie Morton doesn't owe the Phillies anything, they messed up and didn't pick up his option. I suppose they would have just traded him anyway (but that would have been okay too).

[gmwannabe]

Zamby is correct. the phils didn't pick up his option. when I saw him pitch for the phils I couldn't believe how much his ball moved. he looked like a great signing. then I remember watching the game, when he hurt his hamstring. pretty early in the season. with my old age memory, I am probably wrong, but I think it was at the Bank against the Reds. I never thought it would end his season.
gm

[biggsphils]

Yeah , Sandoval probably won't be able to help in 25 due to injury, he would be Ranger's replacement in 26