The Philadelphia Phillies could shape the course of the entire story as they enter this offseason with needs.
The Philadelphia Phillies have advanced to both the National League Championship Series and the World Series in the last two seasons. Although they haven’t yet won a world championship, their squad appears to be ready to contend for the foreseeable future.
Is there anyone the Phillies could trade for? Yes. Are they planning to hold onto a few of their free agents? Sure. Do they possess the funds? Certainly.
Because of this, MLB.com thinks one of the teams that will define this offseason is the Phillies.
The Phillies have a history of extravagant spending. Players such as shortstop Trea Turner, outfielder Nick Castellanos, and first baseman Bryce Harper have all been awarded large contracts. Deep playoff runs have been the dividend.
The Phillies have some things to do, of course. If they lose pitcher Aaron Nola, they’ll need to find a replacement. Rumors have been circulating for a while suggesting they are considering dealing Castellanos. It’s likely pitching that the Phillies would make such a deal for a fan favorite.
In addition, Rhys Hoskins is set to leave; it is unlikely that he will come back after the Phillies informed the free agent that Harper will now be handling his role.
According to MLB.com, the Phillies have priorities and it seems like they have a plan:
Re-signing Nola has been deemed a “priority” by baseball operations president Dave Dombrowski. The Phillies could switch to one of the other top starters available if that doesn’t work out, as the extension talks did. After his October meltdowns, closer Craig Kimbrel is set to become a free agent, so the bullpen will also require assistance. And the Phillies will probably give Shohei Ohtani some love even though he’s not the best fit in terms of position.
What is needed by the Phils? At minimum, they should have a seasoned starter, and it would be great if they could retain Nola. They might be able to hold onto Michael Lorenzen or even try to acquire Blake Snell of San Diego. There are closers to be had, most notably Josh Hader of San Diego, but relief is always a priority.
Even without Ohtani, the Phillies probably have the offense covered. Ohtani can only hit in 2024, but the Phillies do have the purse strings to pull off such a move.
So, will the Phillies define the offseason? If so, it’s sure to cost them.