Dave Dombrowski, the president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies, stated during his year-end press conference that he didn’t think the team needed to add a star closer to overcome the adversity and win a World Series.
There hasn’t been any evidence this offseason that Dombrowski’s viewpoint has altered. The team isn’t in the market for Josh Hader, a free agent closer with a Hall of Fame future, according to numerous reports. As a matter of fact, Dombrowski hinted that the Phillies would probably sign a one-year reliever, meaning they would also be eliminated from consideration for Robert Stephenson and Jordan Hicks.
Craig Kimbrel is unlikely to play another season for the Phillies after the disastrous note his postseason run ended on. Despite his disappointing 2023 season, Kimbrel made the most appearances of any reliever for the Phillies this past season—71—as a member of the team. It makes sense to replace Kimbrel, who earned about $10 million in 2023, with another reliever.
With Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, José Alvarado, Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto, and others locked into bullpen spots, it’s likely that Orion Kerkering will be asked to pitch a sizable portion of innings in his first full MLB season. These veterans appear to be talented and could be added to the group in the arm barn.
Hector Neris
Neris signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the Houston Astros in free agency following the 2021 season, having played his first eight seasons with the Phillies.
Then, in a stunning turn of events, Neris and the Astros won the 2022 World Series against the Phillies. Throughout the duration of the agreement, Neris recorded 141 appearances with a 2.69 ERA and 3.10 FIP.
He declined his half of an $8.5 million mutual option for 2024, which certainly means he expects to top that amount of money this season, and probably get a multi-year deal. Neris had a tremendous reputation during his time with the Phillies, but his 307 appearances since the start of the 2019 season are the most in baseball. At 34, there would be some level of risk in giving him multiple seasons.
Aroldis Chapman
In 2016 and 2017, when Chapman was the team’s closer, Phillies manager Rob Thomson was the New York Yankees’ bench coach. Chapman’s second stint with the Yankees ended in 2022 rather disastrously, but in 2023 he won a World Series with the Texas Rangers after posting 3.09 ERA and 2.52 FIP in 61 games between them and the Kansas City Royals. We would assume that the Phillies won’t be a good fit for him, as MLB Trade Rumors predicts that he will sign a two-year contract.
Ryne Stanek
In 55 games for the Astros in 2023, Stanek disappointed, posting a 4.09 ERA and 4.60 FIP. However, he was tremendous in 2022, finishing the season with a 1.15 ERA and 3.02 FIP in 59 games. The 32-year-old would be an ideal candidate for the Phillies to take a flier on hoping for a bounce back.
In 55 games for the Astros in 2023, Stanek disappointed, posting a 4.09 ERA and 4.60 FIP. However, he was tremendous in 2022, finishing the season with a 1.15 ERA and 3.02 FIP in 59 games. The 32-year-old would be an ideal candidate for the Phillies to take a flier on hoping for a bounce back.
Adam Ottaviano
With the New York Mets for the previous two seasons, Ottavino made 132 appearances and recorded a 2.62 ERA and 3.66 FIP. Ottavino, who turned 38 this past weekend, is most likely considering a one-year contract. Could he fit in the Phillies bullpen with his frisbees? If Ottavino pitched well, he would be well-liked in Philadelphia. Ottavino once declared he would strike out Babe Ruth.
Will Smith
Smith has been part of three consecutive World Series winning teams, so perhaps his good karma alone would be worth a flier for the Phillies. The 34-year-old has a 3.91 ERA over the last three seasons, so he’s not the All-Star caliber pitch he was once with the San Francisco Giants. But he would give the Phillies another left-handed option to go with Alvarado, Soto and Strahm.
David Robertson
With a 2.05 ERA and 3.57 FIP in 40 games for the Mets last season, Robertson was very effective. After being traded to the Miami Marlins, though, his season fell apart, especially after the Phillies defeated them in the NLWCS. Although Robertson will pitch someplace in 2024, you have to wonder if Father Time has finally caught up to him because he will turn 39 in April. Perhaps a third stint in the red pinstripes is out of the question.
Phil Maton
Would Maton choose not to sign with the Phillies merely to avoid answering questions concerning breaking his hand punching a locker following his 2022 meaningless late-season game where he gave up a hit to his younger brother Nick, who was then a player for the Phillies? Blaming him would be difficult. That being said, he would help to fill the void left by Kimbrel’s absence having pitched in 135 games over the previous two seasons.