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[Philadelphia Phillies]

Check out the latest news with the Philadelphia Phillies.

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Analyst Names The ‘Team To Beat’ In MLB

(Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies made the postseason for a third straight season after finishing with a record of 95-67 and winning the National League East.

Although the Phillies won the division title for the first time in three seasons, they had their shortest playoff run of the stretch as they lost to the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.

This offseason, the Phillies made a few notable acquisitions, including starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins and outfielder Max Kepler from the Minnesota Twins.

Even though the Phillies had a disappointing postseason in 2024, MLB analyst Matt Vasgersian has great confidence in them in 2025.

“The Phillies are still the team to beat for me,” Vasgersian said, via MLB Network.

"The Phillies are still the team to beat for me."

Matty V and Harold discuss the offseason from the reigning NL East champions and where they stand in the stacked division entering next season. #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/ww7V9ASDPb

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 4, 2025

Vasgersian mentions the new-look bullpen that the Phillies have, and he believes that unit hurt the Phillies the most in the 2024 playoffs.

The lineup returns plenty of star power, including Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos.

The Phillies look primed to put up runs in bunches in 2025, and if their bullpen can hold its own, then they could be the team to beat in the NL East and beyond.

The Phillies won the World Series in 2008 and have appeared twice since then but lost both times.

They will look to get back to the World Series in 2025 and redeem their losses from 2009 and 2022.

The post Analyst Names The ‘Team To Beat’ In MLB appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/analyst-names-the-team-to-beat-in-mlb/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Insider Details What Phillies’ Pitching Rotation Looks Like In 2025

(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League East title in 2024 after finishing the regular season with a record of 95-67.

After winning the division, the Phillies were disappointed in the postseason as they fell to the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.

The NLDS loss followed a World Series appearance in 2022 and a National League Championship Series appearance in 2023, and the Phillies had World Series hopes in 2024.

Although the Phillies didn’t make a long postseason run, they are making moves this offseason to try and change that in 2025.

Sunday’s trade with the Miami Marlins added another strong piece to the Phillies’ starting rotation as they acquired left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo.

MLB Insider Buster Olney revealed what the Phillies’ rotation will look like in 2025 on his ‘X,’ account.

The Philadelphia rotation, moving forward
Zack Wheeler: Signed through 2027
Aaron Nola: Signed through 2030
Christopher Sanchez: Signed through 2030
Jesus Luzardo: Under team control through '26
Ranger Suarez: Eligible for FA after 2025
Taijuan Walker: Signed through 2026
Andrew…

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 22, 2024

The two staples in the Phillies rotation in recent history will lead the way as Zach Wheeler is signed through 2027 and Aaron Nola is signed through 2030.

Luzardo will join Christopher Sanches and Ranger Suarez to fill out the rotation along with Taijuan Walker and Andrew Painter as other options.

The Phillies will likely have one of the best rotations in baseball in 2025 and could be primed for another NL East title and a long postseason run.

Luzardo had an impressive season in 2023 when he was fully healthy which included starting 32 games and a record of 10-10 with a 3.58 ERA and 208 strikeouts in 178.2 innings pitched.

The Phillies will try to win their third World Series title in franchise history and their first since 2008.

The post Insider Details What Phillies’ Pitching Rotation Looks Like In 2025 appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-details-what-phillies-pitching-rotation-looks-like-in-2025/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Fans React To Phillies’ Big Trade With Marlins On Sunday

(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) The Philadelphia Phillies made the postseason for the third consecutive season in 2024 after winning the National League East with a record of 95-67. Although the Phillies lost in the National League Division Series, a division title can be seen as a successful season even if they wanted to make a deeper postseason run. The Phillies have been relatively quiet in the offseason, but they completed a trade with the Miami Marlins on Sunday. According to MLB ...

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/fans-react-to-phillies-big-trade-with-marlins-on-sunday/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Analyst Predicts Where Garrett Crochet Will Be Traded To

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Major League Baseball offseason is heating up as the top free agent player in this year’s class Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets for 15 years and $765 million.

It was previously thought that once Soto made his decision, the doors would open for other big-name players to be moved.

While there are plenty of other big-name free-agent players, there are also big-name players expected to be traded this offseason.

One starting pitcher who has been involved in plenty of trade talks is Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox.

MLB Analyst Bob Nightengale revealed his prediction on who Crochet will be traded to.

“I still think he goes to the Philadelphia Phillies,” Nightengale said via Foul Territory on ‘X.’

.@BNightengale predicts Garrett Crochet to the @Phillies

pic.twitter.com/PFy6XbFyum

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) December 9, 2024

The Phillies have made the postseason in each of the last three seasons that ended in a World Series loss in 2022, a National League Championship Series loss in 2023, and a National League Division Series loss in 2024.

Nightengale mentions that the Phillies’ window for winning a World Series is closing due to some of their best players becoming free agents in the near future.

The White Sox are coming off the worst season in MLB history, and they will want to get the best package possible in return for trading Crochet.

Despite pitching on the worst team in the MLB in 2024, Crochet had a productive season that included starting 32 games and a record of 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 146.0 innings pitched.

Crochet will be a name to keep an eye on in the coming days/weeks as the offseason progresses.

The post Analyst Predicts Where Garrett Crochet Will Be Traded To appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/analyst-predicts-where-garrett-crochet-will-be-traded-to/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Phillies Have Reportedly Shopped 3 Players In Trade Talks This Offseason

(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies had an underwhelming postseason compared to the last two seasons as they lost to the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.

After making the World Series and National League Championship Series the last two seasons, the Phillies lost their first series of the 2024 playoffs.

Now that the offseason is underway and the free agent market is booming, another way to move players around is via trades.

The Athletic’s Matt Gelb reports that the Phillies have shopped a few of their better players in trade talks this offseason.

Gelb reports that the Phillies have shopped Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm, and Ranger Suarez this offseason.

The Phillies have shopped Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm and Ranger Suárez in trade talks this offseason, per @MattGelb pic.twitter.com/RlQU6Jh7xd

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) December 5, 2024

Castellanos is an outfielder for the Phillies who has been with the team since 2022.

In 2024, Castellanos played in all 162 games where he batted .254 with 23 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a .742 OPS.

Bohm is an infielder for the Phillies who has been with the team since coming into the league in 2020 and was an all-star in 2024.

He played in 143 games and batted .280 with 15 home runs, 97 RBIs, and a .779 OPS.

Suarez is a left-handed pitcher who has also been with the Phillies since coming into the league in 2018.

In 2024, Suarez started 27 games and held a record of 12-8 with a 3.46 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 150.2 innings pitched.

All three of these players have been staples in the Phillies lineup and had respectable seasons in 2024.

Because of the success they have had, they are likely good candidates for the Phillies to trade, but no deals have currently been reported involving these players.

The post Phillies Have Reportedly Shopped 3 Players In Trade Talks This Offseason appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/phillie...pped-3-players-in-trade-talks-this-offseason/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Analyst Believes Trading For 1 Pitcher Would Put Phillies Over The Top

(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies’ 2024 season ended disappointingly, as they lost their first playoff series to the New York Mets.

After being on the verge of a World Series title in 2022 and 2023, the team’s loss in the National League Division Series seemed disappointing.

The Phillies will be looking to make some moves this offseason to get them over the hump and win their third World Series title in franchise history.

MLB Analyst Jeff Joyce believes that the addition of one starting pitcher this offseason could boost this Phillies lineup.

“Garrett Crochet could put the Phillies over the top,” Joyce said.

The most coveted starter on the trade market could shake up the the NL.#Phillies | #RingTheBell

https://t.co/fGPbvbjGlC pic.twitter.com/e47cxPzgXa

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 1, 2024

Joyce mentions a few contending teams that would benefit from adding Crochet, but the Phillies have the roster already in place where the addition of Crochet could give them the final boost they need in their postseason run in 2025.

Crotchet was the one bright spot in a miserable season for the Chicago White Sox in 2024.

While the team lost 121 games, Crotchet started 32 games and held a record of 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 146.0 innings pitched.

Crotchet was involved in trade talks during the 2024 season, but he ended up staying put.

Now that the offseason is here, the trade talks have continued as Crotchet put together the best season of his career after coming into the league in 2020.

The Phillies already have a solid one/two punch of starting pitchers including Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler, so adding Crotchet would only make the rotation better.

Crotchet likely wants to join a team that is ready to contend next year, and the Phillies could be the best fit.

The post Analyst Believes Trading For 1 Pitcher Would Put Phillies Over The Top appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/analyst-believes-trading-for-1-pitcher-would-put-phillies-over-the-top/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Phillies Are Reportedly Showing Interest In 2 Free Agents

(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies made a quick postseason exit in 2024 as they lost to the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.

While most teams would be happy with winning the division and making the NLDS, the Phillies had a World Series title in mind after coming so close in 2022 and 2023.

The early exit in 2024 may have triggered the organization to be aggressive this offseason as they reportedly are showing interest in two big free agents.

“They’re interested in pursuing Willy Adames or Alex Bregman,” insider Jon Morosi said, via MLB Network.

The Phillies are reportedly open to shaking up their roster this offseason.@jonmorosi dives into the club's reported interest in free agents Alex Bregman and Willy Adames.#MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/H9IH0Wvg4B

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 26, 2024

In addition, Morosi mentions that the Phillies’ pursuit of these two players tells him that third basemen Alec Bohm is on the trade market.

Adames has publicly said that he’s willing to change positions from shortstop for the right contract, and Bregman played third base for the Houston Astros.

Both players had productive seasons with their respective clubs in 2024.

Adames played in 161 games for the Milwaukee Brewers, batting .251 with 32 home runs, 112 RBIs and a .794 OPS.

Bregman played in 145 games for the Astros, batting .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .768 OPS.

Although Bohm was an All-Star in 2024, his struggles at the end of the season appear to have the Phillies willing to part with him before the 2025 season.

The Phillies will likely be one of the favorites to win the World Series in 2025 as they look to rebound from falling short last season.

The post Phillies Are Reportedly Showing Interest In 2 Free Agents appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/phillies-are-reportedly-showing-interest-in-2-free-agents/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Former Manager Believes Phillies Will Have A Busy Offseason

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies have been one of the best teams in Major League Baseball over the past three seasons.

After losing in the World Series in 2022 and losing in the NLCS in 2023, the Phillies were expected to make a deep run in the 2024 postseason.

They finished with a 95-67 record in the regular season and won their first NL East title since 2011 but were bounced from the playoffs in the NL Division Series by the New York Mets.

Former Phillies manager Larry Bowa recently said he thinks the organization will have a busy offseason before the 2025 campaign.

“I expect us to make a few moves here during the winter, and they might shock some people,” Bowa said, via MLB Network.

Phillies icon Larry Bowa explains why he expects the club to have a busy offseason following an NLDS exit to the Mets.#MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/1WEKG22sCM

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 26, 2024

Bowa believes the Phillies will make some moves to address a problem he has seen them have in the postseason over the past two seasons.

He points out that, for whatever reason, Phillies hitters are chasing outside of the zone and becoming too aggressive against the better pitchers they face.

The Phillies are one of the teams rumored to be in the running to sign Juan Soto, and the outfielder is known for his plate discipline and ability to only swing at strikes.

If the Phillies were able to add Soto to their already high-powered offense, they would likely be one of the favorites to win the World Series in 2025.

Either way, the Phillies will try to make it four straight postseason appearances as they try to win their first World Series title since 2008 and third in their lengthy history.

The post Former Manager Believes Phillies Will Have A Busy Offseason appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/former-manager-believes-phillies-will-have-a-busy-offseason/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Phillies Have Placed Surprising Veteran On The Trade Block

(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies finished the 2024 season as the National League East champions with a record of 95 wins and 67 losses.

Although they won the division, the Phillies were upset by the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.

The Phillies had a disappointing playoff appearance after making the National League Championship Series in both of the last two seasons and making the World Series in 2022.

After the NLDS loss to the Mets, the Phillies have made a surprising move and placed a veteran player on the trade block.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Phillies are willing to trade Alec Bohm in an attempt to shake up their roster after the NLDS loss.

Alec Bohm is on the trade block with the Phillies looking to 'shake up their team' after NLDS loss to Mets, per @JeffPassan pic.twitter.com/AnRd8wfRUR

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) November 12, 2024

Bohm came into the league with the Phillies in 2020 and has played all five seasons of his MLB career with the organization.

In 2024, Bohm played 143 games where he batted .280 with 15 home runs, 97 RBIs, and a .779 OPS which was good enough to earn him an all-star selection.

Although Bohm had an exceptional regular season, through four postseason games he had one hit in 13 at-bats.

Bohm was selected to his first career all-star game in 2024, and he should get some attention from other teams now that the Phillies have announced they are willing to part ways with him.

The Phillies have plenty of star power on their roster, and it will be interesting to see what they get in return if they are to trade Bohm.

In 2025, the Phillies will look to repeat as NL East champions for the first time since they won the division five years in a row from 2007-2011.

The post Phillies Have Placed Surprising Veteran On The Trade Block appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/phillies-have-placed-surprising-veteran-on-the-trade-block/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Phillies GM Reveals His Thoughts On Free Agent Market

The Philadelphia Phillies finished the 2024 season with a record of 95 wins and 67 losses which was good enough to win the National League East.

Although the regular season was a success for the Phillies, they lost their first postseason series to the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.

After making the National League Championship Series in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the Phillies had somewhat of a disappointing postseason in 2024.

Now that the season has concluded, the Phillies will have their eyes on the free-agent market.

Phillies General Manager Preston Mattingly revealed his thoughts on this off-season’s free-agent market.

“There’s a lot of guys on the open market that could improve our roster,” Mattingly said.

"There's a lot of guys on the open market that could improve our roster."

Another big piece could help put the #Phillies over the top.

https://t.co/fGPbvbjGlC pic.twitter.com/HsyNkfKKXZ

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) November 10, 2024

Mattingly describes being very optimistic about the Phillies roster heading into 2025 and specifically names their starting rotation.

A couple of areas that Mattingly says could be addressed include their bullpen and their outfield.

The Phillies will be looking to improve their roster this offseason, and Mattingly appears to be willing to pursue some free agents if they will give the Phillies a better chance to win.

Juan Soto headlines the free agent class this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if the Phillies pursue him for their outfield corps next season.

The Phillies have not won a World Series since 2008, although they lost the World Series in 2009 and 2022.

With a lineup full of big-time talent including Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies appear like they will be World Series contenders again in 2025.

The post Phillies GM Reveals His Thoughts On Free Agent Market appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/phillies-gm-reveals-his-thoughts-on-free-agent-market/

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Bryce Harper Willing To Return To Outfield To Accommodate Future First Base Addition

Bryce Harper hasn’t played the outfield in a long time but is willing to head back out there if the Phillies find a big first base addition. “I talked to (the Phillies) this offseason about that, just in case a guy was available (at first) that we needed to have, needed to get,” Harper said to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. “I’d be more than open to it if we had a guy like that, who was going to change our lineup or change the demeanor of our team. They like me at first base. But I’d go out there to have a guy who was going to play first base and hit 35 or 40 homers.

“When Pete (Alonso) was on the block still, I kind of sat there and was like, ‘Hey, why not?’ When we talked about it, I kind of just reiterated to (the Phillies) and Scott (Boras) that I’m willing to move out there if it’s going to help us. I love playing first base. It’s been great. But if it’s going to help us win, I’d go back out there.”

Harper spent many years as an outfielder but hasn’t been out there in a while. He was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow in May of 2022. He wasn’t able to throw but served as the club’s designated hitter until he underwent Tommy John surgery in November of that year. He again served as the designated hitter once he initially got healthy in 2023. After that, the Phillies put him at first base and have kept him there.

That means it’s now been almost three years since his last outfield appearance. Regardless, Harper tells Rosenthal that his main goal is to win a World Series and he wants to do whatever it takes to help the club achieve that goal.

It’s an intriguing tidbit, given the potential impact on future markets. As Harper mentioned, he first broached the subject when Alonso was lingering on the market unsigned this winter. Nothing came of that, with Alonso eventually returning to the Mets, and there are no notable first basemen left unsigned at this point. But this coming winter, Alonso could be back out there since he has an opt-out in his two-year deal with the Mets. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also didn’t reach an extension with the Blue Jays and is slated for free agency this coming winter as well.

Whether the club wants to go down that road remains to be seen. Even before the surgery, Harper’s outfield defense was questionable. Outs Above Average gave him a grade of -29 from its inception in 2016 through 2022. Defensive Runs Saved has Harper at +8 as an outfielder in his career, but since he tallied +14 in his rookie season in 2012, he’s been below average overall since then. Given that he’s now 32 years old and has been away from the grass for a few years, he would face a challenge in being better than that going forward. At first base, however, he has +8 OAA in his career and +6 DRS.

There’s also the larger roster construction to consider. The Phils have seemingly been committed to keeping Harper at first, so much so that they told Rhys Hoskins they wouldn’t be able to bring him back as he hit free agency after 2023. Since then, they have had Harper at first and Kyle Schwarber at designated hitter. Schwarber is slated for free agency after 2025, though there seems to be some mutual interest in getting an extension done. Even if Schwarber isn’t back in 2026, Nick Castellanos would be a logical candidate to move into that role, since his contract runs through ’26 and his defense isn’t well regarded.

Hypothetically, signing Guerrero to a deal of a decade or longer could lead to long-term awkwardness on the roster. Harper is already 32 and will be 33 next year, with his contract running through 2031. In this hypothetical, he and Guerrero would be on the same roster for six years, from 2026 through 2031. By 2027, both Schwarber and Castellanos could be gone, perhaps allowing Harper and Guerrero to share first base and the DH slot at that point, though that would give the club very little flexibility for a five-year stretch. Most clubs these days prefer to have some wiggle room to cycle other players into the DH spot in order to manage season-long workloads and nagging injuries.

With Alonso, perhaps the hypothetical fit is a bit easier to see, depending on his 2025 season. He is obviously hoping to bounce back and find a stronger market next winter, but his age will still cap the length of his deal even if that happens. While Guerrero is just about to turn 26 this month, Alonso is already 30 and will be turning 31 next offseason. He didn’t seem to find any clubs willing to make a long-term investment in him this winter, so perhaps that will be true again going into 2026.

Regardless, all of his is contingent on the Phillies taking Harper up on his willingness to head back out to the grass. Perhaps this will end up being a moot point but it’s possible this could lead to some interesting rumors next winter. It’s also theoretically possible that Guerrero and/or Alonso are available at this summer’s deadline. Theoretically, the Phillies could acquire one of them and move Harper to the outfield, though a midseason trade is perhaps is even harder to see since Harper wouldn’t have an offseason and spring training to prepare for the outfield move.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025...o-accommodate-future-first-base-addition.html

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Phillies “Checked In” On Pete Alonso During Offseason

Before Pete Alonso re-signed with the Mets, the Phillies were among the teams that “checked in” on the first baseman’s free agent market, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman writes. Rather than make the jump elsewhere in the NL East, Alonso returned to Queens on a two-year, $54MM deal that allows Alonso to opt out after the 2025 season.

This is the first time the Phils’ interest in Alonso has been made public, though Bryce Harper dropped some hints earlier this week when he was discussing his willingness to eventually move back to his old right field position. “When Pete was on the block still, I kind of sat there and was like, ‘Hey, why not?’ ,” Harper said. “When we talked about it, I kind of just reiterated to (the Phillies) and Scott (Boras) that I’m willing to move out there if it’s going to help us. I love playing first base. It’s been great. But if it’s going to help us win, I’d go back out there [to the outfield].”

Despite Harper’s stance, there isn’t any indication that the Phillies made any serious push towards Alonso, or that their interest might have been anything more than due diligence. As a big-market, free-spending team, the Phils have the relative freedom to explore signing just about any available free agent, and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is no stranger to splashy acquisitions. If anything, it might have been more unusual if Philadelphia didn’t at least consider Alonso, particularly (as Harper noted) once February rolled around and Alonso remained unsigned.

Alonso’s hopes at landing a lucrative long-term contract didn’t work out, leaving Alonso and agent Scott Boras (who also represents Harper) pivoting to shorter-term deals that included an opt-out clause. The Blue Jays reportedly offered Alonso a three-year deal worth roughly $80-$85MM, but the slugger instead took the shorter contract from New York with the higher average annual value.

Because Alonso ultimately preferred to remain in Queens anyway, it’s safe to guess that he probably wouldn’t have jumped to a division rival if the Phillies had offered the same contract structure as the Mets, plus a few extra dollars. Hypothetically, if Alonso had gone to Philadelphia, Harper would’ve moved into right field, making for a crowded situation in the Fightins’ outfield. With Kyle Schwarber locked in as the everyday DH, Alonso at first base, and Harper getting everyday at-bats in right field, Nick Castellanos and new signing Max Kepler would’ve been squeezed into a platoon in left field.

Signing Alonso even at that relative bargain price also wouldn’t have exactly been a bargain in luxury tax terms. The Phillies are already projected (via RosterResource) for a tax number of roughly $307.5MM in 2025, which is over the maximum penalty tier of $301MM. The Phillies have paid the tax in each of the last three seasons, so the repeater penalty on top of the penalty for exceeding the $301MM threshold would’ve cost Philadelphia a 110% surcharge for every dollar spent above the $301MM total.

The number of big contracts on the Phillies’ books could explain why the club had a relatively quiet winter, as the Phillies made a few mid-tier signings (Kepler, Jordan Romano, Joe Ross) and swung one prominent trade to acquire Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins. Still, after their playoff disappointment in 2024, the Phils were expected by some to perhaps be more aggressive in making one more headling-grabbing move as something of a final touch to put the roster over the top.

Checking in with Alonso now, however, might’ve been a move to really lay groundwork for next winter, assuming he triggers his opt-out clause. While the Phillies have designs on signing Schwarber to an extension, his departure would open up a bit more flexibility on the roster and on the payroll, perhaps opening the door for Philadelphia to pursue Alonso or another big bat.

Alonso told Heyman that he is happy to back with the Mets, and he has “no regrets” about how his free agency developed. He also noted that bigger-picture concerns overshadowed any worries he had about the lingering nature of his free agent stint, as Alonso spent much of his winter overseeing the repair of his home in Tampa.

“Hurricane Helene wiped out our house. It just puts things in perspective,” Alonso said. “Nothing really seemed that big of a deal after losing our house. It’s like, what else? OK, we have to wait a few extra few weeks. OK, so what?“

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/phillies-checked-in-on-pete-alonso-during-offseason.html

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Phillies, Kyle Schwarber Have Had “Broad” Extension Talks

The Phillies and Kyle Schwarber have had “broad” discussions about a contract extension this spring, writes Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Schwarber had told reporters a couple weeks ago that he was open to conversations. The slugger indicated at the time that he was unaware of any ongoing negotiations. It now seems they’ve opened talks, but Gelb writes there’s no indication of an imminent deal.

Schwarber is entering the final season of his four-year free agent deal. The $79MM investment has paid off handsomely for the Phillies. He has hit .221/.344/.488 with 131 homers in a little more than 2000 plate appearances. Only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have hit more home runs over the last three seasons.

The two-time All-Star has one of the sport’s most extreme offensive approaches. He draws tons of walks with huge power while striking out in almost 30% of his trips to the plate. While it’s an unconventional profile for a leadoff hitter, Schwarber has been an impact presence at the top of the lineup.

Philadelphia would clearly take a hit to their offense if they let Schwarber walk. The question is what kind of investment they’re willing to make to retain a bat-first player into his mid-30s. Schwarber turns 32 next week. An extension would cover his age-33 seasons and beyond. He started five games in left field last season. Retaining him would probably force the Phillies to keep Nick Castellanos in right field for 2026, the final season of his less successful five-year contact. Castellanos could otherwise move to DH next season.

Schwarber is taking some first base reps in camp this year. He could step in for Bryce Harper on occasion throughout the season, which would be his first action there since he logged 75 innings for the Red Sox in 2021. He’s likely to continue getting a few scattered starts in left. He’s not quite an exclusive designated hitter, but the majority of his work will come as a DH. He’s a well below-average defender in left field.

The Phils will pay Schwarber $20MM for the upcoming season. He’d be eligible for a qualifying offer next winter. He’d be a very likely QO recipient if he has a typical year. That’d entitle the Phillies to 2026 draft compensation if he walks, but it’d be a pick after the fourth round because of their luxury tax status. That’s of modest value to a team that’s squarely in win-now mode.

Another four-year deal would be a tough sell at Schwarber’s age. Corner bats and/or designated hitters have recently been held to three years on contracts starting at 33 and above. That can come at a solid annual value. Teoscar Hernández received a deferred $66MM guarantee to re-sign with the Dodgers on a three-year deal.

While Hernández is a year younger than Schwarber will be next offseason, the Phils’ slugger is younger than Christian Walker and José Abreu were when they landed three-year free agent deals. They brought more to the table defensively (especially Walker), but none played a premium position. Schwarber’s offensive consistency puts him above the likes of Jorge Soler and Mitch Haniger, each of whom landed a bit north of $40MM on three-year deals at age 32.

Even if Schwarber is limited to three years, his next contract should come with a higher annual value than the $19.75MM average on his current deal. The Phillies already have six players on deals that’ll pay at least $18MM in 2026. Zack Wheeler is making $42MM annually through ’27. Harper, Trea Turner, and Aaron Nola are on significant contracts running into the 2030s. The Phils face potential free agent departures of Ranger Suárez and J.T. Realmuto after this season. They’ve reportedly shown some interest in a Realmuto extension as well.

Philadelphia’s competitive balance tax payroll this year is close to $308MM, according to RosterResource. That puts them in the highest penalization tier. They’ve paid the tax in three straight seasons, so they’re facing the top level of repeat penalties. Their 2026 tax estimate drops to $185MM, but that doesn’t account for arbitration raises for the likes of Alec Bohm, Jesús Luzardo, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/phillies-kyle-schwarber-have-had-broad-extension-talks.html

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Weston Wilson Out At Least Six Weeks Due To Oblique Strain

Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters (including Matt Gelb of The Athletic) today that infielder/outfielder Weston Wilson has been diagnosed with a strained oblique that will keep him out of action for at least the next six weeks.

Wilson, 30, was widely viewed as the favorite for the final spot on Philadelphia’s Opening Day bench. Either Rafael Marchan or Garrett Stubbs will occupy one spot as the club’s backup catcher behind J.T. Realmuto, while Edmundo Sosa and Johan Rojas are locked into bench spots already as well. Wilson appeared to be a likely candidate for that final spot due to his right-handed bat that could serve as a complement for Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh in the outfield, as well as his ability to play all four corners and even second base as needed.

The 30-year-old’s big league opportunities have been fairly limited to this point in his career, but the club will surely miss his bat off the bench. Wilson’s done nothing but hit when given the opportunity in the majors, slashing .288/.375/.490 (139 wRC+) for his career including 98 plate appearances last year where he slashed .284/.347/.489 (130 wRC+). Wilson’s career .388 BABIP has propped up his production somewhat to this point, and it’s certain to come down as he gets more opportunities in the majors. With that being said, even the 110 wRC+ Wilson posted at Triple-A last year would be an asset on a Philadelphia bench that lacks much offensive presence.

Unfortunately for Wilson and the Phillies, they won’t get the opportunity to see what he can do as part of the bench mix to open the season. With Wilson now off the table as an option, an opportunity has been created for other players to step into the role. Center fielder Cal Stevenson offered decent production at the plate (100 wRC+) in a brief cup of coffee with the Phillies last year, but his left-handed bat would be somewhat redundant in the club’s outfield mix and he lacks the versatility to play the infield. If the club was going to add a lefty bat to its bench mix, Kody Clemens would seem to be the more natural fit given his experience at all four infield spots and the outfield corners as well as his decent showing in 120 plate appearances with the Phillies last year. While he hit just .219 with a lackluster .258 on-base percentage during that time, he showed plenty of pop with five homers, nine doubles, and a triple that allowed him to post a decent 92 wRC+ overall.

Of course, replacing Wilson with another righty bat would likely make the most sense. Gelb suggests that the injury to Wilson figures to “considerably” improve the odds that 26-year-old infielder Buddy Kennedy makes the club’s Opening Day roster, and it’s not hard to see why. A fifth-round pick by the Diamondbacks in 2017, Kennedy made his big league debut back in 2022 and split 2024 between the Tigers and Phillies organizations. He hit .190/.308/.381 (95 wRC+) in 26 big league plate appearances last year, but more important than his performance in that small sample size was his excellent work for the Phillies at Triple-A Lehigh Valley last year.

In 300 plate appearances, Kennedy slashed an excellent .294/.400/.500 with a 13.7% walk rate that nearly matched his strikeout rate of just 15.0%. If Kennedy can offer anything close to that level of plate discipline in a bench role, he’d be a very valuable bench piece for the club this season. Kennedy has played exclusively second and third base to this point in the majors but has experience at first, shortstop, and left field in the minors. That at least leaves the door open for the club to rely on him as a right-handed complement to Kepler in left field, which likely would’ve been Wilson’s most prominent role.

While it seems likely that the Phillies would prefer to give the final bench job to one of the hitters already on their 40-man roster, there are at least a handful of non-roster invitees who could receive consideration for a bench job. Second baseman Christian Arroyo had some success in the majors with the Red Sox in 2021 and ’22, while outfielder Oscar Mercado has had intermittent success in the majors with Cleveland and St. Louis in the past. Both players are less versatile than what the club may be looking for off the bench, however, and other non-roster veterans like Rodolfo Castro have fairly limited track records in the majors themselves.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025...at-least-six-weeks-due-to-oblique-strain.html

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Poll: Should The Phillies Extend Kyle Schwarber?

Just over a week ago, reporting indicated that the Phillies and slugger Kyle Schwarber have engaged in “broad” conversations about an extension. That came not long after Schwarber expressed a desire to stick in Philadelphia beyond the life of his current contract, which expires at the end of the coming season. While no updates about the status of talks between the sides have been made public since then, it was just over a year ago that the Phillies agreed to an extension with pending free agent Zack Wheeler after reports of mutual interest between the sides gave way to radio silence as the sides hammered out a deal. Things have been similarly quiet regarding Schwarber’s teammate and fellow possible extension candidate J.T. Realmuto, as the sides reportedly have mutual interest in an extension as of last month with few details having emerged since then.

Getting back to Schwarber, it’s understandable why the 32-year-old would have interest in sticking in Philadelphia long-term. Aside from the team’s on-field success, which has seen them capture the NL pennant in 2022 and follow that up with 90- and 95-win campaigns the past two years, Schwarber himself has found an impressive level of consistency in Philadelphia. Across three seasons in a Phillies uniform, he’s slashed .221/.344/.488 with a wRC+ of 128 while never posting a figure below 120. That’s not only a substantial improvement over his career 119 wRC+ prior to arriving in Philly, but the results are also far more consistent on a year-to-year basis: his wRC+ figures prior to joining the Phillies ranged from as low as 91 in 2020 to as high as 146 in 2021.

Aside from the success both Schwarber and the team have enjoyed over the past three seasons, Schwarber may be hoping that avoiding the open market could afford him longer-term stability. The veteran has always been a lackluster defender, and in 2024 he spent virtually the entire campaign at DH. There’s been talk of Schwarber getting more reps in the outfield (or perhaps even at first base) this year, but the market has proved harsh in recent years for players like Schwarber regardless of whether he’s viewed as a bat-first corner option or a pure DH. Veteran DH J.D. Martinez resorted to taking one-year deals with the Dodgers and Mets during both the 2022-23 and ’23-24 offseasons, and he remains unsigned in March for the second consecutive year. Other defensively limited players like Pete Alonso and Anthony Santander ended up with contracts that fell below expectations this winter, while Schwarber’s longtime teammate Anthony Rizzo has seemingly struggled to get any sort of tempting offer this winter.

That’s not to say Schwarber is necessarily doomed to the same fate of underwhelming offers on the open market, of course. Teams are almost always willing to pay for truly elite talent in free agency, and Schwarber’s 131 wRC+ over the past four seasons is good for 25th in baseball over that timeframe. Those numbers are only slightly ahead of Alonso, who ranks 29th with a 129 wRC+, but it’s worth noting that Alonso faced questions about his future production after back-to-back down seasons. Meanwhile, Schwarber’s 2024 was nothing short of excellent as he slashed .248/.366/.485 with 38 homers and a career-high 3.4 fWAR. Another strong season from Schwarber in 2025 would surely line him up for a healthy contract in free agency, even if his age and defensive profile would likely inhibit his ability to land a lengthier contract.

There’s both pros and cons to the idea re-upping with Schwarber from the Phillies’ perspective as well. Schwarber offers rare left-handed power and exceptional consistency for a player with his skillset, but it’s not hard to see why an aging Phillies club might prefer to go with a younger alternative with strong defensive skills rather than continue to trot out a team that relies on both Schwarber and Nick Castellanos as regular fixtures of the lineup in 2026. Schwarber’s strikeout-heavy approach could be cause for concern in theory, but the club is more than capable of balancing that out with more contact-oriented hitters like Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, and Trea Turner.

Perhaps the strongest argument for keeping Schwarber in the fold is the lack of clear upgrades available in free agency next winter. Unless the Phillies opt to splurge on an aggressive pursuit of either Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Kyle Tucker, they’ll be hard pressed to find a better hitter on the market next winter than the one they already have. Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez, and Cody Bellinger (if he opts out) are among the best hitters in the next tier of free agency next year, and while all three are solid players, none of them come close to offering the reliable offensive impact that Schwarber has given the Phillies over the past three years.

Is that impact enough to live with the high strikeout rates and lack of defensive value on what would likely be a two- or three-year extension? Have your say in the poll below:

Take Our Poll

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/poll-should-the-phillies-extend-kyle-schwarber.html

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Kyle Schwarber Interested In Extension With Phillies

The Phillies are entering 2025 with a team that looks a whole lot like the one they finished the year with in 2024, with Jordan Romano, Max Kepler, and Jesus Luzardo being the club’s only major additions. While the club’s core group of players has been very consistent throughout this run of playoff appearances over the last three seasons, this year could be the final one with that level of consistency as Ranger Suarez, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber are all staring down free agency come November. On the other hand, the Phillies faced similar situations with Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler in the recent past but managed to keep both players in the fold, re-signing Nola in free agency last winter and following that up by extending Wheeler last spring.

It seems possible that the club could employ a similar tactic with at least some of the core pieces set to depart after the current season. Realmuto and the Phillies reportedly have mutual interest in working out an extension, and now Schwarber had thrown his hat into the ring as well. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Schwarber told reporters that he hasn’t heard of any extension talks between his camp and the Phillies but that he would have interest working something out to stay in Philadelphia. Gelb adds that Schwarber did not set any sort of deadline for extension talks to take place and suggests that the Phillies could “prioritize” getting a deal done with Schwarber out of their crop of pending free agents this spring.

That Schwarber may be the club’s priority to keep in the fold long-term is somewhat surprising given the smoke surrounding Realmuto, but it’s easy to see why the Phillies would want to keep Schwarber in the fold. Since arriving in Philadelphia prior to the 2022 season, Schwarber has emerged as one of the most reliable sluggers in the game. While his 29.4% strikeout rate is certainly higher than is desirable, he’s made up for it by walking at an incredible 15.3% clip and clobbering 131 home runs during his time as a Phillie. That’s good for third among all big leaguers over the past three seasons and just one long ball behind Shohei Ohtani for second place.

That sort of offensive production would be extremely difficult for the Phillies to replace, particularly if the club isn’t able to secure a superstar position player like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Kyle Tucker in next winter’s free agent class. Whether that’s enough incentive for Philadelphia to overlook Schwarber’s propensity for strikeouts and complete lack of defensive value and aggressively pursue and extension remains to be seen, but Gelb goes on to add that Schwarber is slated to work on improving his viability as a defensive option for the Phillies this spring. Schwarber came up as a catcher but wasn’t able to stick behind the plate and eventually moved to left field, but he was always an awkward defensive fit on the grass and played just five games in the field last year, spending the entire rest of the 2024 campaign at DH.

Now, Gelb reports that Schwarber is not only planning to play a bit more outfield in 2025 than he did last year, but that he’s also begun working with the club’s infield coach to learn first base. Schwarber has a little bit of experience at first over the course of his career, most of which came with the Red Sox back in 2021. In total, Schwarber has spent just 75 innings across 11 games at the position in his career. If he can make himself into a viable part-time option at the position, however, that could lessen the workload of fellow slugger Bryce Harper at the position while also potentially making him a more attractive free agent should the sides not work out an extension. Josh Naylor, Luis Arraez, and perhaps Pete Alonso are among the best first basemen aside from Guerrero set to be available in free agency next winter, and Schwarber offers a more robust offensive profile than any of them aside from Toronto’s superstar.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/kyle-schwarber-interested-in-extension-with-phillies.html

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Phillies, J.T. Realmuto Interested In Discussing Extension

Catcher J.T. Realmuto is entering the final year of his contract with the Phillies but it’s possible he’ll stick in Philadelphia beyond that. Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the backstop and the club have mutual interest in an extension, though whether they can agree on a price point remains to be seen.

“Obviously I have interest in coming back to the Phillies,” Realmuto said recently, per Lauber. “I love being here. My wife loves it here, my family. Their friends are all in the organization. So, there’s certainly interest on our end. I would hope the Phillies have interest, as well.”

Realmuto was acquired from the Marlins ahead of the 2019 season. After two years with the Phils, he hit free agency, but the two sides reunited on a five-year, $115.5MM deal going into 2021. Over those six years in Philly, he’s been the best catcher in baseball. He has hit .266/.331/.463 for a wRC+ of 112 in that time with solid defense to boot. FanGraphs has credited him with 23.2 wins above replacement for that stretch. That’s almost five wins clear of the next-best catcher, with Will Smith at 18.5 fWAR.

The Phils would naturally love to keep that kind of production going but it’s now becoming a question as to whether Realmuto can keep it up. He turns 34 years old in March, meaning he would be 35 years old for the start of a new contract. There aren’t a lot of full-time catchers that age or older. Last year, 37-year-old Martín Maldonado was the oldest catcher in the league. He was released by the bottom-feeding White Sox in July. 36-year-old Yan Gomes was released by the Cubs that same month. Among a few 35-year-olds, Travis d’Arnaud got the most playing time with 79 starts behind the plate. 34-year-old Salvador Perez played 158 games last year but he’s started spending more and more time at first base in recent years.

Realmuto has had a huge workload in his career. He’s appeared in 1,120 games behind the plate over the past decade, with Maldonado a distant second on that list with 921. Perhaps that suggests Realmuto is capable of bucking the league-wide trends, though it’s also possible the grind is catching up to him. He required knee surgery in June and only played 99 games last year, his lowest full-season tally since his 2014 debut. His .258/.315/.442 batting line over the past two years has led to a 105 wRC+, still good but below his previous work.

Though the Phils have reportedly considered lowering Realmuto’s workload, getting into the first base/DH mix won’t be easy with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber in those positions. That means getting him off his feet might require him to be out of the lineup altogether. Per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Phils have had Realmuto shagging some balls in left field, though both the catcher and manager Rob Thomson characterized those drills as more experimental than any kind of real plan.

Zooming out to look at the rest of the roster, there are also arguments for and against an extension. On the one hand, the Phils don’t have a better solution in the system right now. Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs are also on the roster but they profile more as depth guys than everyday regulars. Baseball America lists three catchers on their list of the club’s top 30 prospects (Eduardo Tait, Alirio Ferrebus, Guillermo Rosario) but none of those three have even reached the High-A level.

On the financial side of things, they will have to consider a few alternatives. Schwarber and Ranger Suárez are both impending free agents as well, as are Max Kepler, Jordan Romano and Joe Ross. Matt Strahm and José Alvarado are entering the final guaranteed years of their respective contracts, though the Phils have club options on those two.

Going into 2026, the catcher position will surely be a focus, but other areas of the roster might need investment as well. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco looked into the possibility of a Suárez extension this week in a post for Front Office subscribers. If the Phils keep Schwarber around, it would be harder to pivot Realmuto off the catcher position like Sal Perez, as Harper is locked in at first base.

It’s been a long time since a catcher got a big deal for his age-35 season or older, as shown on MLBTR’s Contract Tracker. Kyle Higashioka just got $13.5MM this offseason. The most recent deal to top that was a three-year, $60MM extension between the Cardinals and Yadier Molina back in 2017. The only deal close to that one in terms of guarantee was Jorge Posada’s $52.4MM deal way back in 2007.

Based on Realmuto’s track record, he’ll surely be looking for a notable deal. But if the Phils have hesitation about continuing to invest in him, they could consider other options. Next winter’s free agent class will feature guys like Danny Jansen and Jose Trevino alongside Realmuto.

There’s also the trade market. The Mariners have Cal Raleigh but also one of the top catching prospects in Harry Ford. It’s a similar situation in Baltimore, where the Orioles have Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo. The Brewers have William Contreras with Jeferson Quero not far away. Ditto the Dodgers, Will Smith, Dalton Rushing, and potential logjams on other rosters as well.

All those alternatives will come with various degrees of uncertainty, whereas the Phillies clearly know and love Realmuto. It’s a tricky tightrope, as Realmuto is clearly valued by the club but there comes a point where it’s wiser to move on to other options. Two weeks ago, a poll of MLBTR readers resulted in roughly two thirds voting against the Phils giving Realmuto an extension.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/phillies-j-t-realmuto-interested-in-discussing-extension.html

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

Phillies Sign Oscar Mercado To Minor League Deal

The Phillies announced Friday that they’ve signed outfielder Oscar Mercado to a minor league contract and invited him to big league camp this spring. He’s represented by Excel Sports Management. Philadelphia also confirmed its signing of infielder Christian Arroyo to a minor league deal and invitation to camp, as MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes reported yesterday.

The 30-year-old Mercado will give the Phillies a right-handed bat to join their outfield competition. He’s a veteran of five big league seasons who most recently appeared with the Cardinals in 2023, when he hit .290/.313/.387 in 20 games.

A 2013 second-round pick by the Cards, Mercado had a big rookie showing with Cleveland (who picked him up via trade) back in 2019, slashing .269/.318/.443 with 15 homers and 15 steals in 482 plate appearances. He’s yet to replicate that production in the majors but brings some speed and good bat-to-ball skills (career 19% strikeout rate) to the Phillies’ non-roster group this spring. In 973 major league plate appearances, Mercado is a .237/.289/.388 hitter. He can play all three outfield spots and has plus grades in center (10 Defensive Runs Saved, 7 Outs Above Average) in 951 big league innings there.

Mercado split the 2024 season between the Triple-A clubs for the Padres and Tigers, batting a combined .222/.308/.415 with a dozen homers and a 16-for-20 showing in stolen base attempts. He’s played in parts of six Triple-A seasons and tallied 1787 plate appearances there, with a .266/.347/.434 slash to show for his efforts.

The Phillies’ outfield right now includes Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh, Nick Castellanos, Johan Rojas and, to a lesser extent, utilityman Weston Wilson. The general expectation has been that Kepler and Castellanos would handle the corners, with Marsh and Rojas forming a platoon in center. Mercado creates some competition for Rojas in that regard. He’s a career .254/.309/.406 hitter against lefties, whereas Rojas carries a .258/.285/.340 output versus southpaws. Kepler has rough-looking career marks against lefties as well, though his production in recent years suggests he’s made considerable strides against southpaws; since 2022, he’s posted a roughly average .254/.319/.396 line against lefties (102 wRC+).

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/phillies-sign-oscar-mercado-outfielder.html

 

[Philadelphia Phillies]

The Phillies’ Next Rotation Extension Candidate

On the transaction front, Spring Training's arrival opens extension season. Teams and players are free to talk extensions at any time of year, but it's most common in the lead-up to the start of the regular season. While most of those deals are for players early in their careers, there have been a few high-profile impending free agents (e.g. Rafael Devers, Ian Happ) who have recently signed extensions in the run-up to their platform years.

The Phillies pulled off the biggest extension of that ilk last spring. They kept Zack Wheeler off the market on a three-year term at a record-setting $42MM average annual value. That came a few months after the Phils brought back Aaron Nola on a seven-year contract early in free agency. For the third straight season, they're faced with the possibility of losing one of their most valuable pitchers to the open market.

Ranger Suárez is headed into his final year of club control. He and the Phillies already agreed to an $8.8MM salary to avoid arbitration. The question now is whether they want to initiate talks on a longer-term contract to try to keep him off next winter's open market. What kind of offer might that take, and how well-positioned are the Phils for another extended pitching investment?

Suárez, who turned 29 last August, has been a mid-rotation presence for three years running. The southpaw had an earned run average between 3.46 and 4.18 in each season from 2022-24. He turned in a cumulative 3.74 mark across 431 innings over that stretch. Suárez has fanned a league average 21.5% of opposing hitters against an 8% walk rate. He has kept the ball on the ground at a robust 52.2% clip while allowing a lower than average hard contact rate in each season.

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Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/the-phillies-next-rotation-extension-candidate.html