With the Philadelphia Phillies still in the hunt for the best starting pitcher, here are three more possibilities they could pursue this offseason.
After the Philadelphia Phillies re-signed Aaron Nola to a large contract that will likely keep him with the team for the rest of his career, there was little talk about the team going after other high-profile free agents who were still available.
Until it was revealed that they were not just interested in yoshinobu Yamamoto, but had also given him a lucrative contract.
This happened after Dave Dombrowski stated that their starting rotation was set, with five pitchers scheduled to start on Opening Day.
Perhaps, now that their quest of Yamamoto has failed, they are ready to abandon their pursuit of adding new players.
But it’s possible that Dombrowski is still hunting for enhancements, as he has been since taking over as manager of the Phillies.
Here are three options for the front office if they want to add another starter.
Valdez, Framber
It was startling to hear that the Houston Astros were taking phone calls on their ace. After all, Framber Valdez has been one of their greatest pitchers and has played a significant role in their postseason success.
If this trade package is all that is required to snag the left-hander, Philadelphia should seize the opportunity with both hands.
Logan Gilbert is an actor.
The Seattle Mariners may be looking for a large return in order to sell Logan Gilbert, but they also need batters right now and in the future. The Phillies might put together a prospect package to entice the righty, who has four years of inexpensive club control remaining before entering free agency.
His lifetime ERA of 3.76 in 88 starts and back-to-back seasons with an ERA under four indicate that he’s still improving in his early career. He has the potential to be a strong back-end pitcher for the Phillies for many years to come.
Justin Bieber
This would be more of a one-year deal for the Phillies. Shane Bieber will be a free agent after this season, and his production has been declining since he won the AL Cy Young in 2020. However, he remains a top MLB starter, with an ERA+ of 110 in 2023 and a season-long ERA of 3.80 in 21 starts. In 2024, Bieber would improve this rotation.
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