It will take five weeks. That’s all there is to it before the Philadelphia Phillies’ players report to Spring Training.
The Phillies have five weeks to improve their roster.
Don’t get your hopes up.
The starting rotation and the back end of the bullpen are the two areas where we keep hearing rumblings. However, according to recent sources and even manager Rob Thomson himself, fans should brace themselves for a quiet offseason that will last until mid-February.
The Phillies’ bullpen strategy is a non-starter.
We’ll start with the bullpen, as it appears to be the most immediate necessity for a Phillies team that wants to return to the World Series in 2024. Although Josh Hader is clearly the best available, lesser-knowns such as fireballer Jordan Hicks would make excellent additions to the high-octane relief corps.
Although some fans assume that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Sam Fuld must sign Hader, that may not be the case.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Phillies would not make an offer to Josh Hader because he does not “… fit into their team.”
Thomson recently joined on the Mike Missanelli Podcast, where he discussed the Phillies management office’s approach to bolstering the relief corps a week into the new year. When asked if the Phillies are seeking for another arm to handle a late-inning, high-leverage position, Missanelli was noncommittal at best.
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“I think if he lands in our lap, sure, we’d take another guy,” Thomson explained, whatever that implies.
His response lacks the assertiveness that fans looking for a bullpen overhaul want to hear.
Thomson described the team’s bullpen personnel situation, which makes sense from a roster manipulation aspect. But not from the raw emotional standpoint with which supporters approach their desire to see the World Series trophy lifted in Philadelphia for the third time.
“We don’t have many guys with options down there,” Thomson admitted. “And there are times throughout the year when you have to flip guys out.” You’re going to lose someone to another team if you have eight guys in your bullpen with no options.”
Of course, he’s correct. Only two relievers are expected to open the season in the Phillies bullpen, according to Roster Resource: Gregory Soto and Orion Kerkering. Connor Brogdon, who will compete for a bullpen spot in Clearwater, as well as Luis Ortiz and Yunior Marte, have an option year remaining.
“We still have Conor Brogdon, Bellatti, and Ortiz, who did a nice job,” Thomson added. “We’re hoping Kerkering can take over that spot and become a high-end player.” Marte is still in the minor leagues.
“So we’ve got a lot of depth, a lot of flexibility, and I don’t think we need to go out and find a high-end reliever and put the full-court press on him.” But if the situation arises before spring training and someone falls into our lap, we’d gladly take them.”
Missanelli persisted, asking directly if the Phillies needed a closer.
“No, I don’t think so,” Thomson replied swiftly. “We’ve got five or six guys down there that have high-end stuff and have kind of pitched in that role, so I’m comfortable with that.”
So depth and flexibility are the goal of the game, and a closer-by-committee appears to be the idea for the 2024 bullpen — though many believe José Alvarado should get the first look at the ninth-inning job.
The most recent information on the best free agent starters
The Texas Rangers, according to Nightengale, are the frontrunners to sign, or re-sign, top free agent starting Jordan Montgomery. Their case is aided by the fact that his preference has always been to return to Texas.
Concerning the second top starter on the market, Blake Snell, it appears that Dombrowski and the Phillies are hesitant to pay for the NL Cy Young winner’s services because they are unsure he can take the strain of pitching in their market.
“Large-market teams openly question whether he could handle the pressure and scrutiny of pitching in their city,” Nightengale said. “There’s a reason why the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees and Mets have shied away, at least for now.”
Given that Snell has only played for the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Diego Padres, an untested shift to one of the big cities, where fans freely chew up and spit out athletes who don’t produce, could be difficult. And, despite the unexpected Trea Turner love-in this season, Philly is a tough market.
Aside from the fact that the Phillies do not consider Snell as a fit, Nightengale believes that Snell will remain a free agent once Spring Training begins. So, even if the Phillies take a chance and sign him, it won’t be soon.
Nightengale believes the Phillies are intent on extending Zack Wheeler — and even Bryce Harper? — this offseason. When contemplating the remaining years in this core’s competing window, such a deal would put Phillies fans at ease.
But how much would it alleviate the growing anxiety over the new season, which appears to be seething beneath the surface right now?
What happens to the Phillies’ rotation in 2024?
Thomson, for his part, delivered the corporate line flawlessly when Missanelli inquired about the fifth position in the rotation and the large free agents available. The part of the inquiry about free agents was entirely overlooked by the Phillies’ manager. Instead, he discussed the team’s preparations for Cristopher Sánchez, who took over the final rotation place in 2023.
“I think with the way Sánchez pitched last year, I think we have to give him every opportunity to take that fifth spot down,” “And I’m pretty positive that he will.”
With his outstanding 2023 performance, Sánchez has earned the opportunity to take the first pitch in the rotation come Spring Training. The 27-year-old southpaw pitched 99 1/3 innings and had a 3.44 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 3.99 FIP.
His much-improved walk rate, which dropped to 4.0 percent after a pair of false starts to his MLB career in 2021 and 2022, was a significant reason for his success. His strikeout rate increased to 24.2 percent, boosted by his 34.8 percent chase rate (97th percentile) and 43 percent whiff rate on his lethal changeup.
“He’s a striker. Thomson described the changeup as “a weapon.” “This kid really came on for me last year, not just physically but also mentally.” He can manage huge moments and maintain his cool under pressure. He’d be our fifth starter if we started today, in my opinion.”
And there you have it. As of now, it appears that the Phillies are not planning to overspend for another top starter.
Unless, of course, someone falls in their lap.
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