While the Philadelphia Phillies are still looking to add players this offseason, one of their sources says they are unlikely to sign another starter.
The Philadelphia Phillies and their conversation with prized free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto made for some exciting news.
The front office was rumored to be very interested in pursuing the 25-year-old Japanese phenom prior to Aaron Nola signing a long-term deal to stay with the Phillies.
After awarding a seven-year, $172 million contract that appears to be significantly less than what Yamamoto will now receive, Philadelphia is now viewed as a team that will make only minor additions, if any at all.
That’s essentially what The Athletic’s Matt Gelb said in response to a mailbag question about adding more starting pitching.
“Any free-agent starter seeking guaranteed money or guaranteed starts should avoid the Phillies.” They have five pre-programmed starters… Right now, free-agent pitchers want guarantees. The Phillies’ best bet is to say, “You’d be our top reserve option if something happened to the other five.” That could eventually appeal to some fringe starters who need a place to call home when the carousel stops spinning. “At that point, the depth appears to be a couple of minor-league contracts,” he writes.
The expected rotation is Nola, Zack Wheeler, Taijuan Walker, Ranger Suarez, and Christopher Sanchez.
Yamamoto would be an incredible addition, giving them one of the best one through three starters in the entire MLB, but his price tag is what complicates matters, as the Phillies already have the second-highest payroll heading into the 2024 season.
So, as Gelb suggests, it’s unlikely they’ll add any high-profile starters.
If they do add players, it will most likely be relievers or reclamation projects who will work in their minor league system.
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