We’ve reached the purpose of the Phillies offseason the place followers are gripped to their Twitter or Bluesky feeds, desperately inhaling each rumor, nugget, and/or stray morsel of knowledge concerning trades or free-agent signings.
It’s onerous to imagine this franchise hasn’t gained a World Sequence within the final half-decade. Contemplate that Bryce Harper, whom they signed as a 26-year-old celebrity previous to the 2019 season, has performed six seasons in Philadelphia, gained an MVP award, and never gained the World Sequence.
Contemplate that since 2018, the Phillies have had two of the sport’s highest pitchers in Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, not less than when it comes to Wins Above Substitute, and haven’t gained a World Sequence.
They’ve had J.T. Realmuto since 2019. They’d Zach Eflin, one of many recreation’s higher younger pitchers, from 2019 to ‘22. Kyle Schwarber has hit 131 HRs in three seasons with the Phils after totaling 153 over seven seasons with three different golf equipment. They’ve developed Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez into strong beginning pitchers and had electrical bullpens going again to 2022.
How has this group not gained a World Sequence but?
Whereas Dave Dombrowski has correctly insisted they’re balancing sustainability in addition to profitable a championship now, it shouldn’t be misplaced on anybody that there’s maybe no group in baseball for whom the stakes are larger in 2025. That’s the reason the fanbase pants breathlessly at each Juan Soto rumor, hypothesis over buying and selling for a younger star pitcher just like the White Sox’s Garrett Crochet, and why the big-spending Phils are seemingly “in” on each free agent not nailed down.
Rumors with a objective
After all, a lot of what we see and listen to at the moment of 12 months ought to be taken with a grain of salt. Participant brokers use nationwide writers to additional their very own ends, leaking little bits of knowledge to the media within the hopes of transferring the market somehow. On Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Right this moment reported the Phillies haven’t even spoken with agent Scott Boras about his consumer, megastar outfielder Juan Soto.
Is it true? Maybe. However these tales don’t get on the market with out some ulterior motive. And make no mistake, a lot of groups play this recreation, too.
That being stated, the Phils are often fairly tight-lipped about their plans, which is why offseason Sizzling Range rumors are enjoyable, however not essentially informative. What they do, nevertheless, is get us to invest, to investigate, and to dream large on how sure gamers would look in the event that they got here to Philadelphia.
Right here’s what we all know for certain heading into Thanksgiving this week:
- The Phillies will not be going to scale back their payroll. They’re going to spend.
- They’ve wants within the outfield and behind the bullpen.
- They need to change the make-up of their lineup and usher in gamers with extra plate self-discipline.
- They imagine in beginning pitching depth.
- They seem keen to maneuver gamers from their large league roster to facilitate creativity.
That’s it.
Yeah, it appears like third baseman Alec Bohm is being dangled on the market, with Suarez and Nick Castellanos seemingly out there, too. However till one thing really goes down, all we’re left with are rumors, hypothesis and innuendo.
Which is why you must take heed to and subscribe to our Phillies podcast Hittin’ Season, the place Justin Klugh, Liz Roscher and I are following each little nugget hidden below each rock within the Sizzling Range wilderness, together with our newest episode during which we talk about the Soto rumor, a possible commerce for Crochet, and lots of different offseason objects of curiosity!