The Phillies are currently exploring the market and are not looking to make a “big splash” this offseason, reports Phillies insider Todd Zolecki.
“Right now, I would say we’re exploring,” Dombrowski said. “We came in here trying to be open-minded to anything that takes place to get our ballclub better, more around the edges … so that’s how we’re out there pursuing anything. We’ll keep open minds toward anybody.”
The Phillies like the squad they got right now and seem to be sniffing out a few complimentary pieces to help push them over the edge and bring home that ring they have been so close to these past two seasons.
“I would anticipate that we’re going to sign a bullpen guy,” Dombrowski said. “I would think somewhere in the winter, we have a chance to do that. Or a trade. It’s probably going to come after more of them come off the list. They’re in a position where they’re willing to say, ‘OK, we’ll take a one-year deal for X amount of dollars.’ So that’s what we’re doing at this point. We’re just talking to people. You just never know when you’re together in a group like this. Not only from a club perspective but from an agent perspective. We have not been in here in a situation where we’re putting our heads together yet and saying, ‘Hey what about this trade? What do you think about this? What do you think about that?’ I didn’t anticipate that we would the first day. We’ll see what happens the next couple of days.”
The biggest glaring hole they have was exposed in the postseason. I understand, Johan Rojas had his major league debut in July of this year and he was great during the 59 games he played during the regular season hitting over .300 and had a .772 OPS. Can’t ask for much more from the 23 year old center fielder.
Then the postseason came and to say that Rojas was a shell of himself would be an understatement. In 43 ABs, he hit .093/.114/.277 a complete disapointment and basically became a free out, respectfully.
I love Brandon Marsh. I think he is your every day centerfielder. Rob Thomson would disagree. I understand you have to matchup lefty righty but Marsh can hit lefties. He’s proved that throughout the season, there was even a point during the season where his splits were better against lefties than righties. That being said, the Phillies should add another piece to the outfield puzzle.
“We’re content there, but does something we see makes us better right now?” Dombrowski said. “OK, boom. We just go ahead and we jump on that.”
Could Harrison Bader be a good fit? He is coming off his worst season at the MLB level batting .237/.280/.356 on the year. To be fair, the kid went from the Cardinals to the Yankees to the Reds from 2022-2023. Give this guy a chance to settle in and replicate his years with the Cardinals where he had back to back seasons with a 114 OPS+. Let’s look at what he would bring. He is a former Gold Glove winner and elite defender who posted 6 defensive runs saved and 10 outs above average in 735 innings last season. The most intriguing part I see is that he crushes left handed pitching. Last season, he batted .317/.380/.610 against lefties. He also just had a career high 20 steals while only getting caught 3 times. If the Phillies want to add some insurance behind Rojas, someone who crushes lefties, brings speed and a Gold Glove, Bader might be the guy.
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