[Editor’s Update: Brandon Marsh can go too]
I want to get this down while I am still seething mad so it has the potential to look really stupid in retrospect. Let’s make drastic changes to the Phillies while still being a tiny bit reasonable. Aaron Nola, Bryce Harper, and Trea Turner are not going anywhere because ALL THREE HAVE FULL NO TRADE CLAUSES. Other than them though, this lineup can get the f*** out. I’m keeping most of the pitchers. Let’s dive in.
OUT
Rob Thomson, Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Nick Castellanos, Taijuan Walker, Ranger Suarez, David Robertson, Jordan Romano, Max Kepler
These guys are all leaving for different reasons and in different ways.
- Rob Thomson – Manager: I am a pretty open-minded person who knows that it takes a team to lose. That being said, I do not understand how there are still Rob Thomson defenders out there. I get that sometimes he gets put in no win situations like last light in the 7th, but he will ALWAYS make the worst decision. Everyone knew Jose Alvarado was cooked in the 2022 World Series but he pulled Wheeler to face Yordan Alvarez anyway. Everyone knew Craig Kimbral was cooked in the 2023 NLCS, but he put him in anyway. Everyone knows Orion Kerkering cannot pitch with runners on, but he put him in anyway.1 He is pitching Nola in game 3 despite him being basically unplayable this whole season. For anyone claiming he has one of the best records in Phillies history, please put that in some context. He also has the highest payroll and most talent this team has ever had too. He isn’t “out-managing” anyone.
- Kyle Schwarber – DH: I love Kyle and would love having him back, but he is also 33 and looking at $30m+ per year (even if I think it will be less). If we want to change the culture here and can’t move Turner or Harper, then it starts with Schwarber and his lack of defensive roster spot. Replacing his power will be impossible 1 for 1
- Alec Bohm – 3B: Bohm reminds me of every country club villain in 80s teen movies. He just reeks of being a petulant, entitled child. He is slower than dirt, swings at every first pitch, and has no power. What are holding on to, his mood swings? MLB Trade Rumors has him pegged at $10m in arbitration. No thank you. Cut him, trade him for nothing, I don’t care.
- Bryson Stott – 2B: I know we all really want him to be Chase Utley, but he can’t hit lefties and he can’t hit fastballs. He will cost $6m next year to hit 9th. What are we doing? It is time to pull the plug. With 2 years left, he should have some trade value
- Nick Castellanos – RF: I think we have all had enough of the enigmatic Castellanos who decided to blame the fans last night for his struggles. We love the Phillies, but they have now lost 9 of 11 playoff games. We waited all year for something different, but it is our fault you are doing the same damn thing? I have defended this man to no end. I was already willing to kick him to the curb, but go F*** yourself dude. He is owed $20m next year. IF we are VERY lucky, someone will trade for him if we eat 75% of the contract or take back crap in return. In fact, that’s a story for another day. What crap would you take back for Nick Castellanos?
- Ranger Suarez – SP: This is not out of anger. I love Ranger. I even think you can make a good argument that he needs to come back, but he is also a likely $25m per year pitcher on a squad with 6 starters. I’m not nearly as convinced that he is leaving as I was 6 months ago though.
- Taijuan Walker – SP, David Robertson – RP, Jordan Romano – RP, Max Kepler – OF: He has to have some market, right? In the last year of his 4/$72m deal, Walker is owed $18m. $6m for a starter anyone? I don’t think there’s anything to say about the other three.
STAYING
Caleb Cotham, Harrison Bader, JT Realmuto, Jose Alvarado
- Caleb Cotham – Pitching Coach: Give this man a lifetime contract. What he has done with this whole staff outside of Aaron Nola is nothing short of remarkable. Jesus Luzardo might get $200m because of him. Ranger is going to get 9 figures. He saved Jeff Hoffman and turned Cris Sanchez into an ace. What an asset he is.
- Harrison Bader – CF: He has been fantastic since he got to Philadelphia and is the kind of player I want the new team to be more like. He plays like a goddamn neanderthal and I love it. Get more people like him who give a shit and the team will be in a better place. He has a $10m player option that he will decline. He would probably take something like $36 to $45m over 3 years.
- JT Realmuto – C: I am not in love with JT by any extent, but he is certainly not cooked and he is 100x better than any other catcher out there. His market also isn’t that good, making him a good candidate to return.
- Jose Alvarado – RP: Yes, he cheated this year, but he still has a big arm. No, I am not looking to bring him back at $9m. Something like sub-$5m is fine.
- Walker Buehler – SP: Sure, why not? He isn’t getting $20m this year and probably won’t even see $10m. If he wants to take around $7.5m then make him the long man/6th starter as insurance.
Rookie Starters
I do not care about competing next year. Well, that’s not completely true, but I would like to focus on the development of rookies while still fielding a playoff capable roster. Why in the world was Justin Crawford not promoted this season? I know he is not available right now with a concussion, but he should have been promoted after the all-star break when the entire outfield was struggling. Maybe then we wouldn’t have had Castellanos running from second last night. Just insane that we had no pinch runners for him but like 5 guys in the pen who won’t throw a pitch this series. Crawford has like 80 speed. Goddamn this team is so dumb.
- Justin Crawford – OF: Depending on whether Bader comes back, Crawford has to be either the starting CF or RF coming out of camp. He could go 0-40 and that should still be the plan. They did it with Johan Rojas, they need to do it with Crawford who is significantly more talented.
- Andrew Painter – SP: Don’t let the bad results in the first year of recovery after Tommy John fool you, Painter still has the velocity and still has the talent. Last season was all about getting innings. He did that. It is time to slot him in as the #5 starter out of camp.
- Aiden Miller – 2B: At every level, Miller starts out slow then gets red hot. It took about 2 months longer than normal last year, but he still ended the season on a 2-month scorcher. He will more likely be a mid season replacement, but why not throw him in the fire?
- Keaton Anthony – OF/1B: So maybe he won’t be starting, but Anthony deserves a good look. The short story on him was that he was not drafted following a gambling accusation during college that he was later cleared of. At 24, he crushed AA and AAA this season. He’s ready if Bader doesn’t come back.
- Gabe Craig – RP: The nastiest pitch in college baseball last year was the slider from the 6’5″ righty. He had a .56 ERA in 31 innings of Big 12 Baseball last year.
Free Agency and Trades
By my math, we need a 2B/3B, DH/1B, possibly an OF with power, and 1 reliever. We should have about $50m to spend if Bader and Realmuto come back.
- Jeremy Pena – SS/3B – Trade: Don’t laugh. The MVP candidate has 2 more years of control left and is going to want a massive contract in the end. The Astros traded Kyle Tucker for similar reasons. They also have Josh Hader, Christian Walker, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, and Yordan Alvarez locked up for YEARS. Cashing in on him now might work. However, it will likely cost us Aiden Miller and/or Andrew Painter.
- Steven Kwan – OF – Trade: He almost got dealt at the trade deadline and will now cost around $9m in his 2nd year of arbitration. The Guardians do not like to pay people.
- Munetaka Murakami – 1B/DH – Posting: He is a lefty power bat from Japan. Before you go thinking he is already a Dodger or Yankee, neither team can employ a DH. The Phillies will have an opening and have been desperate to break into the Japanese market. No idea what his market is.
- Bo Bichette – 3B – Free Agent: Bichette is back and playing at a high level. He hits for average and was a doubles machine this year. If Toronto wins it all, I could see him going back to Toronto, but they have serious payroll obligations already. If he wants a Trea Turner deal, then he probably won’t be a Phillie, but anything less and he is in play.
- Seiya Suzuki – OF – Trade: If the Cubs want to keep Kyle Tucker, then moving Suzuki and his $19m salary is probably a must. He hit 32 HRs last year.
- Yoan Moncada – 2B – Free Agent: Moncada spent the season with the Angels and hit very well from the left side. Platoon him with Miller at 2B
- Taylor Ward or Jo Adell – OF – Trade: The Angels inexplicably stayed put this trade deadline despite Adell and Ward both on pace for 35+ HR seasons. They didn’t hit for average, but they drove the ball out of the park. The Phillies do not have anyone like this. We need this. Alec Bohm for Ward or Bryson Stott for Adell works for me especially at similar arbitration prices.
- Randy Arozarena – OF – Trade: This is the guy I want. He is projected to cost around $18m in arbitration which is probably too much for the Mariners. They do like to trade though. Straight up Arozarena for either Bohm or Stott?
I wish there was more out there, but this is what it is. How would we feel about running a lineup like this out there next year with Wheeler, Sanchez, Luzardo, Nola, and Painter as the starters:
| Catcher | JT Realmuto |
| 1B/DH | Bryce Harper |
| DH/1B | Munetaka Murakami |
| 2B | Aiden Miller |
| 3B | Bo Bichette |
| SS | Trea Turner |
| LF | Brandon Marsh and Jo Adell Platoon |
| CF | Harrison Bader |
| RF | Justin Crawford |
- Do not give me that it wasn’t his fault. Yes, he made a good pitch and with a better throw they get Turner at home, but that was 1 run. He still sucked after that. Leave Luzardo in or bring in anyone else (Tanner Banks anyone?) but do not bring in Kerkering in that situation. Why have Ranger Suarez in the pen if there was no plan to use him? ↩︎
Philly Front Office 
Leave a comment