UPDATE: I hated it and had to switch out Trevor Larnach
So far this October I’ve given an optimistic Phillies offseason, another where I lost my damn mind, one that was reasonable, and made some predictions. Those were for all you guys (and obviously my own neurosis and vanity). Well, it’s time for what I want to happen. ME! This is the Philly Front Office perfect Phillies Offseason.
The Rules
The Phillies have a budget and it should be around a maximum of $325m. I can’t go over that, even by a dollar. Also, any deals have to be legitimate. There will be no Orion Kerkering for Bobby Witt Jr trades or signing Tarik Skubal for $1m because he just thinks the Phanatic is the best. Mike Trout and Byron Buxton will never be Phillies.
Free Agency
As much as I would love the Phillies to land one of Randy Arozarena or Seiya Suzuki, giving either of these 32-year-olds a 4 or 5 year contract to play a bad corner outfield while Kyle Schwarber is at DH doesn’t thrill me. Teruaki Sato is the guy. Masataka Yoshida was a great hitter in Japan who has been a bust for Boston, but not only is Sato a level up at the plate he is also only 28. That part is what really gets me. One of the other two continues to age this core while Sato would actually be a bridge to a next generation. Because the Phillies are so bad with recruiting Japanese players though, we will need to overpay. Phillies sign Teruaki Sato for 5/$110m.
With the expected departure of Edmundo Sosa, the Phillies need another good utility man. What entices him to come to Philly though is the chance to be the starter at either 2nd or 3rd to begin the season. Aiden Miller will eventually be up, but until then, Dubon can be the stop gap. When Miller does hit the majors, Dubon will either split time with spot as the weakside platoon or double as a platoon partner in left field. Phillies sign Mauricio Dubon for 1/$7.5m with a second year option for $10m with a $2.5m buyout.
As much as I would love to sign Adrian Morejon to a 5/$100m deal to create a devastating 1-2 punch in the bullpen with Jhoan Duran, it would blow the budget. We do need a lefty reliever though. That brings us to Alex Vesia and Steven Okert. Both are lefties coming off great seasons, but Vesia is 5 years younger. If you can get either one for 2/$15m it would be a steal. Let’s go with Okert because he is much less likely to return to the Astros than Vesia is to the Dodgers. Phillies sign Steven Okert 2/$15m.
Trades
I’m sorry, but my ideal Phillies team does not include Brandon Marsh (just like it does not include Alec Bohm). People who defend them are confusing to me. Why? Because they are not special players. Can they be good, yes. Does this mean you should pay them $10m+ to be average for the most part? NO!!! The problem is that the Phillies lack a plug and play replacement from the minors who can play average ball for a fraction of the price. I am trading Brandon Marsh for whatever minimum making reliever I can find and if it doesn’t work out, that’s fine.
To kill two birds with one stone of elimination by subtraction, I am trading Marsh and Orion Kerkering to the Cubs for former 1st round lefty Jordan Wicks. Wicks is wild, but still has big time arm talent. He is the kind of post hype pitching prospect that the Phillies could rebuild. He also makes the minimum. For anyone who thinks Marsh is worth more than this, I am sorry but he is too volatile to make as much as he is. His value is minimal at his arb price. This trade assumes that the Cubs lose either Seiya Suzuki or Ian Happ in free agency. Phillies trade Brandon Marsh and Orion Kerkering to Chicago for Jordan Wicks.
Trading Marsh means we need a left fielder to platoon with Dubon. For this I am going to the hated St. Louis Cardinals and their strong side platoon man Alec Burleson. He mashes righties but really can’t play a lick of defense in the outfield. This may be a bad idea but this team simply needs his bat in the lineup against righties. He is also much more reliable than Marsh at the plate at a cheaper price. Assuming Aiden Miller comes up and performs, Dubon would move to a fulltime outfield platoon with Burleson and Harper seeing time out there as well. Phillies trade Aroon Escobar and Dante Nori to the Cardinals for Alec Burleson. If this isn’t enough, then add another guy who is not top 5 in the system.
What Do We Have?
The above roster would be for opening day but would settle into Miller at 3rd with Dubon being a super sub and sharing left with Burleson (and Harper some). The hope would be that if Turner needs to be moved off SS, he would go to 2nd with Stott moving to 3rd and Miller to short. If he need to move down in the lineup, Miller would move up.
For all those wanting an upgrade at catcher, I just don’t know how to do it. They paid J.T. Realmuto too much for too long making the idea of a catcher coming here to back him up undesirable. They keep saying they will give backups more playing time, but they don’t do it. Why would anyone sign on for that? If they can find a lefty at the minimum, go for it.
I surprised myself when Johan Rojas was the last person added to the roster. I doubt he actually plays on the 2027 Phillies but he at least plays good defense. That’s the kind of person who should be the last person on the roster. Ending games with Rojas, Hill, and Crawford in the outfield isn’t half bad.
The bullpen still needs an upgrade at the deadline. Moving all those arms but Duran back a level would be fantastic. What they have though is enough to get them there.
I have to tell you, it is much easier improving this roster in theory rather than practice. This version is better than last year and has more consistency, but is it that much better? Probably not. It would be banking a ton on Turner improving, Miller being good, and Sato hitting the ground running in MLB. Signing someone like Arozarena or Suzuki would look better in 2027 considering they are right handed, but I am trying to be prudent here.
The final lineup comes in just under budget too.
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