The Phillies are recognized to be wanting for outfield assist this winter, although shifting Bryce Harper from first base again into the outfield doesn’t seem to be a consideration. Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer wonders if the Phils may probably re-evaluate this stance, as Lauber feels the primary base market (for each free brokers and commerce prospects) is far deeper than this winter’s outfield market. Of the highest outfielders in free company, Juan Soto appears more likely to be going to one of many different big-market golf equipment, whereas Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander every have the strikeout or chase price points that the Phillies are already seeking to right inside their present lineup. Philadelphia did have curiosity in Hernandez again on the 2023 commerce deadline when the slugger was nonetheless a member of the Mariners, however Lauber notes that the Phils handed on Hernandez beneath the same logic that Hernandez’s energy wouldn’t offset his tendency to swing and miss.
Harper’s first full season as a primary baseman as successful, as he posted sturdy defensive numbers and saved up his common excessive requirements on the plate. These outcomes have understandably left all events happy with simply maintaining Harper on the chilly nook, although Harper has expressed an openness to enjoying the outfield once more and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski didn’t fully shut the door on the chance (“I can’t say that we’d by no means do it, but it surely’s not one thing that we’re considering of or eager to do“) when discussing the topic on the GM Conferences final month.
If Harper did return to his previous spot in proper area, Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas would probably change into the Phillies’ new heart area platoon, and Nick Castellanos would presumably be shifted over to left area. This association wouldn’t precisely make for the strongest defensive outfield, even when the Phillies tried to steadiness out the scenario by including a stronger defender at first base. Buying and selling Castellanos to clear house within the outfield is likely to be the best end result, although that’s clearly simpler mentioned than achieved contemplating the 2 years and $40MM remaining on the veteran’s contract.
Extra from the NL East…
- Earlier than the Nationals parted methods with Kyle Finnegan, the 2 events at the very least had some talks a couple of new contract previous to the non-tender deadline, however the Washington Publish’s Andrew Golden hears from a supply that “the edges weren’t shut to creating a deal to keep away from arbitration.” Finnegan was projected by MLBTR’s Matt Swartz to earn $8.6MM in his last yr of arb eligibility, as conventional counting stats like saves (Finnegan had 28 saves in 2023 and 38 saves in 2024) have a tendency to spice up a reliever’s arbitration salaries by a major diploma, no matter Finnegan’s in any other case somewhat shaky secondary metrics. It appears as if the Nationals would’ve been open to retaining the nearer at a decrease quantity, however finally weren’t snug retaining Finnegan and probably dealing with a better wage by way of arbitration listening to if the Nats couldn’t have doubtlessly traded Finnegan at some later date this offseason.
- Sandy Alcantara underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in October 2023, and after over a yr of restoration and rehab, the Marlins ace seems to be making good progress in direction of a return. In a latest look on MLB Community Radio on SiriusXM (hyperlink to X), supervisor Clayton McCullough mentioned he met with Alcantara throughout the final week and “he regarded nice, he sounded nice, felt like he was actually proper on observe at this level….All indicators level to issues wanting very optimistic for the beginning of the season.” The winner of the 2022 NL Cy Younger Award, Alcantara threw extra innings than another pitcher in baseball over the 2019-2022 seasons because the anchor of the Marlins’ pitching workers, earlier than that workload seemingly caught as much as him late within the 2023 marketing campaign. Since Alcantara is owed at the very least $36MM over the past two years of his contract, some commerce buzz might be inevitable if he seems like his previous self at first of 2025, although the rebuilding Marlins already instructed Alcantara final summer time that they probably weren’t buying and selling him this offseason.
