Blake snell is on another planet right now. 8 innings 0 ERs, 1 hit, 0 BB and 10 Ks

Last 6 starts he’s pitched 40 innings, 15 H, 3 ER, 10 BB and 57 Ks

Remember that time when we went into great detail about why the Phillies should just give Blake Snell a three-year contract over re-signing Nola. Yeah they should’ve done that.

Dodgers bullpen hangs on.

The worst thing they could do in this offseason is spend about $30m on 3 replacement level players that suck.

I really don't think anyone besides Kyle Tucker can get me thinking the lineup wont be a problem again next year.

23 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

The worst thing they could do in this offseason is spend about $30m on 3 replacement level players that suck.

I really don't think anyone besides Kyle Tucker can get me thinking the lineup wont be a problem again next year.

Could move Harper back to RF. Then sign Alonso and have a top of the lineup if Turner, schwarber, Harper and Alonso

so bold he’s going to bring everyone back on new contracts!

1 hour ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

If he does get 5 years, hopefully it's not with the Phillies. 3 max.

2 hours ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Could move Harper back to RF. Then sign Alonso and have a top of the lineup if Turner, schwarber, Harper and Alonso

I worry how many games Harper is going to play if he's the RF.

I know I'm being nihilistic here, but have you seen Armageddon and Deep Impact? I just feel the asteroid has passed that line beyond which they can't explode it and get the fragments to miss Earth. I think Schwarber, Turner, and Harper are all going to be inferior hitters next year. No Ranger.

Signing one Pete Alonso or Tucker plus overpaying Schwarber, at best, IMO, is the equivalent of treading water. I really don't think anything can be done.

3 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

I worry how many games Harper is going to play if he's the RF.

I know I'm being nihilistic here, but have you seen Armageddon and Deep Impact? I just feel the asteroid has passed that line beyond which they can't explode it and get the fragments to miss Earth. I think Schwarber, Turner, and Harper are all going to be inferior hitters next year. No Ranger.

Signing one Pete Alonso or Tucker plus overpaying Schwarber, at best, IMO, is the equivalent of treading water. I really don't think anything can be done.

I think you are expecting their decline to be significantly more next year. I think probably still have 2 more good years. I think you can capitalize that but you have to be willing to commit to signing a tucker or Alonso and being all in on the next 2. And also be understanding in year 3 it’s probably going to turn and be rough for 3-4 years (maybe more). But either way can trade some guys like luzarado and Sanchez away to help bring in young prospects at that point

3 hours ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

5 years? Yeah, no thanks. Rather sign Bregman or Alonso .

Hopefully the big move is trading Nola and keeping Ranger. The Dodgers are going to the WS and the Phillies should have beaten them. They need to keep those three with Wheeler. Especially, if he can't come back.

19 hours ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Could move Harper back to RF. Then sign Alonso and have a top of the lineup if Turner, schwarber, Harper and Alonso

Need a love button for this one.

The way the playoffs are so spaced out these days (between series and even in the series you get a 1-2 days off), you only need 3 starters. Sanchez, Luzardo, Nola or Wheeler if he can still play. Ranger can walk.

Open the checkbook for the bats.

2 minutes ago, Khani1 said:

The way the playoffs are so spaced out these days (between series and even in the series you get a 1-2 days off), you only need 3 starters. Sanchez, Luzardo, Nola or Wheeler if he can still play. Ranger can walk.

Open the checkbook for the bats.

The only thing they are going to do is overpay for schwarber and realmuto and sign another scrub left fielder

26 minutes ago, Joe Shades 73 said:

The only thing they are going to do is overpay for schwarber and realmuto and sign another scrub left fielder

They should have an all or nothing mentally. Go all in for 2 years and mortgage the future in hopes of a ring or just blow it all up now. No in between crap.

1 minute ago, Diehardfan said:

It won’t really matter. If you go all in, it’s a 2 year window. The shorter contract might actually be better in this case. I prefer both. The middle ground is how we are stuck and have been for 4 years.

27 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

I’d love to get rutschman. he’s coming off of down here. However, the Orioles made it pretty clear that they weren’t gonna give him an extension. They’ve basically drafted catchers the last couple years. And they’ve been moving in that direction. I think the issue is kind of like what Jt Realmuto, there’s not a great catchers market in free agency. Which means his value is gonna be higher than really what it should be after what he did last year and with the amount of time he has left on the contract. I’m curious to see what type of prospects are required. The Orioles really need pitching. I think painter is off limits. I think wood is likely close to that since they just drafted him

3 hours ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Actually thought Bowden did a good job on this. Particularly catcher and 3b he made some good options. Might not love them but they make sense for the Phillies. He also thinks the Phillies should sign Tucker cause he’s 28 and gives them a star OF bat they’ve needed

Catcher

Realmuto, headed for free agency ahead of his age-35 season, hit just .257 this past season with 12 homers and 52 RBIs. He still calls a great game, and his pitching staff loves to throw to him. He can still shut down the running game thanks to his elite pop time, which puts him in the 99th percentile of all catchers, but his blocking and framing numbers are quite poor. If he does return, it needs to be on a one- or two-year deal at the most and with a pay cut. (He’s making nearly $24 million this year.)

The trade market could provide the Phillies with an avenue for an upgrade at catcher, with potential younger targets who can help both in the short- and long-term. The Rockies will have a new head of baseball operations and that person will be looking to wheel-and-deal. Hunter Goodman is only 26 years old and was their only All-Star last year. He hit .278 with 31 homers this year for Colorado, and if the Phillies were willing to do a quantity-for-quality-type deal, perhaps the teams could match up.

Other trade target possibilities include the Royals’ Carter Jensen or Blake Mitchell, the Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing, the Marlins’ Agustín Ramírez (who has big power but must overcome major defensive issues), or maybe even the Mariners’ Harry Ford, who is blocked by superstar Cal Raleigh. Of course, any of these trades would require the Phillies to sacrifice top prospects and major-league talent to even have a chance of coming to fruition.

Third base is a spot on the roster where change needs to be made — both for Bohm’s sake and the Phillies’. Bohm has a career .328 OBP and is a 10- to 15-home run hitter, numbers the Phillies could upgrade with the right player acquisition this offseason. In free agency, Alex Bregman will be available, and in addition to his reliable bat and consistent glove, he’d bring strong leadership skills and postseason success with him.

Bo Bichette, another impending free agent, could be worth a look after a bounce-back season. A move from shortstop to third base is probably what’s next for him. He’s led the American League in hits twice and was only edged out this season due to injury. He would be a huge upgrade at the hot corner for Philly.

Another option for third base could be Munetaka Murakami, who has played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Nippon Professional Baseball and is expected to be posted this offseason. He’s a legitimate 30-home run hitter who gets on base at a high rate, but he’s a below-average third baseman defensively. He can also play first base, where he is adequate, if the Phillies wanted to move Harper back to right field. However, a high-profile Japanese player has never signed with Philadelphia.

Arguably the best option for the Phillies at third base would be to promote top prospect Aidan Miller, who turns 22 in January, to be the everyday third baseman. This past season, he posted a .382 OBP in Double A with 25 doubles, 13 home runs and 52 stolen bases before finishing the season with a cameo in Triple A. The 2023 first-round pick has played mostly shortstop in the minor leagues but a move to third base shouldn’t be too challenging. Getting younger is going to be important for this team next year, and promoting Miller would move that needle in the right direction.

Maybe JT can have a sit down with Harper. Let him know, it’s ok to take a little off your swing. It’s ok to choke up when you are behind in the count. Minimize your swing for the fences swing to 2-0, 3-1, 3-0 counts. Never gonna happen but we can wish right?

46 minutes ago, iladelphxx said:

I would sign 3 of those guys at those numbers, and could probably be cajoled into signing as many as 5 of them

Let's play this offseason out:

- Ranger walks

- Schwarber, Realmuto re-signed

The best bats available in FA:

Tucker, Alonso, Naylor, Bellinger, Suarez

What name or names on that list are good enough to not only offset the anticipated regression of Harper/Turner/Schwarber but also put the team over the top?

And what if they do not add anyone on that list?