From COTS Contracts, bunch of players going into last year of contract and may get extended:

Realmuto, Schwarber, Max Kepler, Ranger Suarez

I don't think the Phillies are done adding players.

I think they are in on RP Carlos Estevez. I'd like Jurickson Profar.

2025 MLB Team Tax Tracker Link to MLB teams versus tax threshold of $241mil

Phillies have second highest payroll at $298mil, with Dodgers at $353mil, Yankees at $291mil, Mets at $269mil.

Competitive Balance Tax | Glossary | MLB.com 

"A club that exceeds the Competitive Balance Tax threshold is subject to an increasing tax rate depending on how many consecutive years it has done so.

First year: 20 percent tax on all overages

Second consecutive year: 30 percent

Third consecutive year or more: 50 percent"

Don't know where Phillies are on consecutive years over threshold, but I assume it's 2 or 3+.

So, they are in a big spending window. Just go for it. Push more chips in. Not my money.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, CouchKing said:

From COTS Contracts, bunch of players going into last year of contract and may get extended:

Realmuto, Schwarber, Max Kepler, Ranger Suarez

I don't think the Phillies are done adding players.

I think they are in on RP Carlos Estevez. I'd like Jurickson Profar.

2025 MLB Team Tax Tracker Link to MLB teams versus tax threshold of $241mil

Phillies have second highest payroll at $298mil, with Dodgers at $353mil, Yankees at $291mil, Mets at $269mil.

Competitive Balance Tax | Glossary | MLB.com 

"A club that exceeds the Competitive Balance Tax threshold is subject to an increasing tax rate depending on how many consecutive years it has done so.

First year: 20 percent tax on all overages

Second consecutive year: 30 percent

Third consecutive year or more: 50 percent"

Don't know where Phillies are on consecutive years over threshold, but I assume it's 2 or 3+.

So, they are in a big spending window. Just go for it. Push more chips in. Not my money.

 

 

They actually have a bunch of money coming off the books next year. This year they really didn’t have a bunch. So one of two things are gonna happen. If they regress and they’re not as good this year there is a chance they say we’re just going into Playing the younger players like Crawford and Miller and we’re not gonna spend right now until they’re ready. Or if they stay as good as they were last year, they could go into free agency and actually spend big money and get a couple guys to come in here and try to get them over the hump along with the young guys they bring up.

 

 

Miller, Crawford, Rincones, Painter and McGarry invited. 

No Abel

Anyone else super concerned about their bullpen? Currently you have two guys in strahm and Kerkering from last year that you can trust in a high-leverage situation.

The 2 other guys that they are relying on are Alvarado and Romano. Alvarado was not good last year. The Phillies went into 2024 thinking Dominguez and Soto were just going to bounce back and be what they were in previous seasons.  Neither did. It feels like just hoping Alvarado with Romano coming off an elbow injury and in his mid 30s to also bounce back is incredibly risky.

if by chance neither do then at the trade deadline you’re gonna have to trade for a high leverage reliever and it’s gonna cost you prospects. Imo you’re better off just going and signing an Estevez or trying to get Tanner Scott. It assures you have 3 high leverage relievers and now don’t have to bank on Alvarado and Romano bouncing back. Really only would need 1 hit and if both do your bullpen is stacked. 

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

Anyone else super concerned about their bullpen? Currently you have two guys in strahm and Kerkering from last year that you can trust in a high-leverage situation.

The 2 other guys that they are relying on are Alvarado and Romano. Alvarado was not good last year. The Phillies went into 2024 thinking Dominguez and Soto were just going to bounce back and be what they were in previous seasons.  Neither did. It feels like just hoping Alvarado with Romano coming off an elbow injury and in his mid 30s to also bounce back is incredibly risky.

if by chance neither do then at the trade deadline you’re gonna have to trade for a high leverage reliever and it’s gonna cost you prospects. Imo you’re better off just going and signing an Estevez or trying to get Tanner Scott. It assures you have 3 high leverage relievers and now don’t have to bank on Alvarado and Romano bouncing back. Really only would need 1 hit and if both do your bullpen is stacked. 

Joe Ross, Tanner Banks and Jose Ruiz will round out the the middle relief. 

I think they bring back Estevez 

 

I'm not an Estevez fan but if they do bring him back, hopefully it's only a 1 year deal. 

3 hours ago, iladelphxx said:

Joe Ross, Tanner Banks and Jose Ruiz will round out the the middle relief. 

I think they bring back Estevez 

 

It’s a scary proposition if Ross, banks and Ruiz are asked to be in high leverage situations. I don’t think any of those guys have shown to be yet.

im fine with being back estevez. He has shown he can be good in high leverage spots. It puts much less pressure on just hoping both Romano and Alvarado bounce back to 2023 form. 

Estevez coming back equals Super Bowlzzzzz!!  I mean World Seriezzzzzz!  This team has come up short, has regressed while Dodgers, Mets, Diamondbacks and even the Braves (in just get healthy) have passed them.  They have done nothing of significance so.....window closed.

Window not closed. Maybe not done for the offseason. If they wanted Estevez, don't you think that deal would be done already?

But, don't worry. We just signed a bunch of international players that will save the day ... in like 6 years.

I like that Italian RHP Sabatini. He is projected to eat his way through Philly's restaurant scene and become the next Lefty.

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

Anyone else super concerned about their bullpen? Currently you have two guys in strahm and Kerkering from last year that you can trust in a high-leverage situation.

The 2 other guys that they are relying on are Alvarado and Romano. Alvarado was not good last year. The Phillies went into 2024 thinking Dominguez and Soto were just going to bounce back and be what they were in previous seasons.  Neither did. It feels like just hoping Alvarado with Romano coming off an elbow injury and in his mid 30s to also bounce back is incredibly risky.

if by chance neither do then at the trade deadline you’re gonna have to trade for a high leverage reliever and it’s gonna cost you prospects. Imo you’re better off just going and signing an Estevez or trying to get Tanner Scott. It assures you have 3 high leverage relievers and now don’t have to bank on Alvarado and Romano bouncing back. Really only would need 1 hit and if both do your bullpen is stacked. 

Yes, absolutely. I have no trust in Alvarado based on last year and Romano also coming off injury. I'm hoping they sign Estevez.

15 minutes ago, John Blutarski said:

Yes, absolutely. I have no trust in Alvarado based on last year and Romano also coming off injury. I'm hoping they sign Estevez.

I was hoping for tanner scott but that’s a pipe dream.

frankly, I was much more confident going into 2023 about their bullpen than what I feel now going into 2024. I feel like there’s way too many question marks going into the year with his bullpen especially high leverage guys. we’re just hoping guys bounce back. You can have the best rotation in baseball, but if we get to the back end of the bullpen and they can’t hold it and we don’t have enough guys it’s not gonna matter.

59 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

I was hoping for tanner scott but that’s a pipe dream.

frankly, I was much more confident going into 2023 about their bullpen than what I feel now going into 2024. I feel like there’s way too many question marks going into the year with his bullpen especially high leverage guys. we’re just hoping guys bounce back. You can have the best rotation in baseball, but if we get to the back end of the bullpen and they can’t hold it and we don’t have enough guys it’s not gonna matter.

What do you think they're going to do with Walker? Based on the fact they got Luzardo and Painter coming up later in the season, Walker is not in the starting rotation (hopefully). He is terrible at pitching and has no business being in the majors. But we also know that DD is not sending him down because of the ridiculous contract. So do they try to get him into the BP? 

1 hour ago, John Blutarski said:

What do you think they're going to do with Walker? Based on the fact they got Luzardo and Painter coming up later in the season, Walker is not in the starting rotation (hopefully). He is terrible at pitching and has no business being in the majors. But we also know that DD is not sending him down because of the ridiculous contract. So do they try to get him into the BP? 

Maybe he could be a long relief guy for them - or the dude they throw in there to eat innings when the game is out of hand  

12 minutes ago, mikemack8 said:

Maybe he could be a long relief guy for them - or the dude they throw in there to eat innings when the game is out of hand  

That's seriously all I could see him doing. When a game is completely out of control no chance to win, then put him in. 

4 hours ago, John Blutarski said:

What do you think they're going to do with Walker? Based on the fact they got Luzardo and Painter coming up later in the season, Walker is not in the starting rotation (hopefully). He is terrible at pitching and has no business being in the majors. But we also know that DD is not sending him down because of the ridiculous contract. So do they try to get him into the BP? 

I’m guessing they see what he looks like during spring training. Was listening to gelb podcast. He said he heard he’s on a new training regime by the Phillies to see if they can get his velocity back up. They are going to use him ST and it’s more than likely he’s DFA afterward unless he blows them away. Especially with luzardo in the fold. 

 

 

Dodgers gonna turn into what the Yankees were but doing so by circumventing the rules 

 

Trying to get into the Japanese market 

 

I hope Dodger Stadium burns down 

At least we benefitted a little bit lol

 

 

Dylan Campbell is a major steal for the Phillies.

We can now sign Jurickson Profar and trade Rojas for whatever we can get.

2 hours ago, iladelphxx said:

I hope Dodger Stadium burns down 

They will just build another stadium and defer paying for it

INTERNATIONAL DRAFT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!