10 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

I think it was the 3 batter rule AND the fear of Rosario vs. the righty (Hoffman or Kerkering).  Hoffman entering to start the 9th likely means Rosario within that 3 batter limit.  So, he got what he wanted, which was Rosario against a lefty, in this case, Strahm.

 

Soto could be a trade piece for next year... maybe get a young player for the system.  Grab a single-A guy with a possible future.

 

 

Meanwhile, looking at next year... I'm not sure we'll see any significant changes to the position players.  I would prioritize a backup catcher who can eat a few more games for Realmuto.  A CRAZY thought came into my head this morning... would you consider trading Marsh for a young arm, moving Harper back to the OF, but this time LF to limit his need to throw and resigning Hoskins AND Nola?   It would likely be expensive, but that would be an interesting lineup.  And I'm wondering if they consider a platoon situation with Marsh/Hoskins for the WS.   Marsh starts in LF against righties, and Hoskins at DH (moving Schwarber to LF) against lefties.

 

 

 

If I remember correctly, I think Soto is a free agent at the end of the year. That’s why the Tigers were willing to trade him. Cause they weren’t going to extend him after the end of the year because they’re not close enough to contending to justify the money he was gonna ask for.

Im guessing this offseason is about adding bullpen arm and likely signing nola or someone to replace him and adding bench bats

23 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

I think it was the 3 batter rule AND the fear of Rosario vs. the righty (Hoffman or Kerkering).  Hoffman entering to start the 9th likely means Rosario within that 3 batter limit.  So, he got what he wanted, which was Rosario against a lefty, in this case, Strahm.

 

Soto could be a trade piece for next year... maybe get a young player for the system.  Grab a single-A guy with a possible future.

 

 

Meanwhile, looking at next year... I'm not sure we'll see any significant changes to the position players.  I would prioritize a backup catcher who can eat a few more games for Realmuto.  A CRAZY thought came into my head this morning... would you consider trading Marsh for a young arm, moving Harper back to the OF, but this time LF to limit his need to throw and resigning Hoskins AND Nola?   It would likely be expensive, but that would be an interesting lineup.  And I'm wondering if they consider a platoon situation with Marsh/Hoskins for the WS.   Marsh starts in LF against righties, and Hoskins at DH (moving Schwarber to LF) against lefties.

 

 

 

Stubbs is the heart and soul of this team.

1 hour ago, DawkinsOwnage03 said:

This was almost a for sure win going in and one we need cause the schedule gets nasty. 

Do you have a game score you want to partner with that outcome prediction?

29 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

The Eagles are going to make a trade for a WR.

we need a S more

2 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

we need a S more

Why not both

 

 

35 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

I think it was the 3 batter rule AND the fear of Rosario vs. the righty (Hoffman or Kerkering).  Hoffman entering to start the 9th likely means Rosario within that 3 batter limit.  So, he got what he wanted, which was Rosario against a lefty, in this case, Strahm.

Soto could be a trade piece for next year... maybe get a young player for the system.  Grab a single-A guy with a possible future.

Meanwhile, looking at next year... I'm not sure we'll see any significant changes to the position players.  I would prioritize a backup catcher who can eat a few more games for Realmuto.  A CRAZY thought came into my head this morning... would you consider trading Marsh for a young arm, moving Harper back to the OF, but this time LF to limit his need to throw and resigning Hoskins AND Nola?   It would likely be expensive, but that would be an interesting lineup.  And I'm wondering if they consider a platoon situation with Marsh/Hoskins for the WS.   Marsh starts in LF against righties, and Hoskins at DH (moving Schwarber to LF) against lefties.

the Philadelphia Phillies are expected to be in the thick of the Ohtani bidding.

"Dave Dombrowski’s calling card has always been building teams around superstars and then filling in around them with above-average or average players. Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, has done it with Miami, Detroit, Boston and now Philadelphia, making it to the World Series with all four organizations," writes Jim Bowden. 

"Therefore, although they already have huge contracts and stars on their roster, the Phillies possibly making a run at Ohtani shouldn’t be ignored. Although the Phillies strongly prefer to use Schwarber as a DH, they know they can win with him in left field, and they control him for only two more seasons after 2023. Aaron Nola is a free agent, and they could allocate his dollars toward Ohtani, who could replace him as a Game 2 starter, behind Zack Wheeler, next October."

Philadelphia pursuing Ohtani wouldn't be surprising, especially if they decided not to pursue re-signing Nola. But where does that leave them while Ohtani recovers?

But just the thought of Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Ohtani all being in the same lineup is tantalizing. Not to mention Bryson Stott who is having a breakout season.

It would cost the Phillies an astronomical amount considering the luxury tax, but the global recognition and the branding of Ohtani alone would make it financially viable and even profitable.

If there is an owner and baseball operations partnership who is willing to make such a deal happen it's John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski.

By

Kade Kistner

Kade Kistner is the Philadelphia Phillies Publisher for FanNation's, part of Sports Illustrated, 'Inside The Phillies'. Follow him on Twitter @KadeKistner.

12 minutes ago, mattwill said:

Do you have a game score you want to partner with that outcome prediction?

23-17 vs maybe 31-10? I hope?

17 minutes ago, Outlaw said:

Stubbs is the heart and soul of this team.

Is he though?   Or is he just like a mascot?   We need a catcher that can catch about 45-55 games.

11 minutes ago, WentzFan11 said:

Why not both

While we are going to get a bunch of comps, they haven’t been awarded yet - so what do we have in terms of trade ammo (and no, rebuilding teams will not want our junk on expiring contracts - this isn’t the NBA)?

4 minutes ago, mattwill said:

the Philadelphia Phillies are expected to be in the thick of the Ohtani bidding.

"Dave Dombrowski’s calling card has always been building teams around superstars and then filling in around them with above-average or average players. Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, has done it with Miami, Detroit, Boston and now Philadelphia, making it to the World Series with all four organizations," writes Jim Bowden. 

"Therefore, although they already have huge contracts and stars on their roster, the Phillies possibly making a run at Ohtani shouldn’t be ignored. Although the Phillies strongly prefer to use Schwarber as a DH, they know they can win with him in left field, and they control him for only two more seasons after 2023. Aaron Nola is a free agent, and they could allocate his dollars toward Ohtani, who could replace him as a Game 2 starter, behind Zack Wheeler, next October."

Philadelphia pursuing Ohtani wouldn't be surprising, especially if they decided not to pursue re-signing Nola. But where does that leave them while Ohtani recovers?

But just the thought of Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Ohtani all being in the same lineup is tantalizing. Not to mention Bryson Stott who is having a breakout season.

It would cost the Phillies an astronomical amount considering the luxury tax, but the global recognition and the branding of Ohtani alone would make it financially viable and even profitable.

If there is an owner and baseball operations partnership who is willing to make such a deal happen it's John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski.

By

Kade Kistner

Kade Kistner is the Philadelphia Phillies Publisher for FanNation's, part of Sports Illustrated, 'Inside The Phillies'. Follow him on Twitter @KadeKistner.

Not sure I buy that the interest is legitimate.  Besides, he's a DH until his arm is healed... and that's already Schwarber.

A tidbit of information as we look forward to what the NLCS roster will look like

"Rookie reliever Orion Kerkering is on the postseason roster as Hoskins' injury replacement. Should Hoskins be activated, Kerkering would be able to remain on the roster as Dylan Covey's injury replacement. Covey's 15-day injured list stint expires the day before Game 1 of the NLCS, so he can be used as an injury exemption."

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/rhys-hoskins-injury-update-phillies-leave-door-open-for-sluggers-potential-return-before-world-series/

12 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

 

Sounds good 

10 minutes ago, DawkinsOwnage03 said:

23-17 vs maybe 31-10? I hope?

I'll put you down for the 23-17.  Let me know if you want to change it to 31-10.

Justin Evans continues to be a guy who is solid on the field but not often on it

https://www.thegoodphight.com/2023/8/8/23824671/why-bryce-harper-may-just-stick-around-at-first-base-for-a-long-time

There’s no doubt the Phils have missed Hoskins’ right-handed power and patience at the dish dearly. For all his faults, Hoskins has averaged 36 home runs over a 162 game average during his six-year career. Even last year’s .794 OPS, which was a career low, would be behind only Brandon Marsh’s .827 and Harper’s .816. But with Hoskins on the mend and getting ready to hit free agency, the Phils have some decisions to make this off-season.

Is Harper going to be their first baseman long-term, or will he return to the outfield?

Much of Harper’s future, and by consequence Hoskins’ future, is reliant on what external additions the Phils make to the lineup this off-season. While trades are always a possibility, the free agent market for first basemen and outfielders is less than robust.

First Base: Joey Votto (club option), Rhys Hoskins, Max Muncy (club option), Josh Bell (opt-out), Brandon Belt, C.J. Cron, Eric Hosmer

Outfield: Cody Bellinger, Teoscar Hernández, Michael Conforto (opt-out), Joey Gallo, Kevin Kiermaier, Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler (opt-out), Harrison Bader, Andrew McCutchen, Charlie Blackmon, Michael Brantley, Tommy Pham, Mark Canha (club option), Adam Duvall, Randal Grichuk, David Peralta, AJ Pollock, Jurickson Profar, Hunter Renfroe, Robbie Grossman, Max Kepler (club option), Wil Myers, Victor Robles (club option), Eddie Rosario (club option), Michael A. Taylor, Jesse Winker

If the Phils wanted to add a first baseman and move Harper back to right field, it’s unlikely they’d add the 39-year-old Votto, and Cron and Hosmer don’t seem worth it. Bell has been worth -0.2 fWAR, and Muncy is hitting .194, albeit with a .813 OPS (remind you of anyone?). Brandon Belt is having an outstanding season with the Blue Jays, with an .824 OPS in mostly a platoon role.

If nothing on the first base market is to their liking, they could pursue one of those outfielders mentioned above, many of whom were rumored to go to the Phillies in a trade at the deadline. It’s notable Dombrowski didn’t like any of them enough to go hard after them this summer, would he really be hot to throw a ton of money at Teoscar Hernandez, Joey Gallo, Harrison Bader, Tommy Pham, Adam Duvall, Hunter Renfroe or Randall Grichuk?

There isn’t a star in that group, so perhaps that brings Dombrowski back to our old pal, Rhys.

A lot hinges on his recovery and whether he can get back on the field at all this year. One has to wonder how GMs around the league view a 30-year-old first baseman coming off major knee surgery. Would he get a big multi-year deal, given the dearth of free agents available this off-season? Or would they be wary?

It’s making more sense for the Phils to extend a qualifying offer to Hoskins once the season is over. If a team signs him to a free agent deal, they’d receive draft compensation. If not, they’d have Hoskins back for another season, allowing to put Harper back in the outfield. It could also buy themselves a year to wait until the 2024 first base free agent class that includes Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso, and Christian Walker, among others. Juan Soto and Anthony Santander become available outfielders.

The wild card to all this is Shohei Ohtani, who will be the most prized free agent ever to hit the market in just a few months. He’ll be out of the price range of the vast majority of teams, including perhaps the Phils.

But what if he isn’t?

What if the Phillies were to land him? It’s a huge if, and it almost certainly won’t happen, but in that instance, Kyle Schwarber is back in left field every day (or traded), Harper is at first, Ohtani is DH’ing and pitching every fifth day, and Hoskins is searching for a new team.

Regardless, Dombrowski can be non-committal at this point because all his options are open. Harper has proven to be an adept first baseman, which has allowed them to get Schwarber and his -14 Defensive Runs Saved out of left field.

There are a lot of moving pieces, but at the very least, Harper’s flexibility has given Dombrowski options as he decides what this roster will look like long-term.

19 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Not sure I buy that the interest is legitimate.  Besides, he's a DH until his arm is healed... and that's already Schwarber.

More on that possible interest in the article I posted above.  But bottom-line it is all speculation.

2 hours ago, ManuManu said:

 

Shoot this loser into the sun.

 

Starting to wonder if Nakobe is actually coming back this week

Also Brown better be active, otherwise its just Blakenship and Edmunds

1 minute ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Starting to wonder if Nakobe is actually coming back this week

Yup gonna need to go get another safety. Evans never has stayed healthy in his nfl career. Edmunds isn’t good. Brown is a rookie who’s missed as much time as he played so far this year. 

Just now, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Yup gonna need to go get another safety. Evans never has stayed healthy in his nfl career. Edmunds isn’t good. Brown is a rookie who’s missed as much time as he played so far this year. 

Yeah it's not even clear Brown will play.  Trade for a safety need to happen next week

They could place Watkins on IR; not ideal, but Covey and OZ are there, plus Albert O. Then activate Dean

It's not like Watkins has done much of anything

Chinn might be an Eagle by Monday. Can't imagine they're comfortable with their safety depth right now.

So with the Harden talk of Sixers wanting to get an all-star.  Say they make the deal with the Clippers for 2 1st round picks and some salary fillers like Cov, Macurs Morris Jr., etc.  What All-Star level player do you think they would be making the run at?