Befitting the sort of carefully-plotted approach that Phillies owner John Middleton suggests, new GM Matt Klentak said yesterday that the team likely won’t make any big splashes in free agency, as Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reports. “I think as a rule of thumb the free-agent market is not the best place to invest your money . . . that’s the last place we should focus,” Klentak said. “But I do think there’s a lot of good players in free agency every single year. The different stages of development will dictate that you take a different route in free agency every single year. The route we take this offseason may differ from the one we take next offseason and the one after that.” Of course, that’s not to say that the team will sit out the market; at the very least, notes Lawrence, it’ll need to look at adding starting pitching.
A few more Phillies notes as the Royals and Mets do battle in the World Series…
- The Phillies will look to add some innings to their rotation this winter, writes CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury in chronicling some of the key takeaways from Klentak’s introductory press conference. Top-of-the-market arms aren’t going to be a focus for Philadelphia, but the team will look to add some a veteran innings eater or two in order to support young arms like Aaron Nola. Klentak gave a bit of insight into his philosophy, noting that pitching “will absolutely become an organizational focus” for the Phillies. Klentak stressed that the team must focus on adding pitching in trades, in free agency, via waiver claims, on the international market and in the draft. “However we need to do it, we will add pitching, pitching, pitching,” said Klentak. “Because if you can pitch, you have a chance to win every night.”
- The Phillies announced that Larry Bowa and Juan Samuel have both agreed to contracts for 2016. Bowa will return as bench coach, while Samuel will move from first to third base coaching duties. Bowa, in particular, was a threat to leave after twice interviewing for the Marlins’ managerial vacancy.
- Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that the Phillies’ plan to increase emphasis on analytics is a good start, but the club also needs to aggressively spend money to turn the franchise around. However, Brookover’s not referring to an immediate free-agent spending spree; rather, he campaigns for Klentak and MacPhail to use the team’s considerable financial resources to go above and beyond in next year’s international spending pool. He also feels that the Phillies should be willing to pay top dollar (and then some) in order to lure the best scouts and player development executives possible.
Latos 1/5.5M+4.5M incentives
Fister 1/7.5M + 2.5m incentives
Add that to some of the young guns the Phillies have, it should be atleast a better rotation than 2015.
Theres a reason they moved Samuel from 3B coach. It has something to do with his nickname. Send-em-all-Sammy.
The Latos deal would be decent. It gives him the ability to earn more than he did last year if he stays healthy, though that’s been an issue for him in recent years. I think Fister will get much better offers than $10m including incentives. Last year was rough, but before that he had a 6 year stretch where he fluctuated between very good and absolutely dominant. Someone is going to give him a deal closer to $15m per, I think.
Would not be surprised to see Edwin Jackson be a top add for Philly 2016
I think the Phillies will target 2 or 3 of the following SP’s:
1) Latos
2) Fister
3) Norris
4) Kennedy
5) Gee
6) Cahill
7) Hill
8) Masterson
9) Noesi
10) Morrow
11) Lohse
12) Marcum
That said… I would really like them to go after Zimmermann so that we can have a #1 Starter for years to come as our Rookies mature and blossom.
I understand where theyre in terms of their rebuilding phase. I been on the fence about splurging for TOP tier FA… Like a Price or Grienke … They obviously have the money, thats not the issue, its whether or not its the correct move to make. Mainly because you can foresee the Phillies needing an Ace in a year or two, so why not get it now when the market is rip?. It would essentially replace Hamels, so signing Grienke or Price basically gets your team the best of both worlds from the deadline scenario. Yeah they going to cost a lot, but you swap howards salary next year for the ace and you still have a great payroll.
Another fan mentioned signing Davis from the O’s.. I can see that signing making a lot of sense because he can play multiple positions, which is going to be important while all their influx of prospects earn a specific position. Many of them can be swapped in multiple positions, which makes signing FA risky, you don’t want to create a log jam like we had with Thome/Howard or Polanco/Utley. Its going to be interesting on how they all shake out.
I also be very open to trading Giles…. for a starting pos player. Cubs might be interested in him. I like him, but weary he will decline, as buillpen arms seem to be year to year…. Sell high on this one!
In the end, I think they want to assess what they have. How the near ready crop of prospects is going to fit in with the MLB team. Not crazy to think Thompson and Williams wil be up the same time Franco was last year. Which catcher emerges as the everyday, will get some clarity on who is going to play where. The OF would be set if Knapp wins the job. Alfaro, Williams, Herrera, and
Excited to see who they get from the Rule 5 draft …. Should add another great piece. I’d be scared if my team has a stock farm system . Good Chance the Phillies are going to take someone you don’t want to lose.. Keeping the player on the mlb roster is going to be cake for phillies.
In the end i think they just play it safe, uber safe, much like last year. Sign a fA pitcher in hopes of flipping at the deadline for more propects and swapping current prospects.
Ok if you made it this far, thanks, long post.