Since Dave Dombrowski was named the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, the club has acquired Jose Alvarado from the Rays and signed former D-backs closer Archie Bradley. (Philadelphia also picked up lefty Sam Coonrod in a deal with the Giants.) At today’s press conference to introduce Bradley, Dombrowski made clear that his club is still open to further augmenting the bullpen (YouTube link).
“I think we’ve improved ourselves, but we can continue to work on improving ourselves, too,” said Dombrowski. “I think we’re open-minded to future additions as we continue to talk in this free-agent market. We’ll continue to work on it, but I do think we have significantly improved ourselves.” Neither Dombrowski nor manager Joe Girardi dubbed Bradley the team’s closer just yet, and Bradley himself enthusiastically said he’s open to pitching in any role.
Dombrowski wouldn’t delve into specifics regarding the team’s budget, but acknowledged that he has a “pulse” of where owner John Middleton is comfortable drawing the payroll line. The Phils still have room to make a few moves, per Dombrowski, who also suggested that further rotation depth would be “ideal.” Some of that depth could come in the form of non-roster invitees to Spring Training, he added.
Of course, the key factor in determining the Phillies’ budget for the upcoming season is whether the club is able to reel J.T. Realmuto back into the fold. The Phillies reportedly put forth a new five-year offer worth more than $100MM total in the past few days, and while Dombrowski unsurprisingly declined to comment on negotiations, he confirmed that the team is still hoping to keep the two-time All-Star behind the plate.
At the moment, the Phillies’ projected payroll clocks in at roughly $152MM, per Roster Resource’s Jason Martinez, with their luxury-tax obligations at a slightly heftier $157MM. That’s a ways shy of last year, when the Phils were in line to carry about a $187MM payroll prior to the prorated season — a mark that would’ve been a franchise record. That said, after a season without any gate revenue, it’s not clear how aggressively Middleton and the rest of the club’s ownership group are willing to spend.
Were the Phillies to head into the 2021 season with the current group of relievers, the newly acquired trio of Bradley, Alvarado and Coonrod would be complemented by holdover Hector Neris, swingman David Hale and likely some youngsters from the group of Connor Brogdon, Ranger Suarez, Cole Irvin and Ian Hamilton. (Brogdon, specifically, was mentioned during today’s press conference.) Certainly, there’s room for more veteran help to be brought in — be it on a guaranteed deal or, as Dombrowski alluded to when discussing the rotation, on a non-roster pact.
More broadly, Dombrowski rejected the manner in which some have characterized the 2021 season as a transitional year for his club. The Phillies simply have “too many good players … to be thinking about transitioning,” said Dombrowski, adding that the team’s focus is solely on competing for a playoff berth. The veteran front office exec acknowledged that the Phils won’t be perceived as the favorites but mentioned on multiple occasions that there are still about four weeks until camp opens, while also pointing to the increased frequency of free agents signing after Spring Training begins.
Interesting. The Phillies should keeping adding a few more relievers. Also, they should sign a starting pitcher to complete the rotation.
Every team that thinks of themselves as a contender should be in on the relief market. So many good arms available.
I hear Victor Arano just became available.
There was a guy that just dfad that had decent numbers
Who’s been hurt and out of shape. We dont know the context there
Realmuto first
As a tigers fan, I can assure you that Dave is inept when it comes to building a bullpen. Watch him bring in Joakim Soria or Fernando Rodney.
I’m used to commenters making exaggerative statements that sound exactly like yours but just in case I went to look at Dombrowski’s time with the Tigers.
Wow! You weren’t exaggerating! I looked at the Tigers 8 teams under DD that were 500 and up (after all, what’s the point of building a good bullpen if you aren’t winning) and could see for my self that the 2011 bullpen was good and the 2013 bullpen was good..ish? I think I’m even reaching a little to call 2013’s bullpen good.
You MIGHT not even be able to say he built even those two good bullpens so much as he just ran into them.
His only failure in Detroit was is inability to acquire a closer are bullpens in Detroit or terrible at holding leads at critical times ask David Ortiz
The Blue Jays are looking as well!!
Stop dancing
Please trade for Kimbrel! – Cub Fan
Ok… McCutchen and Segura for Bryant and Kimbrel.
Can you please show us the way? Teach us about racism! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
That Kimbrel signing was tough. It would have been nice if it had worked because it was the last time the Cubs gave even a half hearted attempt at winning.
@SalaryCapMyth
Cubs won the Central last year. You make it sound as if they won’t be in contention in 2021. Think before you post. I know it’s hard for you.
Tf is wrong with lolzmets? What a turd.
Garcia, Farmer, Cisnero, Jimenez, Soto ; ) ..
Honestly, I just want Moniak.
Why?
Maybe, I’m buying into all of the previous hype of him a couple years ago & pushing the “change of scenery- excuse”..
But, I don’t think JaCoby Jones is the answer at CF. I believe DET needs young OF positional prospects (after the recent showings of Stewart, Cameron, Demmerite). Norris and Farmer are both close to FA years, and Cisnero is on the wrong side of 30 for this rebuild.
Honestly, Norris wouldn’t be a bad idea. Gives them a solid lefty who can pitch multiple innings out of the pen or give them a spot start here and there.
Brodgon is a name to watch. Future closer I think.
Could use some backend starters so you don’t need to rely on the pen so much.
Indeed Von –
Huge problem for them was Vv and Nicky P going less than 4 inns a start for the last couple years –
That blasts the pen all year and when your lower Rp guys are Bp,
middle range guys bad, and good guys not so good the trickle down effect…well its 2020 Philly
Ive liked all 3 pen moves so far – I feel Dave is a top 10 Gm if he gets some rope with the purse – Philly is not as bad as everyone thinks on the ledger, its going to be a tightrope but theres not that much bad money after this year left.
Maybe go after Tanaka? Gives them a durable mid-to-back of the rotation starter who gives you 5-6 innings every five days.
Tanaka might be a little too costly for what Middleton wants to spend to fill that spot.
I’d love Tanaka, but like Darkside said, his price tag is a bit too high for Middleton’s plan. Maybe if JT doesn’t come back, but then the Phillies would have even more needs.
Ask the Pirates about Richard Rodriguez. He’s been pretty good 2 of the last 3 seasons for them.
Just looked him up at Baseball Savant @mlb1225.
He kinda seems like a Chad Greene type. Really fastball reliant.
Good results, however.
Liking Musgrove, I’m wondering what the cost for the Yanks would be to put a deal together that would lead to acquiring both.
Sam Coonrod’s a righty
In more ways than one.
Yeah. Ugh.
Lol
Strange we haven’t heard much about the Josh Hader market so far, he should be one of the biggest names on the market.
I would imagine the Brewers would be at least open to that. My knee-jerk reaction is that maybe it’s difficult trading relievers because of the number of them on the market but then the trade market has been really healthy this season.
Damn I miss Pat Neshek
no one has yet to take the mantle of “good Phillies RP who the fan base hates” from him.
Jonathan Papplebon?
Was Papelbon well liked by the fans?
No. They hated him. He put up good numbers for some terrible Phillies teams.
I thought Darkside said “Good Phillies RP who the fan base doesn’t hate”.
Tony Watson is a FA. Was solid for the Giants for years.
I’m surprised that no one has signed Trevor Williams yet. He had a down year in his last full season (2019) but before that he was pretty good. Certainly seems like a guy you take a chance on for low dollars. He’d slot in nice as a #5 starter in Philly; if not in long relief.
No he wouldn’t.
I can’t really see a contender offering Williams anything other then a minor league deal. Someone like the Orioles or Tigers might sign him to a 1 year deal though.
He got really lucky in 2018 when you look deeper into it. He doesnt strike many guys out, nor does he have superb command/control. Overall, his stuff isn’t that great either.
Jose Leclerc would be good, but he has to build some stock back up during next season. What about Richard Rodriguez of the Pirates?
Nick Tropeano – 1.15 ERA, 1.15. WHIP in 2020 for the Pirates would be a wise & cheap pick-up for Phillies bullpen.
I still think the Phillies could be really good if they bring back JTR. Add at least one back end starter like Anibal Sanchez (honestly I think he will bounce back) or Rich Hill is a good option in my opinion. (He most likely won’t make a full season of starts but when he is out on the mound he is a legitimate 2/3 starter with strikeout stuff.) And if they bring in a few good, not great bullpen options that could be had for pretty cheap on short term deals (pick 3 out of Tony Watson, Joakim Soroia, Yusmeiro Petit, Shane Greene, Tyler Clippard, Sergio Romo, Brandon Kintzler, Alex Colome, Darren O’Day etc.) They have a good Offense, and their starting staff was ranked pretty high last year. Obviously the main problem they need to fix is the leaky pen. Bringing in a few of the guys I listed should make a HUGE difference. Even if they had a less than mediocre bullpen last year they would have made the postseason. The only hole they really have to fill after that I think is the shortstop position and they could probably fill that hole pretty cheaply with someone like Jonathan Villar on an one year deal.
This just in:
Otherwise decent team with absolutely terrible bullpen that prevented them from making the playoffs (and could cost the manager and GM their jobs if it happens again) is looking for bullpen help.
As someone above said, bolster the rotation so the bullpen will matter less. The additions so far aren’t bad. Bradley, obviously is HIGH impact. But the rotation was and still is a big problem. Wheeler’s great. Efflin’s serviceable, but on a real contender he’s a number 4 or 5, not 3. Nola’s one of the best pitching talents in the game, but he’s had two straight years where he’s been inconsistent, and his road numbers are often horrifying. I know they’re not going to commit big money, not while they’re still trying to bring JT back. Tanaka, for instance, isn’t going to happen. But a high ceiling gamble like Porcello makes sense.
the rotation actually did very well last year, namedly the top 3.
Yeah Nola/Wheeler aren’t a bad one and two starters for a team.
Eflin is underrated. So they have a solid top 3, but their 4 and 5 are dreadful.
Proof? Outside of Nola, I see a weak rotation.
Sam Coonrod isn’t a lefty. You might be thinking of Sam Selman?
He’s a right winger who also throws right handed
If they don’t sign JT a bullpen won’t really matter. This is not a team that will compete without more talent.
Bring back the the Wild Thing!. I’m sure Mitch could still get a few outs…
Regardless of bullpen help, it absolutely astounds me that this team has not signed Hamels for a cheap one year reunion. Why not? Better him than sending VV out there. Then again, sending a plate of spaghetti with legs is better than sending VV out there
it doesnt seem like his market is moving too quick anyway. no sense jumping to get him and maybe overpaying
You have to wonder why no one has contacted Realmuto’s agent and asked why on God’s green earth he hasn’t accepted Philly’s offer. The only other team who could conceivably be in on him is TOR, but they’re literally in on everybody
Also the Nationals
It’s been a few days. Give him some time. Plus other offers may come in once other FAs sign.
The Reds gave up on Robert Stephenson too soon in my opinion. He wasn’t as sharp last season as the one before, but he still has good stuff. Surprised they dumped him considering their lack of bullpen depth. But then again, they also non-tendered Archie Bradley and traded Raisel Iglesias too.
Bruh Coonrod throws right handed
Get Jose LeClerc. Affordable, as the Rangers don’t need a closer. Nasty stuff!
Tired of the Phils bringing guys out of the bullpen that sit around 89-91. It’s batting practice. If you throw that speed, you better hit spots. They don’t. Archie is a good signing. They need more though.
Pretty certain VV has worn out his welcome as a SP. It’s the bullpen or the highway for him this year. Also surprised the Phillies gave him $4 million. Aside from two or three dominant starts earlier in his career, VV has pretty much been a major disappointment. But in fairness, so has every other prospect the Phillies got in return for Ken Giles and Cole Hamels.
What the Phillies need more than anything is someone in the front office who can identify and project what makes up a good baseball player. I’m hoping Sam Fuld is that guy. Amaro and Klentak certainly were not that guy.
Like to see James Paxton on a 1 or 2 yr deal
& Shane Greene if he doesn’t cost to much.
I just don’t see the Phillies making serious progress. I don’t believe DD was the right direction. Until they start to win, still a .500 team.