The Ideal Offseason: The Phillies need to make 2 key additions to keep them World Series contenders for the foreseeable future
Listen, there has been a TON of talk on social media about what the Phillies should do with their roster heading into the 2023 and to be perfectly honest with you, the majority of it is hot garbage and downright stupid.
Dumb Idea Number 1: Trade Nick Castellanos.
I have seen this idea way too many times to just ignore it. Nick Castellanos is not leaving Philadelphia. Period. Sure, his first year in red pinstripes did not live up to expectations but he still has FOUR YEARS left on his contract and all things considered, will be more comfortable in year two with a full offseason in Philadelphia.
Plus, you literally never trade someone when after a down year. What are you going to get in return? A 20-year old High-A prospect that no one will see at Citizens Bank Park for the next five years? Castellanos is not going to land you anything of value and I find it VERY hard to believe that any MLB team will want to pick up his contract after his 2022 campaign.
Dumb Idea Number 2: “Get Rid” of Rhys Hoskins
This one is obviously the worst idea circulating on social media. Trading Rhys Hoskins or simply “getting rid of him” because he is “bad at first base” has to be the worst reasoning ever.
The Philadelphia Phillies have one more year of control on Hoskins for the 2023 season than he will be a free agent. He’s a right-handed power bat in the Phillies lineup and is key to breaking up the left handed power in Harper and Schwarber. On the right side of the plate, you have Bohm, Realmuto, Castellanos, and Hoskins. I do believe that Castellanos regains his power from the plate next season and of course, Realmuto and Bohm both have some pop, but Hoskins batting .250 with 30 home runs and 80 RBI from the right side of the plate is extremely important for this baseball team.
No, you CAN NOT move Bohm over to first base and his lack of power is the exact reason why. People really suggested that Bohm could go to first base while moving Stott or Jean Segura to third base would be a viable option. How INSANE do you have to be to think that’s a good idea? You now have no one in your infield that can hit over 25 home runs in a season. That simply will not work.
Okay so what about Kyle Schwarber at first base? Nope, that won’t be any type of upgrade either.
If your reasoning for wanting to get rid of Hoskins is because he lacks defensive capabilities, then putting Kyle Schwarber at first base already defeats any reasoning you have in the first place, so we’ll just leave it at that.
A first baseman that can provide power and good defense is such a rare commodity. Rhys Hoskins being a right handed bat with power that won’t need to bat leadoff or in the two-hole next season assuming you bring in a pure leadoff hitter to play shortstop is exactly what this lineup needs.
Dumb Idea Number 3: Spend Big Money on a Reliever
A ton of people seem to think that Dave Dombrowski can go out and spend a shit ton of money on bringing in a reliever when that should be the last thing on his offseason To-Do List.
In the bullpen, you already have Jose Alvarado, Seranthony Dominguez, and Connor Brogdon. From there, you build your bullpen just like we did last year with arms like Brad Hand, Andrew Bellatti, and other low profile arms that can eat innings.
The Phillies Main Focus Should Be Elite Shortstop and Starting Rotation Pitcher
There are TWO THINGS that the Phillies need to focus on this offseason. The first is signing an elite shortstop in free agency. This might be the best year ever to find one too.
All focus should be on bringing Trea Turner to Philadelphia.
Trea Turner, SS, Dodgers, age 29
Trea Turner is widely considered to be the best shortstop available on the market this winter. It also helps that he is reportedly great friends with Bryce Harper and that their wives are close. They must know each other well from their four years as teammates on the Washington Nationals.
There is little question as to whether Turner is one of the best all around hitters in the game. He is also incredibly consisting having posted between 2.8 and 4.9 WAR in each of the last 7 seasons. Turner averages a whopping 44 stolen bases a season for his career and between his speed on the base paths and above average defensive work at short he would certainly make the Phillies a better ball club next season.
It’s honestly difficult to find something not to like about Turner when he plays. How can you not want to add a guy that projects to hit around .300? The two-time All-Star hit .328 in 2021 to win the National League batting title and can also play second base and center field if need be, providing the Phillies with added positional flexibility.
His playing style and demeanor would also fit perfectly in Philadelphia and he has clearly documented that he can play winning baseball as evidenced by his World Series title with the Nationals in 2019 and his time on the Dodgers.
Turner 2022 Numbers
- .298/.343/.466
- 21 HR, 101 RBI, 101 R
- OPS+ 121
- WAR 4.9
Turner Career Numbers
- .302/.355/.487 (122 OPS+),
- 124 HR, 29.7 WAR in 849 G
Check out the Top 4 shortstops in the free agent market this offseason here >>
Then you go out and spend STUPID money on a No. 2 starter for your rotation.
I’m looking at Carlos Rodon.
At 29, Rodon will likely cost the Phillies a TON of money with a contract that should easily clear the $100 million mark. Rodon went 14-8 with 2.88 ERA and led the majors with a 2.25 FIP. He finished second in the National League with 237 strikeouts and hit double-digits 11 times, a Giants franchise record. He also made a career-high 31 starts.
Phillies Ideal Lineup in 2023:
- Turner
- Bohm
- Harper
- Hoskins
- Schwarber
- Castellanos
- Realmuto
- Stott
- Marsh
Note: Before you ask, yes, I would put Hoskins in the cleanup spot solely because he provides you the most power on the right side of the plate and can break up the left handed power of Harper and Schwarber. Of course, you could also slide Castellanos or Realmuto in that spot as well, but based of power and power alone, that’s why Hoskins is sitting in the four-hole.
Phillies Ideal Pitching Staff in 2023:
- Wheeler
- Rondon
- Nola
- Suarez
- Painter / Falter
- Alvarado
- Dominguez
- Brogdon
- – veteran arms
There is absolutely NO REASON to go crazy reworking this ball club and getting rid of people. The Phillies just went to GAME 6 of the WORLD SERIES.
Add a leadoff hitter and a No. 2 starting pitcher and fill in the bullpen gaps with veteran arms. From there you are set to compete in 2023 and honestly, for the next 3-4 years. Worry about what you’ll do at first base with Rhys Hoskins later. It makes zero sense to move him right now while there’s still two priorities on the table in Turner and a starting pitcher (Rodon) for next season.
Let me know what you think on Twitter.
More on the Philadelphia Phillies
- Phillies Offseason Guide >>
- 5 Phillies with Guaranteed Contracts >>
- Notable Phillies Free Agents >>
- Phillies Pick Up Aaron Nola Club Option >>
- Phillies, Zach Eflin Mutually Decline $15 Million Option >>
- Phillies Decline Jean Segura Club Option >>
