Dave Dombrowski on Aaron Nola, Rhys Hoskins, and the Phillies’ offseason priorities

Dave Dombrowski spoke to the media today and addressed the Philadelphia Phillies upcoming free agents, offseason priorities, and what the starting rotation could look like entering 2024 Spring Training.

The Phillies will have four players entering free agency, eligible to sign with any team five days after the end of the 2023 World Series. 

Phillies Free Agents 

1. Aaron Nola 
2. Rhys Hoskins 
3. Craig Kimbrel 
4. Michael Lorenzen 

Aaron Nola is the top priority for Dave Dombrowski. Nola has been an absolute workhorse for this baseball club and hasn’t missed a single start over the last six seasons. Of course, with Nola, comes some inconsistencies. 

Aaron Nola Regular Season ERA

• 2021: 4.63 ERA 
• 2022: 3.25 ERA
• 2023: 4.46 ERA

Regardless, Nola has proven that he can rise to the occasion and perform well on Major League Baseball’s biggest stages. He will almost certainly be one of the top pitchers in the free agent market this offseason, joining Blake Snell and Sonny Gray. 

Along with the Phillies, keep an eye on the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals as potential suitors for Nola. Here’s what Dombrowski said today to the media in regards to Aaron Nola being the Phillies’ top priority this offseason. 

Dave Dombrowski on Aaron Nola

“He’s our priority to try to sign,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday afternoon. “Unfortunately, and I don’t mean this as a negative or a positive, it’s just the reality, we didn’t sign him in spring training. We would have liked to do that but we didn’t get it done. So I can’t tell you we’re 100 percent confident we’re going to get it done, but we would like to sign him and will be aggressive in trying to make that happen.” (via NBC Sports Philly) 

Phillies Rotation Options in 2024 

• Zack Wheeler 
• Aaron Nola (Free Agent) 
• Ranger Suarez 
• Cristopher Sanchez
• Taijuan Walker 
• Mick Abel 
• Griff McGarry 

Odd Man Out: Rhys Hoskins

Dombrowski spoke candidly about Rhys Hoskins today as well, unsure on his future in Philadelphia. This was somewhat expected given the fact that Harper excelled at first base over the final three months of the 2023 season. 

Kyle Schwarber is likely to be the Phillies’ designated hitter, leaving Bryce Harper at first base with an outfield that consists of Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas, Cristian Pache, and Nick Castellanos. 

That being said, there’s really not a spot for Rhys Hoskins on this roster. The only option for Hoskins to re-sign in Philadelphia would be if Bryce Harper was ready to return to the outfield, something that Dombrowski said he would discuss with Harper, but ultimately make the decision himself. 

Craig Kimbrel and Michael Lorenzen: No. 

I think it’s safe to say that both Kimbrel and Lorenzen have played their final games in Philadelphia. There’s no shot that the Phillies re-sign either pitcher after what happened in the final months of the regular season and postseason. 

What else needs attention? 

Outside of re-signing Nola and securing the starting rotation for 2024, I would expect the Phillies to target a right handed power hitter and obviously, some help in the bullpen with a specific focus on an elite reliever to be this team’s everyday closer. 

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