Phillies 2025-2026 Hot Stove Discussion

[andyb]

Phillies in the mix for Imai according to Jon Heyman.

Cubs, Phillies, Yankees Interested In Tatsuya Imai

[RolenRules]

Phillies Re-Sign Michael Mercado To Minor League Deal

A minor deal in more ways than one. I do root for him to break through, but he has probably already peaked.

[andyb]

Good summary of the equation around signing Bregman.

UTK Special 12/3/25

[fish]

Good summary of the equation around signing Bregman

Except that if Dombrowki’s offseason strategy includes signing 3 players 32-plus years old to big contracts he might as well plan to shoot himself in the other foot with a roster of 5 guys 32-plus with long term deals that can’t be traded.

[BostonRoss]

I'm lukewarm on Bregman. He's better than Bohm, even at age 32, but Boras will make his contract unbearable in the long run. If the Phillies re-sign Schwarber, signing Bregman as well would not only kill the current payroll, but exacerbate the long term issue they are already facing with other long contracts.

If the Phillies don't sign Schwarber, I'd rather see them go after Alonso. He's also a Boras client, but he's two years younger, and as a DH would not have his his bad defense offsetting some of the offensive value.

Better still would be to try to improve with cheaper players without long term commitments, even if it requires trading some current assets..

[jimbomill]

I'm lukewarm on Bregman. He's better than Bohm, even at age 32, but Boras will make his contract unbearable

That's good, and to me, accurate, insight. Spend that money elsewhere.

[phillychuck]

I'm lukewarm on Bregman. He's better than Bohm, even at age 32, but Boras will make his contract unbearable

That's good, and to me, accurate, insight. Spend that money elsewhere.

Agree. I don’t want to continue signing 32-year-olds.

[allentown]

I agree also. For me that includes Schwarber, if it takes a costly 4-5 year deal to get him signed. Signing costly, 30-something players to long-term deals ends naturally inn every Phillies game being an old-timers' game.

[EDmuch]

Count me as unenthused about a Bregman deal for the reasons other have stated.

[zambonir]

I think I'd like Bregman more than another DH type, but certainly not in addition to Schwarber, and if you're gonna go big big big you may as well just get Tucker.

[andyb]

Bregman would almost certainly be signed with the Schwarber money. I am not in love with it, but if the money was close who do we expect to be the better hitter in 5 years? Not really an easy question to answer. Bregman allows dealing Bohm and probably the use of a non-regular DH slot. That would give them some flexibility to use guys like Kemp and room for Crawford to play.

I don't think it happens. It just is not outlandish to see a better team with Bregman instead of Schwarber.

I think I may be more intrigued though with the Phillies apparently making a serious play for the Japanese pitcher Imai. That is your 27-year-old strategy that does not cost prospects or draft picks. One can never have too much pitching and Wheeler and Painter are both still pretty big questions.

[EDmuch]

I meant Bregman in addition to Schwarber. As a replacement for Schwarber it is more understandable.

[BostonRoss]

I think Bregman will get a bigger contract than Schwarber, and more years.

[zambonir]

It's okay guys. Our first baseman's going to give everyone the secret of eternal youth.

𝐓 𝐇 𝐑 𝐄 𝐄 on Instagram: "EBOO is a procedure in which 1/3 of your blood is drawn...

[Philsmania]

It's okay guys. Our first baseman's going to give everyone the secret of eternal youth.

𝐓 𝐇 𝐑 𝐄 𝐄 on Instagram: "EBOO is a procedure in which 1/3 of your blood is drawn...

He needs an intervention before he goes batcrap crazy.

[andyb]

He'll be ready for next year's Tour de France.

[allentown]

Ozone is a strong oxidizer.

[zambonir]

This strikes me as more due diligence/Schwarber insurance than serious pursuit, but sure.

Phillies Interested In Cody Bellinger

[RolenRules]

Nationals To Trade Jose Ferrer To Mariners For Harry Ford

Posting this article here, as some have speculated that Ford would be a viable replacement for JT.

Nationals made out well on this trade IMO.

Also IMO, I think Phillies could have gotten Ford by trading Kerkering. Kerkering > Ferrer.

[zambonir]

Yeah from the discussion we've had that seems like a low price for Ford.

Plus Jose's been dead since 1992!

And the M's had to include another arm, even. I would say Ferrer is worth more than Kerkering but not by a ton.