Phillies 2025-2026 Hot Stove Discussion

[phillychuck]

I’m afraid Garcia is pretty cooked offensively. Limited patience, power seems to be slipping away. Probably marginally better than Casty, I would think they have a framework deal in place for Castellanos if they are signing his twin with a better glove...

Let me add that I’ve seen a lot of Crawford in CF and he needs work to be ML average. It’s going to be frustrating for a lot of fans and pitchers if he doesn’t get better quickly. He has the tools, his reads and breaks have to get better. Bring in Garry Maddox to train him up.

[jimbomill]

I think that's an acceptable roll of the dice.

[xogfog]

I would have just as soon have Rincones as the RF next year.

[LoneStarPhan]

Well there are not many RH hitting outfielders available. Garcia is not the ideal fit for a corner spot, but he might help. Maybe he will get a rejuvenating jolt this season similar to Bader this past year.

While relievers might not generally earn as great a WAR value, the Phillies do have a serious need for a reliable RH arm in the bullpen mix. Of course, the problem with relievers in finding the right one. They cannot afford another Romano like failure.

The most pressing need seems to me to be resolving the catching issue. Signing JT is the best outcome IMO. Then trying to get something of value even if savings a portion of the salary from Castellanos.

[zambonir]

Well, they could still decide to go with Marsh in CF. But I think the only way Crawford will ever be a CF is if he starts playing it, and obviously he needs to be in MLB. I think what fans are really going to have to be patient about is the fact that his offense won't look like it did in AAA.

I doubt they have a deal in place for Casty but this at least allows them to try, or to release him. Garcia does still seem to have more legit power than Nick or Kepler (or Bohm) did last year, if only barely. Is the 30-HR power still in him somehow?

I think this is actually a big indicator that Rincones will get a look eventually. But we can't have three LH starting OFs. And isn't he even worse than Marsh against LHP?

The most pressing need seems to me to be resolving the catching issue. Signing JT is the best outcome IMO.

I'd say this signing, rather than the more expensive Bader or Robert (who might end up being traded at his full salary if the return is low enough) or any bigger FA OF, is also an indicator they've budgeted for JT already.

[David_Criss]

Substituting in Garcia at $10 million for Castellanos at $20 million - doesn't move the needle at all. They are now going to pay $30 million since they will have to eat most of Casty's salary for the same, maybe even less production. Both will have something to prove to a new team, but there is a reason Texas didn't keep him for $12 million.

I am tired of running it back with a few gambles hoping player revert back to previous success.

Is this the righthanded bat to protect Schwarber and Harper we have been dreaming about??????

[David_Criss]

xogfog for the win. I'd be ok with them passing over the youth if they weren't signing the likes of Kepler, Garcia, Romano, etc. Is this how little faith they have in their farm, that they'd rather pay millions for a question mark gamble instead of homegrown talent?

[andyb]

With that, now they are paying 30 million next year for Castellanos and Garcia, who offensively are pretty much identical. At least Garcia can field. This has a Kepler storyline feeling of another guy to get 10 million and disappoint, but I guess there isn’t much left to choose from for RH outfielders except Bader.

Bigger question is if they are ready for the other shoe to drop because it’s gonna be pretty awkward to announce Garcia with Castellanos still on the roster.

I kind of had a feeling they were going to do this. Castellanos with better defense. That is all that is available on the free agent market. Guessing we'll trade Casty with most of his contract or release him shortly to give him time to find another destination. All this likely before Christmas.

[bigegypt0417]

Garcia even as bad as he was is an upgrade over Casty...2.7 WAR vs. -.8

If he can be closer to the 2023 version then you're definitely on the right end of this.

10 million in todays MLB is a role player.

[andyb]

It is kind of amazing how little right-handed hitting there is these days in the outfield.

I still say the best version of the future might have Turner as that right-handed OF bat with Miller at SS. We are at least a year away from that and have the backup option of Miller at 3B, but Turner could actually be a really good CF defensively and he has dabbled with it in the past.

[flyers19rw]

Moving Turner to CF is a sensible change but I don’t see him accepting it

[Austinfan]

Garcia is a one year patch. At least he can field. And possible platoon with Rincones if he shows enough to stick on the roster.
Marsh/Kemp in LF, Crawford/Rojas in CF. Kemp can also play 3B, so Sosa is only IF.
Miller starts in AAA, Escobar in AA.

[zambonir]

The main thing to dislike about it is Garcia really is more of the same, whether you're talking Casty or just the offense in general. Not selective. But still more interesting than bring back Hays or finally getting Lane Thomas.

Long actually did succeed in getting guys to reduce their chase last year (at least until he didn't). As for incorporating youth, that is on Crawford and Painter, and possibly Miller.

We had a big surprise last year in Luzardo, there still could be one this year. But first they gotta lock up JT (unless that's the surprise).

[andyb]

But first they gotta lock up JT (unless that's the surprise).

I think that will happen, but we'll need a trade most likely if it does not. The free agent catcher market is not inspiring. Jonah Heim is probably the best available and he'd be a nice backup on a good team.

[zambonir]

Yeah that is what I meant by the surprise. It would be a big one! (Both if they don't sign JT and if they were to trade for an acceptable alternative). Pretty sure the most recent reporting was that the JT deal should be done soon. But if they aren't as close as we think you'd ideally want to make your trade before he signs with another team, not after.

[andyb]

Noting Adley Rutschman is a switch hitter who is a little better against LHP.

That is the big swing catcher move they could still make though it would cost a major prospect or two. Orioles probably have no use for Bohm.

[julio]

You’re tired of 96-win seasons?

[VoteForKalas]

You’re tired of 96-win seasons?

As the number of wins in the regular season have increased, the less effective the team's results have been in the playoffs.

2022: 87 wins, lost WS
2023: 90 wins, lost NLCS
2024 & 2025: 95 & 96 wins, lost NLDS

I'd definitely give up 96 win seasons to win a ring during the Harper era.*

*I know, I know, the playoffs are all a crapshoot, it is very hard to win and adding division winner banners is still fun, but championships are what defines players and teams.

[phillychuck]

Championships are probably not a great target--too hard to win them, especially with the Dodgers’ machine.

[VoteForKalas]

Disagree. Just because it is hard does not mean you give up and hide in the face of competition. If something is hard, achieving it is all that much sweeter. The Dodgers are the benchmark, but it is not impossible to compete toe to toe with them.

In reality, the Phillies could be a similar "machine" if they could wrap their limited minds around executing consistently on a plan of strong investments in draft & development talent, international talent and their already well tuned massive payroll for vets approach.

Unfortunately, that seems to be a bridge too far for this current ownership and the several management teams they have hired. We've never been serious investors in the international talent pool and have struggled to build a competent farm system of draft & development talent over the last 15 years.

The only thing we have proven competent at is beating out other teams for core vet talent such as Harper, Turner, Wheeler, Realmuto & Schwarber. That helps get you the 90+ wins, but your team depth, approach and quality gets exposed in the playoffs. There are reasons the Dodgers were able to weather tons of injuries and still win the ring (and no, it is not just luck).

This is why fans are upset. We have all the resources to be the best; we just cannot figure out how to utilize and apply those resources effectively in all the areas we could or need to compete.