Phillies 2025-2026 Hot Stove Discussion

[David_Criss]

Am I wrong? The longer this JT things drags out the more apparent it is to me he is interested in being the highest paid than he is being a member of the Phillies. Marchan is pretty darn good behind the dish and it isn't like JT was lighting it up with the bat. But Marchan is fragile.

I'm ready for the Phillies to sign Caratini to a 2/16 deal and let him split time with Marchan/Stubbs. Caratini is also good behind the plate and his bat isn't to far off from JT.

Then keep some of that savings in reserves for a trade deadline pick up????? Could they get further savings by trading Castellanos to San Fran. Heck see if they will take Stott too and then sign Bichette.

Would trading Bohm free up more money and would Kemp be that much of a cliff dive offesnively if he is handed 3B????

Just dreaming and thinking out loud, but mostly as a fan getting frustrated that JT is keeping us held hostage to knowing one way or another.

[andyb]

Would trading Bohm free up more money and would Kemp be that much of a cliff dive offesnively if he is handed 3B????

I think Kemp would be as good as Bohm offensively, just in a different way. And in a sentence I never thought would apply to Bohm, I think Kemp would be much worse defensively. Will Kemp improve? Hard to tell. He is not super young and he just has not been good defensively anywhere. Playing a single position might help, but he could also be pretty bad.

[zambonir]

JT didn't sign until the end of January last time and both sides had minimal options then too. I suppose Caratini is more of one for the Phillies (versus last time when the Mets had already grabbed McCann). But I think this still ends up with him coming back.

And you don't know that he's the one making the unreasonable demand. It's not even money likely, just years. I certainly don't think he's interested in being highest-paid again, he knows he's not going to make more than Perez or Raleigh. If he really was asking for that Phillies would indeed have already moved on.

I for one am not frustrated. Enjoy the holidays, most of the GMs and players are!

[zambonir]

Yup, like I said, it's a Philly thing, even if we're not Boston.

[jimbomill]

It's not just the organization. It's the fanbase, too. Even in a supposedly liberal Northeast city like Philadelphia. The fanbase favors white players and the organization responds to that.

I disagree. Not a single Phillies fan amongst my friends gives a rat's elbow about that, caring only that we win.

[zambonir]

What individual person is actually going to say, "I liked Chase Utley more than Jimmy Rolllins because he was white"? Or vice-versa? It may not be the same thing as siding with Thomas over Allen but it's still a real cultural trend.

And any block within walking distance of CBP (including mine) still has at least one genuinely old-school racist person living there. So does most of America, of course. But like Philsmania said it's kind of a self-perpetuating thing: team historically prefers white players, fans learn to revere white players, and, more recently, white players recruit other white players.

[allentown]

You can say the org needs to look around, but also there are foundational issues in the sport causing these problems too.

It is admittedly tough for an east coast team to sign star Japanese players. Many teams have signed Cubans. We haven't. I don't consider Garcia, who was injured and passed on by other teams -- that seemed the same sort of middle finger up to critics as the two Koreans and Drew did.

[zambonir]

I just started writing a reply to you about Adolis Garcia (who is Cuban but obviously not an international FA) but I think you meant Gonzalez. He certainly counts, just not a good signing or impressive get. Our most recent Japanese signing counts even less!

[Austinfan]

I dunno. I thought Abreu was underrated, but liked Thome more than Howard b/c Thome was more disciplined and was able to extend his career.
Garry Maddox was certainly beloved.
Mike Schmidt probably took more crap than any other 1st ballot caliber player, maybe it was the hair?

[phillychuck]

Abreu is probably may favorite Philly, ever, but maybe because I engaged in so many online arguments about how good he was. Maddox was my favorite Phil of the 70s/early 80s. I preferred Utley to Rollins...no clear pattern for me. Loved Allen, of course! Still, I’m sad about the delayed signing of black players by the team, but, even though I’m old, that era is a bit before my fandom, just embarrassing history.

I just found out that Utley autocorrects to “outlay” if you don’t capitalize his name!

[allentown]

You are absolutely correct and I goofed up the name.

[RolenRules]

Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai

Happy New Year, I guess.

Phillies miss out on another Japanese all star.

I will be interested in seeing the terms of his deal. Rumors were that Astros were trying to curb spending.

[zambonir]

Taijuan Walker money, basically. Three years. But opt-outs every year. Which is apparently against Phillies policy.

The Astros and Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a free agent contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. It is a three-year contract with opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The deal maxes out at $63MM, per Chandler Rome of the Athletic. Heyman adds that Imai will receive an $18MM annual salary plus incentives that can bring that to $21MM if he reaches 80, 90, and 100 innings

[RolenRules]

Thanks Z. I see that MLBTR updated its article with the contract info as well.

[bigegypt0417]

I would be against that type of contract as well...pretty dumb IMO.

[zambonir]

But what's the downside for the team? It would be the same as if Ranger accepted his QO. Or if they signed a #3 caliber starter to a one-year $21 million deal. And if he stinks it's no better or worse than a deal without opt-outs.

It being a "policy" means they are never going to contend for a large group of FAs, including Boras clients. They got sort of lucky that Bryce didn't want one (and instead now Boras just whines about not having an extension).

Opt-outs are also good for the team because they have the best chance of re-signing the player before he hits the open market. You can also QO many of them.

[andyb]

I would be against that type of contract as well...pretty dumb IMO.

Why?

Worst case it is a 1-year deal for $21 million. Yes the team needs to find another solution if he does well, but there is zero long term risk. Remember when people argued that trading for JT gave the Phillies a leg up on signing him long term. Why does not that apply here and (bonus) avoid the Japanese posting fee on the long term deal.

Clearly Japanese players have figured out that going short term on their deal finds a loophole in the Japanese posting system. But on the other hand a short term deal with little financial risk is hardly ever a bad decision for a baseball team.

[bigegypt0417]

Unless it's a mutual option out the downside is a wasted 50 plus million dollars.

This deals feels light which seems odd for a highly touted pitcher.

[andyb]

Unless it's a mutual option out the downside is a wasted 50 plus million dollars.

You could extend that logic to any free agent though. And the risk on a younger player like Imai with a track record of success is really pretty minimal.

[zambonir]

Isn't the posting fee based on the value of the guaranteed contract? But sure, if he's not actually that good he's not worth paying both salary and posting fee (not to mention luxury tax). And if he leaves you've lost the advantage of having a 27 year-old instead of a 30 year-old. But that's worth gambling on. If he turns out to be Yamamoto you give him the market deal after he opts out. It's not our money, and the Phillies don't appear to spending that money on any one else (I.e. Ranger).

Is it actually allowed by the CBA for the team to have an opt-out? Not that any player would sign that deal.