Phillies 2025-2026 Hot Stove Discussion

[biggsphils]

Probably not, those teams already have younger, cheaper and better players already then Casty and Walker. If they wanted them it would have already happened.

[andyb]

The reality of trading Casty and/or Walker is that we would make them cheap for the acquiring teams. So those teams don't necessarily have something cheaper and better than say paying Casty or Walker $2 million to play a role (Casty at DH and Walker at 4th/5th starter eating innings would both likely have positive WAR). Casty had a lousy year last year but his 3 year oWAR is 2.4, 2.0, and 0.3 so a bounceback year of 1.5 at DH with fewer fielding responsibilities is entirely possible. And Walker was already 1.5 WAR last year.

[zambonir]

If they don't sign Bichette certainly Bohm is likely to stick around. If they do he's gone unless they trade Stott, and I don't think anyone wants that even if that's probably how it ends after 2027 (with Bichette/Miller/Turner the IF. Even if Trea isn't SS anymore I doubt he's going to the OF).

Don't think the Phillies can really afford to trade Walker before July. With Wheeler not likely to be ready on Opening Day and Painter a complete question mark he'll be used.

Either way, Walker and Nick are only getting traded if the Phillies make it worth the other team's while, and they can't really afford to be selling prospects. If you packaged Bohm and Walker together you might get $9 million in relief on Walker, but no players of any value in return.

Anaheim is in the top half of payroll already, and those other teams never spend money, not that you seriously thought they'd take on much of either contract.

[zambonir]

Was wondering why no stories at Athletic or Inquirer yet but

https://www.mlb.com/news/bo-bichette-rumors

Bichette/Phillies meeting is said to have gone very well fwiw. Bichette admires “first class” organization. Other pluses: roster, park, Mattinglys link, spring proximity to home. Would Phils need to deal Bohm, do lesser C than JT? Other Bo suitors: Jays, Red Sox, NYY, LAD, more https://t.co/B4mhk4KUZO

— Jon Heyman ( @JonHeyman ) January 13, 2026

[zambonir]

Grain of salt, but Bowden claims there's so little competition for JT that Phillies could offer him a one-year deal (I doubt they really want to do that in terms of AAV and 2026 tax, and it would seem like a risky play for JT as well).

Former executive says J.T. Realmuto has no market other than Phillies

[andyb]

It is odd there is no market. Imagine there would be lots of 2-year offers for at least $20 million total. I know JT wants more than that, but even with age adjusted analytics JT probably projects for 3-4 total WAR over 2 years. It is a middle of the league ranking (or even slightly below the middle point) but still clearly starting level numbers with only minimal injury concerns other than age.

Guessing JT is just not even considering offers in that range or even offers from bad teams that are not much greater than what the Phillies have offered. Teams are probably not planning around JT looking around at all since the Phillies will at least offer some reasonable floor level contract. Why get in a bidding war you are destined to lose?

[julio]

Well, at the end of the day, Realmuto will have to choose among the offers he actually receives, whether any of them are what he expects or "wants," or not. It's not likely that the best of the offers will be beneath consideration, since we are talking about millions of dollars.

[zambonir]

The stand-off cuts both ways. Both sides know the other doesn't really want to break up. The Phillies know JT has a house in Clearwater and JT knows the Phillies' pitching staff (and Bryce) would not be thrilled to see the team make a change (though we haven't seen Bryce with any "Sign JT" shirts this time).

We just don't know how far apart they really are. Or how fast Bichette's market might move if Phllies are serious about that. (Alternately if someone else sign Bichette one assumes the Phillies would up their offer to JT immediately.)

[andyb]

Gelb did file a story this morning. Focuses on contract length (i.e. 7 years+) as the Phillies advantage and remember we do have a history of long contracts to younger players to lower the AAV.

As Phillies’ Bo Bichette pursuit gains momentum, their openness to longer deals...

How about 8 years/$250 million with about $75 million deferred. That might get the AAV in the $27 million range. Give an opt out after 3 or 4 years. Then trade Bohm for prospects while getting JT on a team friendly deal (2/20 with incentives). Sounds like a plan to me.

[zambonir]

Ah, hadn't seen. Funny that story includes a reference to the 2011 contract signing by our rookie CF's father.

If they are really willing to get both Bichette and JT it barely matters what they get for Bohm. If they need to trade for catcher, he could be a piece (even if it's just a separate trade to replenish prospect depth a little).

[xogfog]

Phillies Acquire Chase Shugart

Probably a camp arm an AAA depth

[dicemen99]

The article does raise an interesting point about the long term nature of the contracts the Phillies have given out, that many on here have lamented.

Rather than looking at the last couple of years of each contract as paying for a useless player, the Phillies are using it as a deferral to lower the AAV. Kicking the can down the road when the cap rises. They also retain control of the player should he still provide utility in the last years of the contract. Face it, $25M may be the price of below average 1B production in 2030, so maybe we won't be overpaying Bryce then. And when we come to the end of the contract (and the player's career), we still have the option to extend, basically turning it into a deferral.

[andyb]

Probably a camp arm an AAA depth

Last 40-man spot but he does have one option left. Probably the 2nd or 3rd reliever recalled beyond the initial ML roster.

[fish]

Probably a camp arm an AAA depth

Last 40-man spot but he does have one option left. Probably the 2nd or 3rd reliever recalled beyond the initial ML roster.

I know he’s nothing special, but except for walks he had a pretty decent run with the Pirates last year. Hard to believe they are so loaded with bullpen arms they could afford to throw him away (though I do like Loretto, but there is a very small chance he amounts to much).

Dombrowski has stockpiled quite a few guys who profile the same as righty sweeper/slider types with questionable fastball profiles- not a bad thing, but not diverse either.

[zambonir]

There are several guys without options who won't end up making it (at best, they clear waivers). And possibly still several guys who get DFA'd between now and March too (including position players).

[Austinfan]

Kemp has more position versatility as well, can play 3B, 2B, 1B, corner OF.
He's much faster than Bohm, probably has more power to boot.
Missed a lot of development time so there's still upside there.

Bohm is a tease, he has stretches where he looks like the player they took #4, then stretches where he looks like he should be in AAA. The other issue is how his fielding will deteriorate as he ages, he's tall and not that quick, so his range could fall off quickly.

[zambonir]

Kemp's not actually good at any of those positions though. He might not be a positive WAR player if his defense is poor (Bohm was still 1.5). But he's cheap and does have more upside. Maybe a lower floor, but you're only trying to find out for one year, and ideally in a platoon where he wouldn't even be the starter. But since Bichette is going to be our 3B (I'll be the first to say I never believed it), doesn't really matter.

I'm sure Bohm could have converted to corner OF just as easily as Nick

[andyb]

All the talk about Bohm is because of Bichette, not Kemp. Either Bohm or Stott needs to go if we get Bichette because we'd be wasting a valuable player on the bench. I'd rather trade one of them, get some decent prospects, and lower our luxury tax. Stott could actually be the right trade answer since he has more control left than Bohm and could get something better in return. Remember Miller can still play 3B after Bohm.

[zambonir]

Yeah but they seemed pretty interested in trading Bohm regardless. Per Zolecki they are already just $2 million shy of the last threshold so just signing JT was going to put them over. Lose Bohm and you might be able to chip yourself back under. Or at least you're saving some cash off the tax bill.

But if they're all in they should be all in. To me it still depends on the catcher situation, post-Bichette. If they don't get JT and they'd rather do a trade than sign Caratini (or the many less exciting vets) that's where Stott's greater value/control comes into play. If they don't get Bichette obviously you want to hang on to Bohm, whose bat still has some value (ideally way down the order with Garcia delivering power and a better OPS at 4 or 5).

[Matt_Winkelman]

Over or under the line makes very little difference other than many over the line you spend $1.1 per $1 in tax and I think money below is $0.8 per $1.

They are only looking at trading Bohm in conjunction with Bichette. The moving him to just free up money and play like Kemp or Sosa boat has sailed away. He just becomes a $22M in cash luxury on your bench if you sign Bo, and that makes it worth it (plus he probably won’t be happy on the bench)