Phillies 2026 News and Discussion

[zambonir]

Well it's probably not a huge hardship to carry Rojas the rest of the year as a last bench guy/defensive sub/PR. Berroa can be optioned. Stubbs will surely not stick. And Garcia is probably going to be DFAed or pawned off on whatever team the Phillies do a trade with (if there's some salary involved).

As weak as Garcia's bat as been, with merely good not great defense, I would think a Crawford/Rojas/Marsh OF would be no worse than the current one unless or until they get an upgrade. You could also go back to giving Kemp or Reyes some time platooning with Crawford (if not Marsh) along with that (Rojas replaces Berroa, Kemp replaces Stubbs).

[andyb]

They need to create competition for outfield (and overall) playing time. Playing Sosa there was probably a mistake. His bat is not good enough and it distracts him from the infield where he can provide rest for everyone and play somewhere against left-handed pitching.

We have been giving playing time to the least bad option rather than incentivizing the players to improve to get that playing time in the first place.

[zambonir]

They do, but they need players to do it with. And Sosa's always been an odd fit to back-up/give rest to Bohm and Turner. Whether by necessity or intent it seems like the plan has been to let struggling hitters (Bohm, Garcia, Turner) play through it. And oddly Stott has reverse splits this year.

Clearly Marsh is going to play everyday. Now it's probably Garcia rather than Crawford who should lose playing time, and Berroa should see more (if it's not gonna be Kemp or Reyes again).

[andyb]

But all that is just pushing mediocre chess pieces around the board. We know Sosa should not play outside his platoon regularly. Why create a bench that forces them to use that mediocre option. They should bring up Kemp or Reyes and give them at least 50% playing time (which means more than just a short side platoon). Give them a chance to be better than Garcia as incentive for Garcia (and Crawford) to be better. Crawford has not really played well enough to merit regular time. Marsh is the only one who has done so.

Think outside the box. Don't rationalize bad moves based on small sample sizes.

[zambonir]

I just don't see where Kemp or Reyes deserve 50% playing time either. Small samples as hitters yes, but we know they can't field, which Garcia can (and even Sosa is better). And to me you still have to play Crawford as much as possible, not just for his development but because even as poor as he hits he still manages to contribute some with his speed.

I also don't think fear of losing his job is going to make Garcia play better. He already knows he's in danger of losing his job, and even just not wanting to stink should be sufficient motivation. I just wonder what kind of work the Phillies did with his swing and does it need to be continued, or abandoned?

Outside the box would be to play Schwarber in LF more often (freeing Kemp or Reyes to play 1B and DH sometimes) or move Harper back to RF (since there are so few actually OF upgrades available but a 1B might be easier).

The main thing is the team is playing pretty well despite the weak offense and they picked Berroa over Kemp and Reyes so those guys could keep getting AAA ABs. They should play Berroa in the OF more than Sosa, ride it out until Rojas is back, and then make other moves from there until the trade deadline.

[Austinfan]

As far as Painter, patience.
His biggest problem is a hittable 4 seamer despite 96-98, lack of spin and deception proving my point that there are diminishing returns to velo above 95 MPH or so. But I'd think that's something they can work on over time, the important thing is he has his velocity back after TJ.
Otherwise he has great secondary stuff, needs to improve command and consistency, but we're not talking a 2 pitch pitcher you hope can find a 3rd pitch, more of a 5 pitch pitcher who just needs experience and coaching to refine his stuff.

Still see Painter as a #1 in 2-3 years.

As far as Luzardo, did the same thing last year, had a horrible stretch of a few games where he got blown up, then Cy Young level pitching the rest of the season. So I'm fine with him.

If Nola can pitch backwards and limit his 4 seamer to a "show me" pitch, he can still be a solid, though overpaid, #4.

[BostonRoss]

Even if 2023 is excluded, Rojas's career numbers offensively are a little better than Garcia's this year.

[Philsmania]

As far as Painter, patience.
His biggest problem is a hittable 4 seamer despite 96-98, lack of spin and deception proving my point that there are diminishing returns to velo above 95 MPH or so. But I'd think that's something they can work on over time, the important thing is he has his velocity back after TJ.
Otherwise he has great secondary stuff, needs to improve command and consistency, but we're not talking a 2 pitch pitcher you hope can find a 3rd pitch, more of a 5 pitch pitcher who just needs experience and coaching to refine his stuff.

Still see Painter as a #1 in 2-3 years.

As far as Luzardo, did the same thing last year, had a horrible stretch of a few games where he got blown up, then Cy Young level pitching the rest of the season. So I'm fine with him.

If Nola can pitch backwards and limit his 4 seamer to a "show me" pitch, he can still be a solid, though overpaid, #4.

Not saying Painter is going to be a HOFer but look at Glavine and Smoltz their rookie years

[Callison]

Considering the Phils' notorious inability to find a hitter, maybe the best direction for the team is to build the rotation with Skubal. Word on the street post-surgery suggests that a shorter deal might now be workable. Agree the Phils can't do the rental - would require a new contract now. Was never going to be cheap. How about Painter, presently looking like a prospective #4, and Miller, with a sore back, that often doesn't completely heal? The Phils could have a rotation that might be one of the best in MLB history and one that might carry the lightweight hitters deep into the playoffs. I'm here to help the dream-impaired.

[andyb]

They just put big money in Sanchez and Luzardo for the future and guessing they might want to talk Wheeler into an extra year or two after next year. Priority for me would be more the offense and getting a younger offensive player ideally right-handed. 3B and RF will be open next year and what they do there will be interesting.

[xogfog]

And what would you trade to get Skubal?

[zambonir]

Miller and Painter, he already said!

[VoteForKalas]

The playoff runs of 2010 and 2011 would disagree with you.

[andyb]

There will probably be more pressure on high payrolls next year as well even if we do not get a salary cap. Revenue sharing will almost certainly increase even if the competitive balance thresholds also go up. I think the Phillies can still safely be in the $300-$350 million range including benefits, but above that could be tricky. Finding a $30 million offensive player at a position of need may be more important than a $50 million pitcher.

[zambonir]

I don't think you can rule out the Phillies being interested in Skubal but he is a Boras client. There is almost zero chance he will accept an extension as part of a trade, preferring to hit the open market. Even if he did it would be a blockbuster deal (in order to pre-empt open market), and there would probably also be opt-outs which Phillies have thus far refused to give (they will probably have to abandon that principle in any case).

The good news is you could actually get him as a rental for a lower trade price, though Phillies still don't have that kind of depth, and need offensive help more

[Philsmania]

Skubal is a lefty and the Mets love lefties. They'll go all out to sign him.

[Jazzhead]

That's alone a good reason to try to trade for him, even as a rental. Although the value of a fourth stud starter is diminished in a short playoff series (notwithstanding how the Dodgers were able to utilize Glasnow.)

[zambonir]

We've already got two pretty good lefties, and our RHP is pretty good too. For all the angst about the offense, if this rotation is healthy they are set up well to win a series or two without more than one start from Nola, and we may yet get Painter as a reliever. Last year certainly could have gone differently with Wheeler.

No doubt the Phillies will end up being in the rumor articles, and they'll also certainly talk to Detroit. With a rental you rarely give up one of your Top 5 prospects, so there's that too. But a bat and possibly even another bullpen piece (if Keller and Alvarado don't inspire confidence as the #2 options) will be in the mix too.

[Callison]

I know from the Ed Wade Era that the Phils' relationship with Boras was bad for a long time, but I hope everybody has grown beyond that by now.

Somebody will pay Skubal. Here's hoping it's the Phils. Skubal, Sanchez, Wheeler, Luzardo, Nola. That would be a rotation to remember.

OTOH, Trout is cheaper!

[zambonir]

Middleton developed a great relationship with him when the Phillies signed Arrieta and Harper, but haven't gotten near any of his major free agents since then (including Suarez) and weren't players for Correa, Bregman or Bellinger (to say nothing of Soto) because they don't give opt-outs.

Both the Mets and the Phillies are probably more likely to to after Skenes if he's available. In the Phillies case that would also mean replacing Wheeler with him rather than adding Skubal a year sooner. Otherwise

Phillies would probably have to trade either Nola (difficult as that might be) or Luzardo to sign Skubal.

Of course we have no idea what the CBA is going to be next year. A smart team or agent might actually try to lock Skubal up before that, but if contracts aren't grandfathered into a possible cap than a team like the Phillies is going to be even more messed up.