Phillies 2026 Spring Training Discussion

[phillychuck]

Sanchez is performing like a top-10 pitcher in all of baseball, and the AAV for this contract is 47th and falling. Good deal for the team.

[zambonir]

Oh I think it's a good deal for both sides. I just don't think it's an underpay given he was already controlled for so long. Or that it was especially necessary for the Phillies to have locked him up for 2031 and 2032. It is clearly more about them recognizing just how bad his previous extension was for him relative to his current level of performance, by essentially picking up his two option years early, and getting more term in exchange for the pay bump. A goodwill gesture, a CBT management tool (though this raises his luxury tax number considerably on the front end) and a message to the rest of the league that the Phillies take care of their own, and pay well doing it.

It's certainly a better deal for the Phillies than the one they gave Nola, who is unlikely to be worth his salary in his age 34 and 35 years (we're just hoping he is for the next one). Those years are still too far away to really know if Sanchez will be. Heck we don't even know if Wheeler will be. But these are elite pitchers so you take your chances. Sometimes it goes the Cliff Lee/Roy Halladay direction.

[VoteForKalas]

Phillies fall to the Yanks 6-2

Schwarber 2-4 with a 2B and HR

Nola got roughed up, 4 IP giving up 3 runs with 4 K and 3 BB.

[LoneStarPhan]

I'm concerned about Nola for this season. He certainly was not good last season and today, in four innings, gave up 6 hits and walked 3. A WHIP of 2.25 which is not close to good enough.

Lazar has 2 options so his being sent to AAA for awhile was not unexpected. Being placed on the IL for now delays this. One or more of the relievers with no options (Bowlan, Pop, Mayza) remaining likely will be DFA'd at some point during the season, but for now, they get more time on the ML roster. Kerkering should be back at some point and that will force one from the pen to be removed.

I do not anticipate much if anything in return for Stubbs.

[EastFallowfield]

I scrolled through the Yankees version of today's game, they kept cutting away to all the gear being loaded onto trucks for the trip north, so it felt like even more of a getaway game than you'd get in the regular season.

[phillychuck]

Nola was fine in the WBC. I’m actually pretty encouraged by his recovery so far. A couple of bleeder hits today.

[zambonir]

Yeah there was no home feed I don't think. I noticed that too. Fascinating suitcase footage.

[Philsmania]

Daniel Robert had a cardiac incident earlier in the day.

https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/daniel-robert-cardiac-event-mound-collapse-spring-training-20260322.html

[DurhamBull]

Daniel Robert had a cardiac incident earlier in the day.

Phillies reliever Daniel Robert, who almost died last fall, has another medical...

Yikes, that's scary. I'm sorry for the guy; he faces some difficult choices.

[julio]

Daniel Robert had a cardiac incident earlier in the day.

Phillies reliever Daniel Robert, who almost died last fall, has another medical...

Yikes, that's scary. I'm sorry for the guy; he faces some difficult choices.

Yeah... and realistically, continuing to try to be a major league baseball player probably shouldn't be one of them.

[zambonir]

Happy Getaway Day from Clearwater. This is the lineup today and probably the lineup on Thursday:

Turner 6
Schwarber DH
Harper 3
Bohm 5
Stott 4
García 9
Marsh 7
Realmuto 2
Crawford 8

— Matt Gelb (@mattgelb.bsky.social) March 23, 2026 at 9:19 AM

I think this is a perfect line-up if Bohm and Stott can pick up where they left off in the second half last year. If they can't, Garcia and Marsh are next options to hit higher. Or they still need a clean-up hitter in July.

I noticed both Jassen Dominguez and Kristian Campbell are starting the year in AAA. They were both ROTY candidates last year. If Crawford merely sticks all season I'll be happy.

[zambonir]

Heart rhythm stuff is scary, but not necessarily triggered by extreme physical activity per se, if properly treated/controlled. There are multiple established major leaguers who have dealt with it. It sounds like his device malfunctioned yesterday, which could have happened (both the irregular heartbeat and the malfunction) at the grocery store. Obviously he was already cleared to play after the first time. Maybe that gets revisited.

And sure, maybe it's not worth it when you're only a fringe major leaguer to begin with. Or maybe it's more worth it (the service time/pension/health insurance).

[phillychuck]

Most arrhythmias are drug-treatable, but the trick is finding the right drugs. Many heart patients go through a few years of getting the drug combos and doses just right for stability. It took over a decade to find the right meds for my wife who has an arrhythmia problem which is now well-controlled.

[andyb]

If Crawford merely sticks all season I'll be happy.

Getting that prospect promotion pick with ROY is still the goal. And Konnor Griffin got sent down. Struggled in the second half of training camp and really the incentive of a bonus pick compared to a 7th year of control is really not a close contest anyway for a small market team.

[zambonir]

Well, he won't be ROTY because Painter will be

If things go that well for Crawford we can also debate him hitting higher in the line-up.

[zambonir]

Gelb predicts Wheeler is ready in April, even mid-April (he's counting today's sim game as his first ST start).

Phillies’ smooth spring, punctuated by Zack Wheeler, gives reason for optimism

[Austinfan]

Why rush him? Walker looks OK, Painter looks solid, Nola has his velo back.
I'll take one loss in April to have prime time Wheeler in May with no setbacks.

[zambonir]

Not exactly a huge sample size on those guys, especially from Mr. "I don't even pay attention to spring training until the last two weeks."

I don't think they will rush him, but it's not like he's a risk to re-injure himself either, so he's either ready to pitch or he isn't. And is likely better than Walker or Painter even if he's still trying to find his mechanics or velocity.

[Austinfan]

He's lost 10 lbs by his own account. That's a significant loss of strength.
Danger comes from the temptation to overthrow in a real game while building back his arm strength.
He's no spring chicken, no point pushing him, especially if he needs time to rebuild leg and arm strength.
The bullpen is fresh, the rotation looks solid, so like I said, holding him back for a couple starts won't have much impact on the season

[Matt_Winkelman]

They aren’t rushing him, they are actively holding him back and scoping a program that lets him build up. I am sure they will be watching all the numbers as he makes his starts and adjusting as it goes. If Wheeler had his way he would have come into camp a full participant and broken camp with the team.