Phillies News and Discussion 2025 (Part 2)

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

Agreed, I think he is the #6 reliever. But would you rather let Ranger or Luzardo face an Ohtani or Soto for the third time, vs Banks or Mayza?

But also no ghost runner so probably crucial to have someone for extras. Same with the long man.

I hope they don't rush him.

[andyb]

No reason they would rush him, but 2-3 games in the last week would be good, especially if they have to wait out the wild card round. He is going to need to get his timing back. Some of those games could be DH also. Guessing no base stealing until the playoffs if even then.

[Jazzhead]

For the NLDS at least, I'd go with 12 pitchers (four starters) and both Kemp and Wilson on the roster. The issue is that we have six starters and only four are needed in that role. Indeed, even the fourth starter will see limited use, but the other starters should absolutely have their full rest each and every start during the playoffs. The questions then become:

• Which three starters are best suited for bullpen use and how does this impact the choice of which four will start?

• If Ranger is, by dint of experience, seen as the starter most likely to be equally effective out of the pen, doesn't that suggest that Nola (or Walker) ought to be the fourth starter?

  • Is Ranger to the pen also suggested by the possible advantage of a righty starter breaking up what would otherwise be a trio of lefties?

    • If Walker is the fourth starter, does that leave any place on the roster at all for Nola? Is there any evidence Nola could pitch out of the pen? His MO lately seems to be to struggle early and then right the ship the second time through the lineup.

    • Do the two extra starters provide options for Thompson to start certain games with an opener? What scenarios would suggest that? I saw the Dodgers used an lefty opener (unsuccessfully) yesterday against Schwarber and Harper.

  -

[Philsmania]

No reason they would rush him, but 2-3 games in the last week would be good, especially if they have to wait out the wild card round. He is going to need to get his timing back. Some of those games could be DH also. Guessing no base stealing until the playoffs if even then.

My sentiments, exactly. Don't rush him but get him some work.

[zambonir]

Ranger is the #2 starter. At this point it's hard to imagine anything other than Sanchez/Ranger/Luzardo in the NLDS. And also pretty hard to imagine Rob giving the ball to anyone other than Nola as the #4. Still a chance Nola gets a start in the NLDS if they need a RHP. I don't think either of the Walkers beat him out. They are all flawed. Granted, the scenario where Walker Buehler rides to the rescue as a proven post-season hero is appealing, but you could say the same about Nola.

I'm not sure there's a scenario where you want a RHP opener. And if a team has great LHBs at the top of their order, you probably just go with the LHP starter.

But we could easily see a de facto tandem, with either of the Walkers coming in after Suarez or Luzardo. I don't think they will leave Nola off the NLDS roster but it probably makes more sense to keep him on a starter's routine to possibly pitch in Game 1 or 2 of NLCS (if NLDS goes the distance).

[zambonir]

both Kemp and Wilson on the roster

Also Kemp can't even stay on the regular season roster unless they option Stubbs. They can option Walton first, though he's really the Turner move not the Bohm move. Anything goes once it's October. I could still see them turning to Rojas. There just wouldn't have been any playing time for him this month but as a defensive replacement or PR he might have more utility than Kemp, who can really only PH for Stott (unless it's a game where both Wilson and Casty have already started or PHed, which would be a pretty convoluted chain of events).

[DurhamBull]

At this point it's hard to imagine anything other than Sanchez/Ranger/Luzardo in the NLDS.

If anyone predicted this at the beginning of the season, I tip my prognostication hat to them!

[andyb]

I think they option Walton for Bohm and then if they do a Turner move it is probably Stubbs though if it is the last 2-3 days it could be almost anyone if the key playoff bye is clinched. There could be a bunch of moves the last couple of days that have no impact on playoff decisions. Probably would be good to see Rangel pitch a few innings the last day or two also.

[zambonir]

Haha well, the main reason for that is rather unfortunate! Heck, so is the second one.

If Wheeler wasn't hurt there'd be no Buehler and not much talk about Nola even making a start, though Suarez and Luzardo have both had their moments where they still looked like lesser options.

There are five full off days between the last day of the season and Game 1 of the NLDS, so there's really no need for Rangel. I guess he could be a bulk reliever after the Game 1 starter gets his work in. Right now Buehler, Walker and Nola are the guys lined up for that Twins series, none of whom are necessarily going to pitch in the NLDS! I asssume thing might change as the seeding race unfolds and they figure out how many days off they want the actual playoff starters to have.

[Callison]

Hope everyone enjoyed the latest edition of Phils' baseball. If it gets any better, I couldn't tell. Attendance looked minimal for this series, but that's LA for you. Maybe "The Simpsons" aired.

Gotta think Wilson is on this team for a reason and it showed up at last yesterday. The previous day, he did nothing and I'm wondering how much longer he's gonna be around. His early season injury really set him back. Not playing enough to get more consistent and that's not gonna change, but a nice bench player to have.

If you guess just right, you might hit Duran, as that beyond-lucky LAD turkey did yesterday. Maybe Duran needs to be coached to throw more pitches out of the strike zone.

There's no way to make a good decision on Turner's reinstatement. You let him start too early, he might get re-injured; you let him start too late, he doesn't get his timing back. Hoping he's healthy through the playoffs.

Wonder if the next two will both go extra innings?

[zambonir]

There was no scenario where he wasn't gonna, barring injury. I still worry about him a little but he's had a stellar second half.

Matt Strahm Triggers Vesting Option

[EastFallowfield]

Kinda feels like there was only one reliever ever that people didn't worry much about at all and he still got walked off to end a World Series (and it's not Mitchy Poo)

[Philsmania]

Kinda feels like there was only one reliever ever that people didn't worry much about at all and he still got walked off to end a World Series (and it's not Mitchy Poo)

Rivera in 2001? One of the biggest blown saves of all time off the unanimous first-ballot HOFer.

[zambonir]

I was reading some listicle about the 20 worst blown saves of all time and I think Rivera was on there three times. That '01 was pretty much a bloop, though he did put the guys on base.

I didn't worry about Lidge in 2008 but Astros fans sure would have!

I just think Strahm was showing signs of wear this year, and his overall stats reflected that. We've gotten three good years and a ton of innings from him (including starter innings in '23) so it's bound to end some day, but any replacement will have as much risk. I think the same argument is there for keeping Jose even though he costs $1million more (he gets $500K regardless).

Last night a really good example of the knife-edge tho. Kerkering, Duran and Robertson all could have been playoff-turning goats if that was a pivotal or clinching game. Duran shook off JT and threw a bad pitch but nine other times he probably gets the save. And Robertson made it stressful but it was a ghost runner and an IBB, plus he had a strikeout taken from him.

(And of course, if you're the Dodgers, you have bigger bullpen worries.)

[Philsmania]

Robertson's numbers--both traditional and peripheral--say he's doing fine. But the proverbial eye test says he's doing it with smoke and mirrors.

I too am concerned about Strahm's mileage.

And Rivera opened the door for the 2004 Red Sox in game 4 of the ALCS.

[EastFallowfield]

The Phillies placed Edmundo Sosa on the 10-day IL with a right groin strain (retro to 9/13). INF Rafael Lantigua promoted from Triple-A. To make room on the 40-man roster, OF Brewer Hicklen DFA’d.

[bkox]

someone wrap Bryson in bubble wrap. Hes the last original one standing.

[julio]

I just think Strahm was showing signs of wear this year, and his overall stats reflected that. We've gotten three good years and a ton of innings from him (including starter innings in '23) so it's bound to end some day, but any replacement will have as much risk.

Just to be clear, Strahm's 2026 salary ($7.5 million) is no longer an option; it was a club option (not mutual), and it vested at 60 innings. Strahm is under contract to the Phillies, at a guaranteed salary of $7.5 million, for 2026.

[julio]

What are thoughts about attempting to retain Harrison Bader this winter? There's a $10 million mutual option, with a buyout that is likely to be $3 million. (The buyout was originally $1.5 million, but increases with plate appearances in 2025. Bader's currently at 455 PA, and the buyout stands at $2.1 million. If he reaches 475 PA, the buyout increases to $2.55 million, and at 500 PA, to $3 million.)

It's a mutual option, and I don't see Bader exercising it; he's 31, having a strong season, could be instrumental in the post-season... Any self-respecting agent is going to steer Bader to seek a multi-year contract (likely his last big payday).

Should the Phils seek to nail Bader down with a multi-year deal?

[Philsmania]

Tough call. Bader has meant a lot to this team, both on the field and in the clubhouse. But, he's clearly having the best year of his career at age 31. In all but a few categories, his best numbers are this year. Not unreasonable to question whether or not he can ever duplicate it.

Got to admit, it's looking Dombrowski really won the Deadline.