Phillies News and Discussion 2025 Season

[zambonir]

Yeah I already posted that story and said the same last night (was joking about the Stubbs part). The story also mentions Casty has basically stunk at the plate since the blow-up, including his approach.

But I also think winning teams have good chemistry more than vice-versa. They were just fine a mere four days ago, and it's a been a tough path w/o Harper and even a subpar Nola.

I don't really know why Kepler would whine that much, playing only against RHP is still being the starting left fielder. Nobody's buying that he'd be putting up a 105 OPS+ if he played more, probably just the opposite. I'm sure it's true the Phillies did promise him that, though $10 million is not nothing either. They could have just paid Hays $8 million. It's really rather puzzling that Dombrowski keeps whiffing on this particular spot, whether because of bad players or bad fits or both (and perhaps the injury in Hays' case though I still don't think he's an everyday LF either, which they also tried with him for the limited time they could).

I feel like Bregman wouldn't cost that much. He's either a rental (if he opts out) or you are taking on all that money and shouldn't have to give up much (same as the Giants didn't have to overpay for a peak player).

[Dirk41]

Ah sorry didn't see the post.

Agree about Bregman. Castellanos has had a pretty horrible looking attitude since the day he got here. Guess it's his thing

[BostonRoss]

Certainly the Phillies should be asking about Bregman. But also remember he won't be playing for a few more weeks at least, and his timetable for returning is still unknown. I do think the Sox would want to try to extract a high price for him. Saving money isn't that important (especially after jettisoning Devers). While my feeling is that a majority of Sox fans were ok with dumping Devers after his refusal to be flexible (unlike what Passan's article said), I think there would be more of a backlash about dumping Bregman, who has been saying the right things and of course has performed well. If Bregman comes back strong, I suspect he will opt out. But if the Phillies trade for him and his injury lingers or his production drops off, they would be on the hook for another $40M next year.

[BostonRoss]

Kepler has turned out to be a mistake (though not as bad as Castellanos). I wouldn't be surprised if he is dumped next month.

[zambonir]

Yeah what the Red Sox want to do as far as keeping their heads above water or trying to get something for a player they'll likely lose (but could theoretically re-sign after opt-out) is the x factor. But if you're the Phillies I think the terms have to be adjusted regardless of what he does, he's either a rental or a financial burden.

This team could probably get by running a platoon at all three OF spots if they could just find that darn RHB for LF. But Nick and Kepler would both complain.

Marsh/? in LF
Rojas/Crawford in CF
Kepler/Nick in RF

That would leave Sosa as the only IF on the bench. More likely they just move from Kepler.

Maybe Dombrowski will surprise us all this time. Usually he only surprises with how conservative he's been.

[mdougherty12]

You can't run 3 OF platoons plus Sosa and Marchan with a 4-man bench.

[andyb]

That would leave Sosa as the only IF on the bench.

Sosa would have to be the Marsh platoon partner in your scenario. If you platoon at 3 spots that is the entire bench except for catcher. If Crawford did come up it would likely be for Rojas anyway and then you could platoon Kepler and Castellanos if you wanted to. Not sure it makes the team better though.

[zambonir]

Ah, yeah I guess I let the absence of Harper confuse me.

[Philsmania]

You can't run 3 OF platoons plus Sosa and Marchan with a 4-man bench.

Paul Owens did that down the stretch in 1983. Back then, they only had a twenty-five man roster but teams only carried ten pitchers so the bench was deeper.

Gross and Matthews in LF
Hayes and Maddox in CF
Lefebvre and Lezcano in RF

And, Matuszek and Rose at 1B

Matthews and Rose were not happy about being platooned, as I recall. Coincidentally or not, both were ex-Phillies the following season.

[zambonir]

I just figured Rojas still has a place as a RHB, even if Marsh goes back to LF you don't necessarily want your only other back-up CF to be lefthanded since Crawford is.

But I don't think Crawford's coming up, nor does he really solve anything. They need a legit LF-type bat and/or a willingness to play Casty less.

Maybe they should just take their chances for the next four weeks and play Kepler and Marsh and Casty almost every day. They are still tied for first place and 2.5 up for the top wild card. See if it works. Throw down the gauntlet, especially if the players are unhappy. Make Kepler prove he's either an everyday player or a DFAed player. Let Nick know that he's nice he wants more information about his defense but what they really need for him is to hit well enough that no one cares.

[David_Criss]

Problem is no one will trade for Kepler. If the rest of the lineup was hitting like the multi-millionaires they are paid to do, none of us would be complaining about Rojas being in the lineup. He is cheap, fast and has an amazing glove.

[VoteForKalas]

I would not dump Kepler. The team is what they built plus pen help at the deadline. Hope it is enough, but suspect it will not.

The significant revamp of the roster needs to happen in the offseason like it should have last offseason.

You've got to move Casty or Turner or both, make the salary retention work, free up payroll and land a better starting RF and either 3B, 2B or SS depending on Bohm, Stott and Miller performance.

The CF and LF crapshoot experiments need to end - decide on Rojas, Crawford, Marsh, Kemp, Wilson, Kepler et al. Whoever does.not make the cut needs to be sent down or moved for whatever value possible. We need to have a MLB level OF that can play defense, but carry it's weight offensively.

They must have an offense that can score runs consistently and adjust their approach to any pitcher within games.

We cannot afford to have one trick ponies anymore; we must have hitters who can hit for power and get on base, but also produce well situationally and do what is needed to get the run in. If that is a bunt, so be it. If it is stealing a base, so be it. If it is taking a walk, so be it. If it is hitting the ball on the left side to advance a runner or hit a sac fly to get a run in, so be it.

[mdougherty12]

The Phils could certainly trade Castellanos in the off-season, but it won't save them much salary or generate any real return. The upcoming free agent market isn't deep in outfielders. You've got Kyle Tucker and Trent Gresham, then maybe Cody Bellinger declines his option. Beyond that, you're looking at guys who might make a decent platoon player at best.

[Dirk41]

I would take present day Garry Maddox vs about 75 percent of the current outfield.

[VoteForKalas]

Agree, they waited too long, but you still need to cut bait and try another approach. Running it back again with this same group is insanity.

[BostonRoss]

I would wait another month, but if Kepler doesn’t improve and Crawford is hitting well, I would be tempted to replace Kepler with Crawford. It’s a risk because Crawford’s ability to hit major league pitching now is a question, but Kepler isn’t that good. Might be worth rolling the dice.

[zambonir]

I wouldn't say Kepler is untradable. Austin Hays was trade able. It's just a matter of finding a match (both money and role). LH hitters are always valued, which is why it's all the more baffling Phillies can't find a RHB.

Turner's not going anywhere. What's more, he shouldn't. His contract isn't gonna be fun in 2-3 years but the team would not be better without him until then.

That said, the final All-Star round started today, and there are zero Phillies on it. This is a team organized around stars, but the Dodgers and Mets have the two better 1B and SS candidates, those two teams and the Cubs dominate the OF, and there wasn't even a second finalist for DH, perhaps the only spot where our guy still might have been second. Obviously Bohm was not a consideration after starting last year and it's sad/laughable to think Stott was actually a candidate for a while last year.

it's just not gonna be easy to replace any of the high-paid guys, whether the ones who can leave via FA or the ones you might want to nudge out the door, with anything other than another high-paid (and older) guy on another long deal. Tucker's on the young side though, I might go after him.

Anyway, not ready to start the funeral for a first place team that could still just as easily win the NLCS. The best team did not win it in '22 or 23.

But if you want to have a funeral, take a hard look at our roster and ask, has Dave Dombrowski actually acquired (as opposed to inherited or re-signed) any of this team's best players?

[Austinfan]

Have to wait for the season to end, but I've never seen so many prospects hitting sub-.200 and so many pitchers getting bombed on a regular basis.

Either they're sticking with them adjusting their mechanics, etc., or their scouting is really bad.

[zambonir]

A full assessment of the Barber era and the development staff is still TBD, if not always super-encouraging. But 80% of our starting pitchers are Klentak guys or older (even including Abel) and Bohm, Stott, Harper, JT, Wheeler, Rojas and the guy we traded for Marsh are too. Dave's biggest moves (Schwarber, Turner, Casty) weren't bad even if you can quibble about Trea and still be puzzled by Nick (I won't even bring up Taijuan) and there have been good trades (like Sosa and Luzardo as well as the '22 deadline) but the management of the OF and all of the modest moves since '23 (Lorenzen, not getting a RHB in '23, Merrifield, Hays, Kepler) don't make the front office (or at least the pro scouts) look great overall.

[LoneStarPhan]

I do remember the Phillies firing the manager when the team was in first place.