Phillies News and Discussion 2025 Season

[zambonir]

This just highlights Manfred's strategy - DeRosa played with Harper. He is Team USA's manager. You can't work for the commissioner and still be one of the boys [and arguably shouldn't be a manager either]. J-Roll being part of this is also unfortunate given he already works for the Phillies and is this weekend's WOF honoree.

Manfred's not hiding the fact that there is going to be a lockout. He has said it is just a normal part of the CBA negotiation process now.

[Austinfan]

I don't feel much sympathy for the players.

The stars and their agents emphasize the big contracts over taking care of the more marginal players and minor league players - like they need more money! It's not good for the game to have huge contracts that limit earnings for the majority of players as teams get squeezed paying for players way past their prime.

There's a difference between maximizing the total take for all players, and maximizing a few mega-contracts.
When Harper comes out for the "little guy," I'll take him seriously.

[zambonir]

But it's not the players that push for caps on early-career salaries and restrictions on free agency. If it was up to them any first-year player could make as much money as their performance dictated at any time. They would gladly trade that for making less as performance also dictated that.

Also, the best players get paid a lot because that's what people pay to see. They are entertainers. You can't make a movie without supporting characters and extras but that doesn't mean they should be paid like stars, or the stars should take less to give them more. The owners [or the studios] should just take less profit. There have been strikes over this as well.

[jimbomill]

There's a difference between maximizing the total take for all players, and maximizing a few mega-contracts

Well said (written). Is it possible that Harper may well have been sticking up for "the little guy" by his alleged tirade against Manfred? After all, a lock-out won't hurt him a whole lot, but the fringe players an younger ones might be affected. On the flip side, if Harper did cuss out the Commissioner, there's always an aspect of FAFO that could result.

[allentown]

The stars and their agents emphasize the big contracts over taking care of the more marginal players

And the billionaire owners, who will reap a massive financial gain upon selling their team, they certainly are the ones who need the money.

The players do look out for the marginal players. The MLB minimum salary has risen dramatically. The teams don't need to make bad contracts with older players. That is their business choice, not the result of player bargaining. I think they do this eyes wide open, partly for business reasons, because a big name is very marketable, while they can't market the marginal players to fans.

[phillyfn]

Easier said than done. Not getting much for Marsh and a “lesser prospect”

[zambonir]

With two years of control Marsh is probably more valuable than all but our top 5 prospects though not necessarily to the teams having fire sales if they are super-thrifty. Plus there aren't really any power-hitting everyday caliber RH LFs available. Anyone they get who isn't a CF will just cost a couple of lesser prospects and should still platoon with Marsh [not Kepler] in LF.

If Crawford comes up it probably means they didn't make a significant move. I still think they can trade Kepler. The OF situation league wide is that thin [which is why they could also trade Marsh, but that would probably be for prospects not immediate help. Or perhaps a reliever].

[VoteForKalas]

Schwarber, with his 37th HR last night, becomes the Phillie with the most HR before August 1 in franchise history.

[Philsmania]

Schwarber, with his 37th HR last night, becomes the Phillie with the most HR before August 1 in franchise history.

On pace for 55-56 homers which would pass 1980 Schmidt and 2003 Thome (48 for each of them) but be 2-3 short of 2006 Howard.

[Philsmania]

Interesting how the Phillies schedule has them playing 21 straight interleague games. Factoring in the ASB and other days off, the Phillies do not play an NL opponent for four weeks.

[zambonir]

I hate the new schedule. We're never going back to the point where division rivalries [and division titles] are going to be as meaningful, so when expansion and realignment finally happens it actually won't bother me if they go back to two big divisions or even crossover wild cards.

[zambonir]

Gelb predicts that if Crawford comes up, he will actually replace Kepler straight-up, i.e. as the LF. Have seen this mentioned a couple of times, he's just not necessarily a clear upgrade over Marsh in CF, even if both of them are better in LF.

Even if the Phillies do not acquire an outfielder, they could enact change by summoning Justin Crawford from Triple A. In that scenario, Marsh would probably stay in center with Crawford manning left.

As Phillies seek trade upgrades that could affect them, Brandon Marsh and Jesús...

[xogfog]

Has there been any discussion out there about Gage and/or Obermueller being added as a reliever for the end of this year/playoffs since draft day?

[andyb]

Has there been any discussion out there about Gage and/or Obermueller being added as a reliever for the end of this year/playoffs since draft day?

I have to think that is highly unlikely. College pitchers off long seasons often do not pitch at all or just get a token inning or two. I guess we'll see in the next couple of weeks if anyone gets activated at Clearwater. We still have something like 8 more releases to go in the minor league system since we only have 15 days after players sign to make them part of the organizational 165-player limit. So there will be some minor league spots open. The question is whether FCL players or draftees will fill those spots.

Wood is a little different as his stuff might play very well in the bullpen. He also has had shoulder issues this year so the proper decision is probably not to push it.

[flyers19rw]

In an interview tonight, Dombrowski said that Crawford is ready for the show but that he needs to play. I take that to mean that he’ll stay at LV for now but if any of these potential starting OFs slump, that they will be gone and the kid will play.
This club needs to win. It has a chance but if it doesn’t, expect major changes in the off season.

[Philsmania]

Of interest to me since I have tickets for this evening's game, Duran is not listed as an available reliever and while both he and Bader are on the 40 man, neither are listed on the active roster. Might that change before this evening?

[julio]

It might change. They newly acquired guys have to actually arrive to the clubhouse, and then the club has to clear a 26-man roster spot. Depends on when the player reports in.

[zambonir]

Yeah I think that will change in the next couple of hours. Duran probably already got to town last night and Bader will today, even if he doesn't start tonight.

[Philsmania]

Yeah I think that will change in the next couple of hours. Duran probably already got to town last night and Bader will today, even if he doesn't start tonight.

Twins were off yesterday after being home on Wednesday and are in Cleveland tonight. At worst, Bader had to take a two hour flight from Ohio yesterday or this morning.

[bigegypt0417]

There are rules on how long a player gets to report to their new team...it isn't just distance.

Players have 72 hours to report.