Compared to previous year, the Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason activities have been more low-key. Although Dave Dombrowski, the team president, is no stranger to activity throughout the summer, his silence this year has been remarkable.
Since re-signing Aaron Nola, the Phillies have not added any notable players, and a report from Matt Gelb of The Athletic suggests that free agents are reluctant to sign with Philadelphia. He suggested that the best players currently on the team might be the cause of the reluctance.
There are now five starting pitchers for the Phillies: Taijuan Walker, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez, and Zach Wheeler. Consequently, pitchers seeking greater chances are said to be hesitant to be included in the rotation.
Big players like Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Bryce Harper, Edmundo Sosa, and Seranthony Dominguez are also on the current Philadelphia Phillies roster. In 2023, the Phillies finished with an 87-75 regular season record.
They hadn’t won a pennant in the National League since 2009. As a wild-card team, the Phillies made it to the playoffs and shocked many by winning the World Series.
Regretfully, the Houston Astros defeated the Phillies four games to two, and they were unable to overcome the final obstacle.
The Phillies intend to keep their great players in the city.
The Phillies have a strong desire to hold onto its finest players, such as Bryce Harper. Harper agreed to a $330 million, 13-year contract with no opt-out option in 2019.
They also failed to come to a contract agreement with Alec Bohm, an infielder, prior to Friday’s arbitration deadline. The Phillies filed a $3.4 million pay proposal, while Bohm’s side reportedly offered a $4 million contract.
Though notable, the $600,000 disparity is neither the smallest nor the highest difference observed on the day arbitration verdicts are made official. The two still have time to work things out before the hearing, which is scheduled for later in the offseason.
Although the Philadelphia Phillies are capable of competing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and other teams, it makes sense to enlist further assistance. The team made it to the NLCS last season and the World Series in 2022.