Late last week, we asked you for your Phillies questions. Surprise, surprise, most centered on why they have been so quiet this offseason.
We got others, too.
Here’s a taste:
When are they going to sign someone? -- @C_Kramedas
It has been an unusually quiet offseason for the Phillies. They signed
Aaron Nola to a seven-year, $172 million contract in November (that’s not nothing, folks!), which kept one of baseball’s best rotations intact. But besides Nola, left-hander Kolby Allard and right-hander Michael Mercado are the only additions to the 40-man roster.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski explained in December why he thinks Philadelphia can run it back with the same group that fell short in the NLCS.
“I think you have to know your own players,” he said. “And I don’t get any sense of contentment. We are rolling the same team back, but really we’re only rolling the same team that was there the last couple months of the season, and we didn’t win it all. And I think there’s still a great hunger to win this thing.
“I’m not so sure that there’s not more in our tank just as an overall club.”
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Every indication is that any further additions the Phillies make before camp opens on Feb. 14 will be players on relatively risk-free MLB deals, like Allard, or Minor League contracts. That said, Dombrowski has a reputation for making bold, unexpected moves, so never say never.
Is there any chance the Phillies will attempt to sign Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell, or is Dombrowski happy with their current rotation? -- @chickdevuono27
It’s unlikely, unless they’re hanging out there so long that the Phillies suddenly believe they can make a run at them at a price they like. They were prepared to blow past the next luxury tax threshold for
Yoshinobu Yamamoto in December, but only because they considered him a special exception because of his age and talent. Snell and Montgomery aren’t the same fit. In fact, it’s been reported for months that Philadelphia hasn't been interested in Snell at all.
Craig Kimbrel made 71 appearances last year. How do they realistically plan on replacing that with current bullpen? Why not add another legitimate arm? Seems like an awfully unnecessary gamble given the team is in win-now mode. -- @Flyer_AF
The Phillies could use another veteran reliever, if only because bullpens are volatile and having as many quality arms as possible is always a good thing. But Philadelphia expects big things from rookie Orion Kerkering. The club also thinks Connor Brogdon and/or Andrew Bellatti can bounce back after spending much of 2023 in Triple-A.
For what it’s worth, Bellatti, Brogdon and
Dylan Covey each enter camp out of options.
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What will be Kerkering’s role on the staff? Who is the closer going into the season? -- @jmd_690
The Phillies said Kerkering will have to earn his spot in the bullpen, but it would be very surprising if he doesn’t make the team. Assuming he does, Philadelphia sees him as a high-leverage reliever. The closer? It’s going to be closer by committee, at least according to manager Rob Thomson. I wouldn’t be surprised to see José Alvarado, Jeff Hoffman, Gregory Soto, Seranthony Domínguez,
Matt Strahm and Kerkering each pick up at least one save this season.
How likely is it that the Phillies get an extension done with Zack Wheeler? -- @CaptainHottakes
It’s been reported here and elsewhere that the Phillies have made signing Wheeler to an extension a priority this spring. The Phils had the same thoughts about Nola last spring, but it didn’t happen. Fortunately, for them, Nola re-signed. It won’t be as easy to re-sign Wheeler next offseason, if he hits free agency. They really need to get it done this spring. I think it happens.
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Chase Utley had a 35-game hitting streak from June 23-Aug. 3, 2006. Who has the longest hitting streak by a Phillies player since then?
A) Raul Ibañez
B) Bryson Stott
C) Jean Segura
D) Odúbel Herrera
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MLB Pipeline recently released its preseason Top 100 Prospects list. On Thursday, it discussed each team’s best prospect not in the Top 100.
The Pipeline crew chose shortstop Starlyn Caba for the Phillies. Here is what they said:
“To say the Phillies are excited about Caba, who signed in January 2023 for $3 million, would be an understatement. He hit .301 with a .423 OBP during his debut in the DSL last summer, showing off a knack for contact from both sides of the plate. While we’ll have to see how much strength and offensive impact he adds as he matures, he’s an elite-level defender at shortstop and can really run, pointing at least to a future as a table-setter in a big league lineup. He’s just 18 years old for the entirety of his U.S. debut this season.”
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Former Phillies bench coach Jimy Williams died on Jan. 26. He was 80.
Williams served as
Charlie Manuel’s bench coach from 2007-08. A highly regarded baseball man, Williams made an impact on Philadelphia in a very short time. In fact, Utley passed along a statement last week about Williams’ influence on his career:
“Jimy Williams had a tremendous impact on our many years of success. He was a true student of the game, and his attention to detail resonated throughout our clubhouse and beyond. Jimy will be missed and also celebrated for his lifelong dedication to baseball and the thousands of players he positively influenced.”
Williams’ son, Shawn Williams, has been a manager in the Phillies’ farm system since 2014.
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ON THIS DATE IN PHILLIES HISTORY |
Greg Luzinski announced his retirement on Feb. 4, 1985. He said he planned to coach the freshman baseball team at Holy Cross High School in Delran, N.J. |
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D) Odúbel Herrera
Herrera had a 21-game hitting streak from July 28-Sept. 8, 2017.
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