2024 Phillies Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
Not Phillies exclusive, but some good info about the Phillies:
MLB rumor mill: What we're hearing from GMs with Juan Soto contract looming large
Weeks away from MLB's winter meetings, GMs are expecting a flurry of hot stove activity.
www.usatoday.com
A lot of good points
One thing I think is crucial is getting Schwarbs out of the leadoff spot.
I know what the analytics say but I personally want Stott to to leadoff. I know he needs to get back to the two years ago Stottie but that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it
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There is a real problem with the narrative that has formed around Bohm that he has work ethic issues or immaturity or whatever term you wish to describe his mental makeup or approach. You should have a player who is highly desired but as it stands the Phillies might not receive adequate return partly due to the narrative. If this is a net Bohm for Bellinger, the Phillies have not improved. Whatever offensive plus that might generate, you’ve lost based on salary increase and how that might squeeze your ability in other moves.A lot of good points
One thing I think is crucial is getting Schwarbs out of the leadoff spot.
I know what the analytics say but I personally want Stott to to leadoff. I know he needs to get back to the two years ago Stottie but that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it
This should be interesting. There are a couple of different directions this could go and the reactions will be very different depending on the story chosen to be told. If it is just a rehash of Schmidt’s statistical accomplishments, it will miss the mark. The more interesting story would include a deeper dive into a complicated individual.
Agree
I also know it’s untraditional, but I don’t think they should shy away from the young kid Miller.
Some kids are just ready at younger ages.
And kind of what you were saying - why replace equal for equal at a higher salary - that’s a net loss overall.
Plus, and I know I’ve been a Phils fan for a looonnnggg time, but this organization has a long history of waiting too long on the kids.
This narrative will exist any time a team makes available a home grown, 28 year old, top-3 drafted player, cost controlled at a premium position.
It had the obvious look of the Phillies giving up on Bohm. They can say what they want in GM convos, but it’s pretty obvious they don’t like Bohm long term.
I would agree but the move by Thomson to sit Bohm in a huge playoff game against the Mets opened the floodgates to all this and showed the Phillies hand. There is no way you can rationalize that move and they will pay dearly for that decision. There have been grumblings about Bohm percolating for some time and this intel was likely known outside the organization as well. I would agree, this is the type of contract and player that should be critical to a team that has a number of high salary players.
I have only seen Miller a handful of times but my feel is that he needs 2025 and most of 2026 for development. You should not be counting on this kid in the grand scheme of things given the salary and team you’ve put together. So I would let him develop naturally. If he’s ready, fine, but I wouldn’t rush him just because you don’t have another option.
I don’t think the Phillies pursue Bregman as initially thought so I think Miller is the long term play. The one thing that caught my attention seeing Miller is that he’s a big boy. Does that translate to 3b and staying there? To me, 3rd is reaction and instinct, does he have that at a MLB level? To me, I’d like to see his step left too, that is what I always look at.
I assume both Miller and Crawford are much more visible in Clearwater this spring. I am excited to see both.
I think Bregmqn will play out similar to Soto. Lots of talk and speculation, but when it’s time to talk turkey, the Phillies won’t engage in a meaningful way.
They just don’t have the payroll flexibility to sign a guy like that. And they haven’t moved Bohm either.
Contracts are about to get silly again. There’s a reason players and agents are waiting for Soto to sign.
Agree with your points
I just don’t see a valid option to make this team better by trading Bohm
let him play and my the end of the years he’s not a rookie any more
And while I’m at it put Crawford in CF and leadoff
He backed himself into this corner with this highly imperfect and expensive roster. He can’t simply spend more money to fix this.I fear Dave D is going to crap the bed this winter
I fear he’s run his course and will step aside after a so-so 2025 season.
This is the cycle, build it up, take your best shot, scramble to try to improve to get better if you didn’t get it done, and then blow it up. The decision every GM must make is whether spending future assets to possibly improve will get you over the hump or just kill you going forward.
At some point (where they are now), it’s not just spending money. You’ve done that. The GM has to be honest and assess who is going to get better that will push you further forward. The players who would get better and push you over the hump were Stott and Bohm. One stepped back, the other might get traded. Who is going to get better to make the difference? Your pen as it stands now is MUCH weaker. You can lean on your starters but what can you expect from Ranger, Walker, and Painter. The way you stay in there is to have Ranger have a big year and Painter show out.
It’s tough but the window will start to close. The thing I fear is that this is classic Dombrowski. Max out your chance and then let someone else pick up the scorched earth.
Better to have maxed out your chance than to have never tried at all.
Signed,
Pittsburgh Pirates fans.
Agree he backed himself into a corner - pretty sure they thought this team would have a Ring already so now they are in “Now What?” Mode
And that’s why I think he’s going to crap
the bed 
this winter Agree on Dombrowski - but sometimes they have rings by then - this team doesn’t so they are in a very tough spot
Take it from a die hard Red Sox fan… I have seen this movie before. You are spot on… the real issue is it takes 4-5 years to recover
This makes me really happy. It's unfortunate that it didn't happen while Allen was still alive.
I was always under the impression that Dave Parker was already in the HOF. Glad he got in as well. I remember him being a great player year after year for the Pirates.
May he turn into another Bobby Bonilla for the Mets. Be careful what you wish for (see the Jets and Aaron Rodgers!).
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