3 wonderful moves the Phillies still need to get done after…
While the Phillies didn’t make any significant moves at the Winter Meetings, they still have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to their roster.
It’s the end of Winter Meetings, and the Philadelphia Phillies haven’t made a single free agent signing or trade. At Aaron Nola’s re-sign signing press conference, President of baseball operations Dave dombrowski said he likes the organization’s starting rotation as it currently stands. The club’s infield is set and they don’t appear to be adding much to the outfield either.
Still, there are a few roster decisions to be made before Spring Training gets underway. The Phillies could use another reliever to serve as their new closer or setup man. They have an opportunity to add another outfielder to bolster their depth. They also have a decision to make regarding whether or not they’ll extend an important player who’ll be an unrestricted free agent next winter.
There are three moves that the Phillies need to make before Spring Training begins:
Add a relief pitcher
Who will be the setup and closer for the Philadelphia Phils in 2024?
Craig Kimbrel, the free agent closer, announced on December 7 that he would not be returning to the club and instead agreed to a one-year contract with the Baltimore Oriets.
Will Jose Alvarado serve as either the setup or the closer for the Phils next season?
Orion Kerkering could be a contender for either of those jobs during Spring Training.
Jordan Hicks is considered one of the best relievers available on the open market, and he’s one of the Phillies’ players to watch this winter. The Brewers’ closer, Josh Hader, is expected to command a deal north of $100 million, likely surpassing Edwin Diaz’s $102 million contract with the Mets. The Phillies don’t appear to be interested in the top relief pitcher in the market, so they’ll likely turn their attention to signing the Blue Jays’ former closer.
Hicks would join Alvarado in providing the Phillies with two hard-charging relievers. The 30-year-old has some experience in the closer’s role, converting 32 percent of his 44 save opportunities over five years. Before joining the Cardinals, he pitched 105 mph against the Phils in 2018.
In addition to Hicks, Philadelphia could also select from free agent relievers such as Hector Neris (ex-Phils), Keynan Midton, or Aroldis.
No matter who the Phillies sign, they would benefit from having a set-up reliever and a closer in 2024. Manager Rob Thomson’s lack of commitment to finding a setup man and a closer this season didn’t help the club in the playoffs. The team will benefit from knowing who they can rely on in those bullpen roles.
