Maintain observe of all the newest offseason rumors pertaining to the Phillies on Phillies Nation.
Monday, Dec 15: Phillies reportedly nonetheless excited about Harrison Bader after Adolis Garcia signing
The Phillies is probably not achieved reshaping the outfield, however it might take some payroll maneuvering. After signing former Texas Rangers proper fielder Adolis Garcia to a one-year, $10 million contract, the Phillies “have remained ” in re-signing heart fielder Harrison Bader, per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. Bader is in search of a three-year deal value between $10-$15 million per season, per a earlier report from Ken Rosenthal.
Might the Phillies clear payroll area for a possible Bader reunion? They aren’t going to search out any takers for Nick Castellanos and his $20 million wage, particularly with Garcia now on the roster. The Phillies don’t have any leverage and few are pouncing on the chance to amass Castellanos after a down 12 months. As Gelb mentions, an Alec Bohm commerce may give the Phillies some payroll aid. Bohm is projected to make simply over $10 million in his ultimate 12 months of arbitration, per MLB Commerce Rumors. – Future Lugardo
Monday, Dec 15: Renewed curiosity in a well-recognized commerce goal?
The Phillies visiting Price Area within the few days earlier than the 2025 commerce deadline solely added gasoline to the concept that Luis Robert Jr. may discover himself in purple pinstripes by the top of the week. Robert Jr. stayed put, however the idea may decide up steam once more this winter.
The Phillies have renewed curiosity in Robert Jr., in keeping with a report from The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon. Sharing in that curiosity is an NL East rival which did so again in July, too: the Mets.
A commerce won’t be as inspiring now as it might’ve been on the deadline. Robert Jr. had a torrid July earlier than cooling off in August, straining his left hamstring later within the month and lacking the rest of the season. He additionally earned a $5 million elevate this offseason after the membership picked up his $20 million possibility, probably in an effort to commerce him for one thing both now or mid-season.
That price ticket is a large one given his peaks and valleys, with significantly extra valleys, offensively over the previous couple of years. However Rosenthal and Sammon report that Chicago would contemplate paying down portion of his wage to sweeten the return.
Given the paucity of high quality right-handed hitting outfielders on the free-agent market, there’s a chance for Chicago to take advantage of. It feels unlikely the Phillies would half with an upper-tier prospect for a participant as inconsistent (and often injured) as Robert Jr. However with rumors that the Phillies may search to commerce a big-leaguer like Alec Bohm or Matt Strahm in an effort to liberate payroll, maybe there’s an opportunity the Phillies may redirect these funds right into a dart throw on Robert Jr. and use money to offset prospect value.
The nice model of Robert Jr. would fill a gap for the Phillies as their on a regular basis heart fielder or, much less probably, a platoon associate for Brandon Marsh. Robert Jr.’s OPSes towards lefties the final three seasons, in reverse chronological order, are .842, .568 and .952. Unpredictable? Sure. Engaging? Evidently, a minimum of slightly bit. – Nathan Ackerman
Tuesday, Dec 9: Reds, Orioles’ presents for Kyle Schwarber
Of all groups, the Baltimore Orioles have been those who matched the Phillies’ five-year, $150 million provide to Kyle Schwarber, in keeping with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. The Cincinnati Reds reportedly got here in at 5 years and within the vary of $125 million.
The Orioles are anticipated to proceed aiming huge of their seek for roster upgrades on the free agent market. The identical can’t be mentioned for the Reds, who have been seeking to signal Schwarber, an Ohio native, to drive ticket gross sales, per Rosenthal. – Future Lugardo
Tuesday, Dec 9: Harrison Bader’s asking value, Pirates’ provide for Schwarber
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Tuesday morning had an fascinating replace on Harrison Bader’s ask in free company. The previous Phillies outfielder is in search of a three-year take care of a median annual worth between $10 million and $15 million per season.
On the Pittsburgh Pirates and Schwarber, MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf reported that Pittsburgh’s provide to the star designated hitter was 4 years, $125 million. Schwarber, per Jeff Passan, has agreed to a five-year, $150 million contract with the Phillies. The Pirates had a barely greater AAV at $31.25. The most important free agent contract the Pirates ever handed out was three years, $39 million to Francisco Liriano greater than a decade in the past. – Future Lugardo
Monday, Dec 8: The most recent Schwarber buzz
The magic is within the air. And by magic, we imply Schwarber buzz on the Baseball Winter Conferences simply exterior of the Walt Disney World Resort.
In his newest dispatch from the conferences, MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand mentioned “… it’s starting to really feel as if Schwarber and the Phillies are headed for a reunion.” Might a deal be signed earlier than the top of the conferences? Some imagine, in keeping with Feinsand, that it may occur. Todd Zolecki in his story famous that different groups in on Schwarber imagine it might be “an upset” if Schwarber selected them over the Phillies.
In a gathering with native reporters on Monday, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski expressed some optimism on retaining each Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto.
“There’s optimism, however the actuality is at this level, I don’t actually know,” he mentioned. – Future Lugardo
Monday, Dec 8: Rogers: Ranger Suárez to land “a minimum of a strong four-year deal”
Over at ESPN, Ranger Suárez was predicted as a free agent who may signal in the course of the Winter Conferences this week in Orlando, Fla. Jesse Rogers has an replace on the thrill surrounding Suárez:
The chatter surrounding the left-hander’s free company from potential suitors such because the Astros, Mets, Orioles and others is selecting up. He’s in line for a minimum of a strong four-year deal — and if a workforce presents 5 and even six, it’ll probably land him.
—Future Lugardo
Monday, Dec 8: Harrison Bader “piques the Giants’ curiosity”
Add the San Francisco Giants to the record of groups with curiosity in Bader. Bader “piques the Giants’ curiosity,” in keeping with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Bader, as The Athletic reported on Sunday, Dec. 7, is on the lookout for a three-year deal. The dearth of high quality right-handed hitting outfielders on the free agent market may push a minimum of one workforce to supply Bader the three years he needs. Would the Phillies go that far to retain Bader? It probably relies on how far they must go to retain Schwarber and Realmuto, two free brokers which can be greater up on the Phillies’ record of priorities proper now. – Future Lugardo
Sunday, Dec 7: Rosenthal: Updates on Kyle Schwarber, Harrison Bader and Max Kepler
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has a number of related Phillies-related free company updates. The Pittsburgh Pirates have made a four-year provide to Schwarber. The provide, per Rosenthal, is presumably value over $100 million. Rosenthal calls the Pirates a “longshot” to signal Schwarber. The Pink Sox and Reds, together with the Phillies, are among the many different groups with curiosity in Schwarber. The trade nonetheless views the Phillies because the favorites to land Schwarber this offseason.
Does a proposal make the Pirates an actual risk to signal Schwarber? In all probability not, however a report like this means that Schwarber and groups are having extra substantive conversations. Rosenthal added that Schwarber is prone to decide “throughout the subsequent two weeks.”
Bader, maybe the third-best outfielder on the free agent market, is “mentioned to expect a three-year deal,” per Rosenthal. One other former Phillies outfielder, Max Kepler, was additionally talked about as a possible goal for the outfield-needy Kansas Metropolis Royals. – Future Lugardo
Saturday, Dec 6: Zolecki: Phillies, Castellanos each ‘anticipate a separation’ by Spring Coaching
Maybe it’s a shock to some that Nick Castellanos stays a Phillie by means of the primary week of December. It nonetheless seems like a matter of when, not if, he’s not.
MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reported on Friday that Castellanos and the Phillies each anticipate to half methods earlier than Spring Coaching. The mechanism by which that occurs is, in fact, nonetheless to be decided, and it’s probably the rationale for any ongoing holdup. The Phillies try to commerce Castellanos, however their leverage in convincing groups to tackle a part of his contract shouldn’t be precisely excessive, provided that your entire league assumes he’ll be launched if not traded. He has one 12 months and $20 million left on his contract.
As Phillies Nation‘s Future Lugardo coated, Castellanos is spending this early a part of the offseason positioning himself for a bounceback 12 months — and maybe making the case that he can play a brand new place on the diamond for whomever his subsequent workforce is. — Nathan Ackerman
Friday, Dec 5: Updates on Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suárez, Harrison Bader and others
Might a number of Phillies free brokers signal at subsequent week’s Baseball Winter Conferences? Jeff Passan and Buster Olney of ESPN have a number of related updates.
Schwarber’s signing may open the floodgates for the remainder of the place participant market. Passan writes that groups imagine {that a} five-year assure is what it is going to take to signal Schwarber. As soon as a minimum of one workforce will get there, different groups “will begin pivoting, and the motion will decide up demonstrably.”
On Suárez, Passan studies that groups imagine he would be the subsequent huge free agent beginning pitcher to signal. The Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles have curiosity. Passan additionally mentions Harrison Bader as one other participant with a “wholesome market.” With out counting Cody Bellinger, who has positional flexibility, Bader is the one legit heart fielder out there on the free agent market now that Cedric Mullins reportedly signed a one-year take care of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Talking of Bellinger, Passan mentions that the Phillies have curiosity, together with the Yankees and Mets. Maybe essentially the most fascinating Phillies-related be aware from the story is that prime Japanese beginning pitcher Tatsuya Imai may signal with an east coast workforce. Passan lists the Yankees, Mets and Phillies as “affordable touchdown spots.” – Future Lugardo
Tuesday, Dec 2: Updates on Kyle Schwarber and Byron Buxton
The day’s scorching range updates contain Kyle Schwarber and a possible outfield commerce goal for the Phillies. The San Francisco Giants have “checked in” on Kyle Schwarber, in keeping with MLB Community’s Jon Morosi. The timing of this report is fascinating contemplating The Athletic printed an article the day earlier than on the Giants’ want to appease non-public buyers within the possession group resulting in a scarcity of curiosity in spending on the prime of the free agent market.
However San Francisco, for years, has been starved of energy. Willy Adames in 2025 turned the primary Giants participant to hit 30 house runs in a single season since Barry Bonds in 2004. Schwarber could be a slot in that regard.
Over at ESPN, Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel reported that Minnesota heart fielder Byron Buxton is prepared to maneuver his no-trade clause. Buxton, 31, was adamant through the years about remaining with the Twins, however after Minnesota’s epic commerce deadline sell-off and an extended rebuild trying like an actual chance, Buxton seems extra prepared to maneuver. Buxton is below contract for 3 extra seasons at simply over $15 million per 12 months. — Future Lugardo
Monday, Dec 1: The most recent on Schwarber
When will Schwarber signal? ESPN’s Jeff Passan wouldn’t be stunned if Schwarber has a deal earlier than the top of the Baseball Winter Conferences, which run from Dec. 8 by means of the tenth in Orlando, Fla.
It’s effectively established that the Phillies are Schwarber’s foremost suitors. As beforehand famous by the New York Publish, the Orioles are in on Schwarber. So are the Pink Sox and Reds. Passan, in a put up on Threads, talked about the division-rival Mets as one other potential suitor for the star designated hitter.
Kyle Schwarber: The bellwether of the category. Schwarber’s market is wholesome. He’s going to get years, and he’s going to get AAV, and at this level, he is perhaps the likeliest of the large free brokers to signal first. Unclear if one thing will get achieved earlier than the conferences, however I’d be stunned in the event that they finish and he doesn’t have a workforce. The Phillies stay the favourite, with Boston, Cincinnati, the Mets and others within the combine.
— Future Lugardo
Thursday, Nov 28: Heyman: Orioles ‘pursuing’ Schwarber in free company
Schwarber is arguably the very best hitter on the free-agent market this winter, so it appears probably that there will likely be widespread curiosity within the All-Star. The Baltimore Orioles may very well be one potential suitor, because the workforce is “amongst many pursuing” Schwarber, in keeping with Jon Heyman of the New York Publish.
Baltimore shouldn’t be essentially an enormous participant in free company in most offseasons, however 10 years in the past the Orioles signed Chris Davis to a franchise-record seven-year, $161 million contract to maintain the facility hitter with the membership. Possibly it’s an extended shot, however maybe the O’s look to ink one other big-name slugger a decade later.
The Orioles didn’t have many constant energy threats on the membership for the lengthy haul in 2025. That they had three gamers hit 17 house runs to tie for the workforce lead. The arrival of Schwarber, coming off a 56-homer marketing campaign, would add on the spot offense. After all, the remainder of Main League Baseball is aware of what Schwarber brings as effectively, particularly the Phillies, who will likely be motivated to retain him. — Ty Daubert
Thursday, Nov 27: Heyman: Phillies ‘lurking’ in Cody Bellinger market
The Yankees need to convey again Cody Bellinger. The versatile outfielder had an .813 OPS in his first season with New York in 2025. The Mets may have curiosity after the Brandon Nimmo commerce. The Phillies’ priorities seem like elsewhere, with Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto nonetheless unsigned. However in keeping with Jon Heyman of the New York Publish, the Phillies, Dodgers and Angels may very well be “lurking” as potential suitors for Bellinger.
The Phillies want outfield assist. A robust defender within the nook outfield, Bellinger is a left-handed bat with glorious numbers towards left-handed pitching. — Future Lugardo
Tuesday, Nov 25: Rosenthal and McCaffrey: Pink Sox excited about Realmuto
Add the Pink Sox to the record of potential Realmuto suitors. Boston is displaying curiosity, in keeping with a Tuesday morning report from The Athletic. Signing a catcher shouldn’t be a prime precedence for the Sox, who have already got 26-year-old catcher Carlos Narváez on the roster. Until Narváez is traded, Realmuto, if he indicators with Boston, may very well be a part of a catching tandem. It’s unclear if a participant like Realmuto, who has began a minimum of 130 video games at catcher in 4 out of the final 5 years, could be excited about that kind of association. — Future Lugardo
Tuesday, Nov 18: Passan: Realmuto “received’t demand greater than two years”
Realmuto is the very best catcher in a reasonably skinny free agent market. Realmuto will likely be getting into his age-35 season in 2026. One other workforce prepared to go a 3rd 12 months stands out as the distinction between Realmuto staying with the Phillies or signing with one other workforce.
There ought to be loads of suitors for Realmuto, however ESPN insider Jeff Passan doesn’t essentially see Realmuto as a candidate to get three years on the open market:
The one full-time starting-caliber free agent catcher, Realmuto ought to have excessive curiosity that features returning to Philadelphia or decamping to any variety of groups seeking to improve on the place. At age 35 on Opening Day, Realmuto received’t demand greater than two years, placing the three-time All-Star in play for playoff groups and aspirants alike.
— Future Lugardo
Sunday, Nov 16: Nikkan Sports activities: Phillies significantly eager on Murakami
Formally posted final week by the NPB’s Yakult Swallows, nook infielder Munetaka Murakami has been approached by a number of MLB groups, in keeping with Japanese outlet Nikkan Sports activities, with the Phillies reportedly “significantly eager” on the facility hitter.
Murakami has purple flags throughout his MLB profile, as we wrote about Saturday on Phillies Nation. However for a workforce in search of extra house run risk this offseason, particularly if Kyle Schwarber departs in free company, the preliminary curiosity, if true, in Murakami — nicknamed the “Japanese Babe Ruth” — is smart.
The Schwarber issue looms over all the things, although, for the Phillies’ total offseason however particularly for any Murakami traction. He’s a left-handed house run hitter with not a lot defensive worth, probably fitted to DH long run. And he received’t be low-cost.
Murakami has till Dec. 22 to signal, and Schwarber ready longer than that will come as a shock to nobody. It’s potential that the Phillies committing to Murakami would take themselves out of the Schwarber sweepstakes, which, given the trade’s basic stance {that a} reunion is extra probably than not, could be a surprising pivot. However issues can develop between from time to time that make a Murakami push pragmatic.
It’s additionally potential that the Phillies are doing this with some delicate stage of curiosity, however primarily with the intent to place themselves as actual gamers within the Japanese market, even when they don’t wind up signing him. The preliminary curiosity, a minimum of, is value noting. — Nathan Ackerman
Saturday, Nov 15: Gelb: Phillies receiving commerce curiosity in lefty relievers
The free agent market is brief on strong left-handed relievers. The Phillies have three of them, José Alvarado, Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks, of their bullpen. There may be curiosity across the league in all three, per The Athletic‘s Matt Gelb. Alvarado and Strahm are below contract for yet another season. Banks is getting into his first 12 months of arbitration eligibility.
The Phillies may enter the 2026 season with the identical core of excessive leverage aid choices, or combine it up. However as Gelb talked about in his story, the entrance workplace must do a significantly better job at discovering depth past their finest guys. The Phillies have been burned for counting on José Ruiz, who was designated for task in June. Carlos Hernández, an early season waiver declare, didn’t pitch effectively. Joe Ross, a $4 million signing, was launched in August. Jordan Romano, final offseason’s greatest acquisition, had an ERA over 8. — Future Lugardo
Wednesday Nov 12: Gelb: Johan Rojas out there in commerce discussions
Does a “re-imagined” Phillies outfield in 2026 embrace Johan Rojas? Rojas, 25, is among the finest defensive heart fielders in baseball, however has had an OPS below .600 in 530 plate appearances during the last two seasons. He would have been on the Phillies’ 2025 NLDS roster as a bench participant if not for a quad damage suffered on the finish of the Triple-A season.
In keeping with The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, Rojas is out there in commerce discussions.
The Phillies may go in a lot of totally different instructions in heart area. Dave Dombrowski instructed reporters at this week’s GM conferences in Las Vegas that the workforce is snug with Justin Crawford in heart area, regardless of main questions on his capacity to stay on the place. Brandon Marsh may additionally open the season in heart, though he’s a stronger defender within the nook outfield spots. Maybe the Phillies pursue a reunion with Harrison Bader on a multi-year deal or signal a bounce again candidate corresponding to Cedric Mullins to a one-year deal. — Future Lugardo
Wednesday, Nov 12: What’s the newest on Nick Castellanos?
Chatting with reporters, together with Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, on the basic managers’ conferences on Tuesday, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski as soon as once more addressed the state of affairs surrounding Nick Castellanos. Though the outfielder has a 12 months remaining on his contract, Dombrowski didn’t decide to having Castellanos on the 2026 roster at an end-of-season information convention in Philadelphia final month. And Dombrowski’s newest feedback in Las Vegas continued to make it appear to be Castellanos may actually find yourself on one other membership subsequent season.
“I did communicate with Nick,” Dombrowski mentioned. “I had a prolonged dialog with him. I believe we’re simply form of open-minded for dialogue functions. … However generally change of sceneries might be helpful for individuals, too.”
Castellanos struggled within the area and on the plate in 2025, delivering his worst full season as a significant leaguer. He was benched as a punishment for one thing he mentioned to supervisor Rob Thomson in June and misplaced enjoying time down the stretch as a result of his efficiency because the Phillies ultimately pivoted towards utilizing platoons within the nook outfield spots, limiting Castellanos to begins towards left-handers for essentially the most half. The precise fielder expressed frustration with each his diminished function and with Thomson at totally different factors. He hit 17 house runs with a .694 OPS in 147 video games.
The Phillies may look to maneuver Castellanos, who employed a brand new agent in Gene Mato this offseason, in a salary-dumping commerce. Possibly they might even launch him if they’ll’t discover the correct deal. It simply doesn’t seem probably that Castellanos will likely be again in Philadelphia after the best way this 12 months performed out. — Ty Daubert
Tuesday, Nov 11: Might Nolan Arenado be a match for Phillies?
Veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado was finally not traded by St. Louis final offseason. But when the Cardinals deal the eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glover this time round, may Philadelphia make sense as a touchdown spot?
Reporting from the final managers’ conferences in Las Vegas, Cardinals beat author Jeff Jones of the Belleville Information-Democrat wrote, “The Philadelphia Phillies appeared like essentially the most logical vacation spot for Arenado final winter, and that has seemingly solely intensified after one other 12 months of playoff disappointment.”
The Phillies may have positions to improve, and third base may very well be one after Alec Bohm posted a .741 OPS in 2025. However at this level in his profession, it’s not precisely clear that Arenado could be an enchancment for Philadelphia. As soon as an MVP candidate, Arenado had simply 12 house runs and a .666 OPS this previous season. He was restricted to 107 video games. He’s nonetheless a wonderful defender, however his offense seems to be on the decline.
Arenado is owed $31 million in money over the following two seasons (with further deferrals down the road), and he’ll flip 35 in April. Even when the Cardinals have been to eat a portion of his wage and take again solely a lottery-ticket prospect in return, Arenado would most likely not present sufficient to be a sensible use of the Phillies’ sources. What the Phillies may probably do, nonetheless, is attempt to flip one other costly participant, corresponding to Nick Castellanos or Taijuan Walker, for Arenado in the event that they imagine he’s a greater match. He’s below contract for a 12 months longer than these two, however he’s owed much less yearly from this level ahead. St. Louis may clear cash sooner, and Philadelphia may add an infielder and hope he returns to kind.
Nonetheless, the Phillies may probably discover higher options for his or her lineup elsewhere, as Arenado’s days as an affect bat is perhaps behind him. — Ty Daubert
Friday, Nov 7: Salisbury: Phillies have “significantly” mentioned hiring Don Mattingly as bench coach
The Phillies are on the lookout for a brand new bench coach after shifting Mike Calitri to the newly-established main league area coordinator function. Former Marlins and Dodgers supervisor Don Mattingly left his function as Blue Jays bench coach after the World Sequence. Might he be a candidate for a similar function in Philadelphia? Jim Salisbury mentioned the chance on the WIP Morning Present:
It’s been significantly mentioned by the group. You understand, there is perhaps a complication. His son (Preston) is the GM as everyone knows, however perhaps that’s not a complication. However, you realize, they’re on document as saying they need to have a bench coach who has main league managerial expertise. He’s managed two groups. He’s bought historical past with Rob Thomson courting again to their time as staffers on the Yankees. He’s bought historical past with Kevin Lengthy. Clearly, his son is there. And he’s baseball man and, you realize, on that teaching employees, there’s an actual dearth of main league expertise on the enjoying aspect. He would actually convey a few of that. So he may convey some totally different form of voice in that clubhouse and a distinct stage of respect. They’ve talked about it. Dave Dombrowski needs it, from what I’ve heard. That’s his form of man. And we’ll see the place it goes. Clearly, Don Mattingly has left the door open to remain in baseball. He want to handle, however I don’t assume any of the managerial openings which can be nonetheless round intrigue him. However coming right here and attempting to get a hoop right here together with his son, I believe it might be a hell of a narrative.
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