You know, since the games are almost here
One of the greatest all time movie trilogies is Indiana Jones. To me, the first part of that trio – Raiders of the Lost Ark – is perhaps one of the most perfect action movies to ever be made. The next two movies were good, if not great, pieces of cinema. Then they decided to make more, the fourth version being Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Many people have derided the movie (I happen to think it’s fine), but if you haven’t seen it, there is a part in the movie where all the main characters are floating down a river after intentionally going over a waterfall. All of them have satisfied look that going over said waterfall, which happened to save their lives, was going to be easy sailing.
Until they went over the next waterfall.
For some reason, this scene reminds me of the 2024 season for the Phillies. After a season in which they played rather well (even with pitfalls), they believed everything was going to be fine until they actually got to the end of the season and, well, waterfall.
This offseason, they entered it trying to make changes to better their odds of winning a championship whilst keeping one (both?) eyes on the bottom line of their spending.
How did it go?
Key additions
Max Kepler – 1 year, $10 million
Jordan Romano – 1 year, $8.5 million
Joe Ross – 1 year, $4 million
Jesus Luzardo – trade with Miami
Key departures
Jeff Hoffman – 3 years, $33 million (TOR)
Carlos Estevez – 2 years, $22 million (KC)
Austin Hays – 1 year, $5 million (CIN)
Estimated luxury tax payroll (via Roster Resource)
roughly $307 million
Overview
The name of the game with the team’s offseason was “creativity”. It was spoken, preached on, harped on, interviewed about and executed. The team was looking to get creative with the way they approached roster construction, but in the aftermath, it’s become somewhat apparent that that meant trading Alec Bohm.
We know now that that did not happen. Whether you believe or not that they placed Bohm on the trade market for the highest bidder, there were discussions about his moving to a new team that ultimately did not cross the finish line.
Apart from that, the other word(s) one could use for the offseason was “bottom line”. The team did not sign anyone to a multiyear deal in the effort to try and contend this year while simultaneously allowing themselves freedom in the future to add if necessary. They are going to shed payroll after the 2025 season, during which they should be able to spend more…
…but did they miss an opportunity to win this year?
It’s easy to say they did now without any in season data to fall back on, relying instead of what players have done in the past and a gaze at the transaction sheet of others to dream about. There are other teams in the National League that definitely added pieces to their roster in the hopes of creating a behemoth that cannot be defeated….and then there is everyone else. Other teams in the NL did improve, but how many have, on paper, overtaken the Phillies and what they are bringing back? Remember, not only do the Phillies have a clear and stellar strength in their rotation, they traded real prospects to add to it. They’re bullpen is not the same pillar that it was last season, but it is still plenty strong enough to contend and might actually be buttressed by a rotation that eats innings. The offense might lean a bit to the left, but it still has players from spots one through six that should, again, on paper, should produce wRC+ that are above average with other places showing the ability to perhaps join them.
Put simply, the Phillies are still a really good team in MLB and to deny otherwise is just being contrarian.
This is not saying they do not have their issues!
Their main signing in the bullpen, a unit that just lost two very good high leverage relievers, has elbow issues.
Their main signing for the lineup may or may not need a platoon while also learning a new position.
Their depth to help in case of injury is not something one would refer to as “encouraging”.
However, this is a team that won 95 games last year and returns much of that roster. That roster also had itself embarrassed by a division rival in a series that didn’t look at that competitive and knows the sands in its hourglass of championship contention is starting to run out. Trite as it might seem, that gives this kind of veteran roster the type of motivation that can last a long way into the season.
All that being said, the offseason did leave a bit to be desired. The team looked like they kept whatever powder they have a bit on the dry side, maybe to see how the team performs, maybe because that powder doesn’t exist in the first place. It’s an interesting place they find themselves in with camp in full swing and games right around the corner – a place where they should contend for the pennant, but a roster that looks like they need a bit more.
Grade
How would you grade this offseason for the Phillies?