One insider is suggesting that a surprise team could make a move to really load up on star power adding big names like Trea Turner or Carlos Rodon.
Shortstop Trea Turner is firmly in free agency, having his candidacy peddled by none other than St. Louis actor Jon Hamm. Pitcher Carlos Rodon opted out of his contract, making him one of the top commodities in the open market as well.
Both are likely to stir up interest in their respective positions, but what if a team were in the running with both players?
Better yet, what if that team went to the World Series this year?
Phillies were close, but not close enough. Trea Turner and Carlos Correa would change that
The Philadelphia Phillies made it to the World Series in 2022 and forced the mighty Houston Astros to six games. They didn’t get all the way, and while there are no moral victories, they did end the season with a National League title and a run that no one saw coming from Philly.
After all, their slow start motivated them to fire manager Joe Girardi just this season, so the turnaround is crystal clear.
Apparently, there’s a world in which they could be big spenders and land both Turner and Rodon.
In a recent podcast, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury mentioned he could see the Phillies using their financial flexibility to consider both. Phillies fans understandably have eaten that up:
“I’m not expecting them to sit on their hands,” Salisbury said. Later, he would continue on the topic of Trea Turner, ” They need a lead-off man,” he said. He also said he thinks Turner wants to return to the East Coast. Turner played for the Washington Nationals for years, putting up an .842 OPS with the Nats in 7 seasons.
Of the topic of pitching, Salisbury said, “…you still need pitching. So you have to decide where you’re gonna spend your resources.” Earlier in the podcast, he mentioned Rodon could be an option.
It doesn’t sound like Salisbury is doing anything more than connecting dots that anyone else can, but his knowledge of the team and their internal risk-vs-reward calculus makes this a lot more than your typical fan speculation.
The Phillies have the money to spend because big-spend players are off the books, including Segura and Didi Gregorious as referenced in the links above.
Salisbury also said he wouldn’t be surprised to see the team look to make trades, even moving players like Nick Castellanos. The Phillies could look a lot different, and likely more menacing, by next year.
According to those most familiar with the team, the Phillies are aggressively looking to make it back to the World Series for another shot at winning it all. It’ll take some big moves to get over the competition in the tough NL East, but they have the cash to do it.