Building a dream Philadelphia Phillies pitching staff for the 2023 season.
Pitching became a problem for the Philadelphia Phillies in the postseason. The World Series is when it reached a national level.
Those who have followed the Phillies closely know this is nothing new. Their 2022 pitching staff was much better than it had been in recent years. Many pitchers overachieved while some continued to raise questions.
Pitching will help this team sink or swim in 2023. We know they’ll have a loaded starting lineup. What about the pitching? Let’s dream big and assemble the fantasy Phillies pitching staff for next season with starting pitchers, mid-rotation arms, and back-of-the-bullpen pieces.
1) The dream Phillies starting rotation needs one more addition
The Phillies have room for one more addition to the starting rotation. Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola are their top two currently with a debate we can have about the current number three. Is it Ranger Suarez or newcomer Taijuan Walker? Whichever one you choose, the rotation looks much deeper and more reliable than it did at the end of last season.
To complete the dream Phillies starting rotation, we need just a single piece. Carlos Rodon would be great, but the contract demands should have fans desiring someone else. Philadelphia should be in the market for someone more durable. They have two number ones already. Save the money to assemble the bullpen.
An ideal free agent target for the front office right now would be Nathan Eovaldi. The connection between Eovaldi and Dave Dombrowski makes him a logical and realistic option. Why him, though?
Eovaldi has the kind of postseason pedigree the staff was missing in last year’s postseason. His dominance for the Boston Red Sox in 2018 remains a highlight of his career even though many of those big innings came in relief. As a fifth starter, the team couldn’t do much better.
A Phillies rotation of Wheeler, Nola, Suarez, Walker, Eovaldi is incredibly strong. With Bailey Falter available as the sixth starter, things are shaping up well for better results in 2023. Eovaldi on a two-year deal would be perfect.