PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 08: Trea Turner # 7 of the Philadelphia Phillies and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski smile during their press conference at Citizens Bank Park on December 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The final three free agents the Philadelphia Phillies should sign this winter.
The Philadelphia Phillies have made some nice additions to the roster this offseason. While previously grading their four biggest moves, we come away with some notable improvements to the offense and pitching staff.
This shouldn’t be the end of the additions Dave Dombrowski makes. The roster continues to have some spots they should be looking to improve before Opening Day arrives.
Trea Turner, Taijuan Walker, Matt Strahm, and Craig Kimbrel shouldn’t be the end. These three free agents should be the finishing touches on the offense.
1) The Phillies should go after free agent starting pitcher Michael Wacha
As good as Bailey Falter was for the Phillies late last season, he should not be their fifth starter to kick off the 2023 season. The Phillies have four guys they can count on. They now need a fifth.
Sitting out there unsigned is 31-year-old Michael Wacha. After some turbulent seasons from 2019-2021, he was excellent for the Boston Red Sox in 2022. Wacha made 23 starts, went 11-2, and finished with a 3.32 ERA.
Wacha is probably the best free agent starting pitcher available. He shouldn’t cost a ton. A two-year deal is a reasonable expectation while the Phillies might prefer to guarantee only one season and have an option for a second.
The Phillies haven’t made too many waves in the starting pitcher market this offseason. The Walker deal came early on in December. Not much has popped up about other options for them even though Nathan Eovaldi would have been near-perfect.
Wacha is someone with questions but one of the last intriguing free agent starters out there. Was the 2022 success a mirage or has he regained what he had early on with the St. Louis Cardinals?