Phillies Swing 2 Trades, Land Another All Star: Latest World Series Odds

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Phillies battery of offseason moves ramped up again this week as they continued to rearm themselves in pursuit of a defense of their 2022 National League pennant. A major five player deal was finalized over the weekend that brings All Star relief pitcher Gregory Soto from the Detroit Tigers to Philadelphia.

The lefthanded Soto is one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the majors. Coupled with Jose Alvarado, the Phillies now have two lefties in the back of their bullpen that hit triple digits with their heaters. With Seranthony Dominguez showing elite form in 2022 and new veterans with high upside like Craig Kimbrel and Matt Strahm now in the fold, the Phillies have completely transformed what was once their Achilles heel into an unquestioned strength.

In exchange for Soto, the Phillies gave up Nick Maton and Matt Vierling, a pair of beloved homegrown role players that helped the 2022 postseason run. They'll also send catching prospect Donny Sands to Detroit, while the Tigers will give the Phillies one of their own young utilitymen, Kody Clemens.

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Soto chalked up 30 saves for the Tigers in 2022, striking out 60 in 60 innings of work. He could see some closer duty in 2023 in Philadelphia, but it's more likely he'll share that role with Dominguez, Kimbrel, and Alvarado. Perhaps the sweetest part of the deal: Soto is controlled by Philadelphia through arbitration for at least three years before he hits the free agent market.

It's the latest of President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski's additions this winter that make the Phillies a contender not just in 2023, but into 2024 and 2025, as well.

The Fightins now have the 7th best odds to win the 2023 World Series at plus 1400, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Mets, Dodgers, Padres, and Braves are all slightly ahead of them in the National League. If it sounds like you've read the names of the last two teams a lot lately, it's because that's who the Phillies just beat en route to their pennant victory last fall.

Disrespected underdogs or not, it's still the best odds the Phillies have opened a season at in recent memory, certainly since the Howard-Utley-Rollins-Hamels heyday.

The Phillies also added Yunior Marte, a promising young reliever, in a one-off trade with the San Francisco Giants Monday for their own reliever, Erik Miller.

The Phils will now have a bullpen hierarchy that goes something like

1. Seranthony Dominguez
2. Gregory Soto
3. Jose Alvarado
4. Craig Kimbrel
5. Matt Strahm
6. Andrew Bellati
7. Conor Brogdon

with a potential closer committee comprised of the bolded options. Arms like Nick Nelson, Sam Coonrod, and Yunior Marte are also on hand as potential impact pieces who are sure to see plenty of major league action regardless of what the opening day roster looks like.

Meanwhile, the top four of the starting rotation appears set with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, and Taijuan Walker comprising one of the strongest quarters in the National League.

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One of the biggest questions going into spring training will be the fifth spot in the rotation. Any one of five homegrown youngsters could take the spot. The favorite appears to be Bailey Falter, a 25-year-old was excellent for the Phillies down the stretch last year and made the World Series roster. Cristian Sanchez, 23, also has a very strong minor league track record, and is sure to see plenty of innings in Philly next year as either a swingman or as the number five.

Sanchez and Falter may be the favorites, but coming up fast are a trio of high powered, high ceiling arms that could transform Philadelphia's pitching from very good to elite.

They're headlined by a pair of first round draft picks the Phillies took out of high school. Andrew Painter, the 13th overall pick in the 2021 draft, was nearly unhittable in 2022, skyrocketing from low A ball in Clearwater to AA in Reading. He held opponents to a 1.56 ERA across those three levels. He struck out an almost unthinkable 155 hitters through 103 innings. He's arguably the top pitching prospect in all of baseball heading into 2023.

Mick Abel, the Phillies 15th overall pick in 2020, also jumped from A ball to Reading. He had a very strong 3.52 ERA in 5 starts there, striking out 27 in 23 innings.

Then there's Griff McGarry, a University of Virginia graduate who has flown under the radar until recently. Some scouts believe has the best raw stuff in all of baseball. McGarry reached AAA Lehigh Valley at the end of the year, but also started in A ball. He put up a 3.92 ERA across three levels, with more stunning strikeout numbers: 130 through just 87 innings.

McGarry is still just 23. Abel is 20. Painter is 19.