5 Wild Offseason Moves To Put Phillies In World Series Contention

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Phillies face a conundrum headed into 2022. They have several of the best players in all of baseball playing in the prime of their careers, but they lack the depth, defense, and bullpen to capitalize. A flawed and unlucky version of the Phillies won 82 games in 2021, and with a few shrewd moves, they could be right back in the thick of things come next spring.

Here are four trades and two free agent signings that could creatively put the Phillies in a position for a World Series title. All of the players have been connected in offseason rumors to the Phillies.

1. Trade 2B Jean Segura and cash considerations to the White Sox for RP Craig Kimbrel

Why the Phillies do it: Segura was a big part of the reason the Phillies won as many games as they did in 2021. He’s one of the better hitting middle infielders in baseball. Moving him is not a judgement on his ability, it’s about timing and fit. His contract expires after the 2022 season, and he’ll be 33 heading into 2023. It’s unlikely the Phillies resign him to a long term contract. There are options both in the minor leagues and on the market to fill the infield long term (more on that below). And finally, the chance to land Kimbrel without mortgaging their future is too good to pass up.

Why the White Sox say yes: the South Siders have no obvious answer at second base. They oddly decided to trade major league-ready Nick Madrigal to the Cubs for Kimbrel at the 2021 trade deadline, rather than opt to send their city rivals younger pieces from their deep farm. The move left them thin in middle infield depth, particularly for a team that is looking to take the next step from divisional favorite to league champion. Kimbrel had the worst half season of his career on the South Side and the general consensus is that the borderline Hall of Famer was a bad fit and should not have been moved out of a closer’s role. The Sox want to trade him, but they want something back for him beyond just salary space, which is why they picked up his ‘22 option.

2. Trade OF Mickey Moniak, SP Mick Abel, C Rafael Marchan, SP Adonis Medina, and OF Ethan Wilson to the Brewers for RP Josh Hader and SP Adrian Houser

Why the Phillies do it: Abel, their first round pick in 2020, is years away from the majors, and the Phillies current competitive window is now. They don’t have time to wait for his development, nor can they afford to give Moniak the full time look he more than deserves. Marchan is a relatively superfluous piece with JT Realmuto entrenched behind the plate and Logan O’Hoppe, the star of the Arizona Fall League this year, seeing his stock rapidly rising.

Why the Brewers do it: It’s not at all clear this would be enough for Hader, the best reliever in baseball, but there is some precedent for a deal like this. The Phillies traded Ken Giles, then arguably one of the best relievers in baseball, for a package very similar to this one: a current top prospect in Abel (the Phillies got Vince Velasquez), a former number 1 overall pick whose shine has faded in Moniak (the Phillies got Mark Appel), and two major league ready, well regarded young pieces in Marchan and Medina (the Phillies got Tom Eshelman and Harold Arauz). The small market Brewers know they can’t -- well, they won’t -- pay Hader, the best reliever in baseball, the massive and likely record-setting contract he’ll demand when he hits the market after the 2022 season. But the Phillies might. And if Hader has to walk, why not bolster their core? The Brewers are trading from a surplus in this deal; they don’t need Hader or Houser to have one of the best staffs in all of baseball.

3. Trade cash and a player to be named later to the Rays for CF Kevin Kiermaier

Why the Phillies do it: The Phillies need to prioritize defense in everything they do this winter. Kiermaier may not be Starling Marte at the plate, but his Gold Glove defense makes him an above average option in center field.

Why the Rays do it: They’re notoriously cheap and are known to be shopping Kiermaier, who is owed more than they’re likely comfortable with spending next year. They’re also very deep in the outfield and can replace Kiermaier with a younger, cheaper alternative. If the Phillies pay down most of his contract they can probably pry him from the Rays for a prospect to be specified down the line.

4. Trade 3B Alec Bohm to the Athletics for 3B Matt Chapman

Why the Phillies do it: Giving up on Bohm, whose bat has an All Star ceiling, will be a tough pill to swallow for many Phillies fans. Much like dealing Abel, the Phillies can’t afford to wait for those All Star years to come. More pressingly, Bohm’s defense, while improving, cannot compare to Chapman’s, who vies with Nolan Arenado as the best defender at the hot corner in baseball. The Phillies pitching staff produces a lot of ground balls (they were second in all of baseball in 2021, per Fangraphs), and likely that’s not an accident: the team even installed a special infield grass, Kentucky blue grass, to slow down ground balls a few years ago. That alone hasn’t helped the Phillies defense, as they have consistently ranked among the worst in baseball since they emerged from their rebuild in 2018.

Why the Athletics do it: The suddenly rebuilding A’s are not contemplating a complete tear down of their roster, and a young, cheap, potentially elite player like Bohm, who may still need a year of development, is the exact type of player they’re likely targeting. They most certainly will not resign Chapman when he becomes a free agent after the 2023 season, and they don’t want to pay his modest arbitration salary now.

5. Sign two free agents as everyday starters: Trevor Story to a 5 year, $150 million contract, and Kris Bryant to a 6 year, $170 million contract

Story, 29, is one of the big five free agent shortstops on the market this offseason and would be an enormously valuable pickup on both sides of the ball. The move would give the Phillies another Gold Glove contender on the left side of the infield, and it would also offer them tremendous flexibility: Story has been considered by rival evaluators as a potential center fielder, so he could be an option there if Kiermaier doesn’t work out. The Phillies could then use some combination of Bryson Stott and Didi Gregorious at second base.

Bryant, who will be 30 on Opening Day 2022, was the NL MVP in 2016. While he hasn’t played at quite that level the past few years, all the tools are there, and he comes with the flexibility to play around the diamond at both first and third base, in addition to both outfield corners. And notably, his defense is not a liability like that of the other big free agent outfield bats the Phillies could target, Nick Castellanos or Kyle Schwarber. Bryant also has a longer and more consistent track record than any other outfielder on the market. He comes with the bonus of a reputation as a clubhouse leader and already has a longtime friendship with Bryce Harper, as the pair somehow played on the same little league team in Las Vegas.