If the Phillies are on the lookout for enhancements on the commerce market this offseason, outfielder Justin Crawford could possibly be certainly one of their most useful commerce chips. The 20-year-old is extensively thought-about one of many high 5 prospects within the group, and he’s coming off a powerful season wherein he hit .313 with 42 stolen bases and a 130 wRC+ between Excessive-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Studying. To that time, Matt Gelb of The Athletic stories that the Phillies might certainly be persuaded to half with Crawford, though he implies they aren’t actively procuring the middle fielder. In Gelb’s phrases, Philadelphia has “not excluded Crawford from commerce talks” however would solely be prepared to commerce him “for a big-league participant with a number of years of membership management.”
None of that’s essentially shocking. The Phillies aren’t going through any stress to commerce Crawford, and it’s attainable (although unlikely) he might contribute to the large league staff as early as this coming season. That being stated, if high pitching prospect Andrew Painter and high place participant prospect Aidan Miller are all however untouchable (which appears to be the case), the Phillies would nearly definitely have to incorporate Crawford in a commerce for an impactful main leaguer with multiple 12 months of staff management. Philadelphia has not but been formally linked to any commerce candidates this offseason, however the first identify that involves thoughts as a possible goal is White Sox ace Garrett Crochet. The Phillies had been in Crochet on the commerce deadline however balked when the White Sox demanded Painter as a part of the return bundle. If Philadelphia remains to be unwilling to commerce Painter, it’s onerous to think about they might land Crochet with out together with Crawford within the deal.
Gelb additionally talked about that the Phillies are at the least casually trying to commerce Nick Castellanos this winter. Though it will be fairly shocking if such a commerce materialized, it’s not onerous to see why the Phillies would make him accessible. Even by probably the most charitable of metrics, Castellanos has been a disappointment on the five-year, $100MM contract he signed previous to the 2022 season. With a 105 wRC+ in 2024, he was barely higher than league common on the plate whereas providing no further worth together with his glove or his legs. But, for these precise causes, the Phillies may have a troublesome time buying and selling him until they eat the overwhelming majority of the $40MM remaining on his contract for 2025 and ’26. Castellanos nonetheless provides worth as a sturdy, contact-oriented hitter with good splits in opposition to left-handed pitching, to not point out as a popular presence within the clubhouse and inside the fanbase. In different phrases, there’s little cause the Phillies ought to need to pay him to play for one more staff with out getting something significant again in return.
If the Phillies are planning to shake up their main league roster, a few extra lifelike commerce candidates embrace third baseman Alec Bohm and left-handed beginning pitcher Ranger Suárez. Gelb stories that Philadelphia has tried to “gauge different golf equipment’ curiosity” in each gamers. Bohm has been one of many extra talked-about commerce candidates of the offseason to this point, however the truth that the Phillies are actively procuring Suárez, even when simply to get a way of his market, is newer info.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has repeatedly mentioned a have to be “open-minded” this winter, telling reporters, together with Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, that the Phillies may have to “commerce good gamers for good gamers.” Naturally, that has led to no scarcity of hypothesis in regards to the “good gamers” to whom Dombrowski could possibly be referring. Bohm, Suárez, second baseman Bryson Stott, and outfielder Brandon Marsh all seem to be believable commerce candidates. Till immediately, nonetheless, Bohm was the one one whose identify had come up in any credible commerce rumors.
Suárez’s commerce worth is barely difficult. On the one hand, he’s coming off what was nearly definitely the most effective season of his profession. Over 27 begins, the southpaw threw 150 2/3 innings with a 3.46 ERA and three.61 SIERA, making the NL All-Star staff and setting a brand new profession excessive with 3.5 FanGraphs WAR. Then again, he hung out on the injured listing for the third 12 months in a row and didn’t look almost as sharp upon his return. He put up a 5.74 ERA and 4.37 SIERA in his remaining seven common season begins.
Subsequently, it is smart that the Phillies are attempting to determine how different groups may worth his arm in a commerce. Dombrowski has no good cause to promote low on Suárez. Nevertheless, if he will get a powerful sufficient supply, it’s not as if he doesn’t have methods to switch Suárez within the rotation. The aforementioned chance of buying and selling for Crochet is one route the Phillies might take. As well as, Painter is more likely to pitch significant innings out of the rotation sooner or later in 2025. Furthermore, whereas the Phillies haven’t but been linked to any of the highest beginning pitchers on the free agent market, that may absolutely change if Suárez had been out of the image.
In a little bit of further Phillies information, the staff has employed Blake Crosby to fll the position of assistant director, worldwide scouting. He was previously a particular task scout for the Pirates.