If the Phillies are in search of enhancements on the commerce market this offseason, outfielder Justin Crawford may very well be considered one of their most respected 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 studies that the Phillies may 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 dealing with any strain to commerce Crawford, and it’s doable (although unlikely) he may contribute to the massive league crew as early as this coming season. That being mentioned, 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 virtually definitely have to incorporate Crawford in a commerce for an impactful main leaguer with a couple of yr of crew management. Philadelphia has not but been formally linked to any commerce candidates this offseason, however the first title 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 continues to be unwilling to commerce Painter, it’s exhausting to think about they might land Crochet with out together with Crawford within the deal.
Gelb additionally talked about that the Phillies are no less than casually trying to commerce Nick Castellanos this winter. Though it will be fairly shocking if such a commerce materialized, it’s not exhausting to see why the Phillies would make him out there. Even by essentially 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 extra worth together with his glove or his legs. But, for these precise causes, the Phillies can 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 gives worth as a sturdy, contact-oriented hitter with good splits towards 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 an additional crew with out getting something significant again in return.
If the Phillies are planning to shake up their main league roster, a few extra sensible commerce candidates embody third baseman Alec Bohm and left-handed beginning pitcher Ranger Suárez. Gelb studies 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 date, however the truth that the Phillies are actively procuring Suárez, even when simply to get a way of his market, is newer data.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has repeatedly mentioned a must be “open-minded” this winter, telling reporters, together with Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, that the Phillies may must “commerce good gamers for good gamers.” Naturally, that has led to no scarcity of hypothesis in regards to the “good gamers” to whom Dombrowski may very well be referring. Bohm, Suárez, second baseman Bryson Stott, and outfielder Brandon Marsh all look like believable commerce candidates. Till right now, nevertheless, Bohm was the one one whose title 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 virtually definitely the perfect 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 crew and setting a brand new profession excessive with 3.5 FanGraphs WAR. Alternatively, he frolicked on the injured record for the third yr 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.
Due to this fact, it is sensible 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. Nonetheless, if he will get a powerful sufficient provide, it’s not as if he doesn’t have methods to exchange Suárez within the rotation. The aforementioned chance of buying and selling for Crochet is one route the Phillies may take. As well as, Painter is prone to pitch significant innings out of the rotation in some unspecified time in the future in 2025. Furthermore, whereas the Phillies haven’t but been linked to any of the highest beginning pitchers on the free agent market, that will absolutely change if Suárez had been out of the image.
In a little bit of extra Phillies information, the crew has employed Blake Crosby to fll the position of assistant director, worldwide scouting. He was previously a particular project scout for the Pirates.
