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Phillies planning on another “aggressive” offseason

By John Town

CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 2: John Middleton, Philadelphia Phillies managing parter, shakes hands with Bryce Harper as general manager Matt Klentak looks on during the press conference introducing Harper as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday March 2, 2019 at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB via Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 2: John Middleton, Philadelphia Phillies managing parter, shakes hands with Bryce Harper as general manager Matt Klentak looks on during the press conference introducing Harper as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday March 2, 2019 at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB via Getty Images) /
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After doling out over $400 million in contracts last offseason, Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said they could be aggressive yet again this winter.

Last offseason, the Phillies used a combination of “stupid money” and prospects to assemble a theoretically top-tier lineup. The team signed Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen and traded for J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura.

While the team did a lot to improve their lineup, they left their pitching staff virtually unchanged. The only notable arm they added was reliever David Robertson, who probably will never pitch again for the team. Otherwise, the rotation and bullpen came into the year virtually unchanged from the year prior.

General manager Matt Klentak spoke with reporters Sunday, and the conversation ventured into the team’s offseason plans even as they sit 2.5 games behind the second wild-card spot. Even after shelling out big money last offseason, Klentak left the door open to do it again this winter: [quote via Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia]

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"“All of these players are going to be here for some time,” Klentak said. “Harper, Realmuto, Segura — these guys are in their 20s, still in their prime years. And with all that said, we still have a lot of flexibility this coming winter to address other areas. Now, I don’t know that we have another $330 million contract up our sleeve, but we certainly have the flexibility to be aggressive and make additions."

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Even with the team set to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2011, improvements are still obviously needed. Injuries and poor performance showed just how thin the team’s depth is, especially on the pitching staff.

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From Klentak’s comment about “another $330 million contract,” we can assume Anthony Rendon is probably off the table. The odds of the All-Star third baseman testing free agency grow by the day, but that money would be better spent on upgrading the pitching staff.

Gerrit Cole is the top pitcher expected to be available in free agency this offseason, and signing him would undoubtedly be an aggressive move. Philadelphia has already been named a potential landing spot for the Cy Young contender as he would vastly improve the rotation. Cole would not come cheap as he likely will beat the contract Zack Greinke signed before the 2016 season.

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Other notable pitchers on the market will be Madison Bumgarner, Zack Wheeler, and Cole Hamels. Based on Klentak’s comments, we can expect at least one top-tier free-agent starter to become a Phillie next season.

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