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1 Free agent the Philadelphia Phillies can steal from each division rival

By Gabrielle Starr |
FORT MYERS, - MARCH 14: Boston Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski watches the pregame warms ups prior to the start of the game Spring Training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 14, 2016 during the Spring Training Game at Jet Blue Park at Fenway South, Florida. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, - MARCH 14: Boston Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski watches the pregame warms ups prior to the start of the game Spring Training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 14, 2016 during the Spring Training Game at Jet Blue Park at Fenway South, Florida. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
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The Phillies should poach stellar free agent talent from their NL East rivals

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer should be the mantra of the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason.

After all, the New York Mets spent months in first place and the Atlanta Braves won the World Series. Even the Washington Nationals, who had a terrible season, made strides in their rebuild by trading Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a bumper crop of a return. The Miami Marlins had an unremarkable season, but they’ve been in the postseason more recently than the Phillies, which counts for something.

There is an abundance of free-agent talent available this offseason, but if the Phillies want to take an especially petty route, here’s one player they can sign from each of their division rivals that would add a bit of spice to divisional play next season…

Joc Pederson, Atlanta Braves

Signing Joc Pederson makes so much sense for the Phillies. He’s got a great bat, can fill their outfield needs, and he could bring fire and personality to a team that is seriously lacking both.

Pederson hasn’t hit for average throughout his career, but he does slug; he’s had four 25+ home run seasons in his eight-year career. He’s also got the outfield chops to play any of the three spots, with hundreds of games played in both left and center.

Thanks to the fact that he spent the first seven years of his career with the Dodgers and was then traded from the Cubs to the 2021 World Champion Braves, Pederson has an abundance of postseason experience. Over 79 career postseason games, the man nicknamed JOCTOBER has a .256/.332/.482 line and .814 OPS.

Signing players with October experience and firsthand knowledge of how it feels to win would make a huge difference for the Phillies, who haven’t even been to the postseason since 2011, and only have two championships in their extensive franchise history.

If they’re looking for a more affordable option, fellow Braves outfielder Eddie Rosario is also available.

Jordy Mercer (27) Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jordy Mercer (27) Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Washington Nationals

While Max Scherzer could technically be considered a division rival pickup since he pitched for Nationals for half of 2021, there’s a popsicle’s chance in hell he signs with the Phillies.

Instead, be realistic and take a flyer on shortstop Jordy Mercer. His last season making over a million was 2019, so we know he’s affordable. He hasn’t played in more than 74 games in a season since 2018, but if the Phillies decide to add a low-cost supplement to Didi Gregorius while they wait for Bryson Stott to debut, Mercer could provide a low-budget assist.

The thing to be wary of is that Mercer has had a few leg injuries and he’s bounced around since becoming a free agent for the first time.

Miami Marlins

The Marlins only have two free agents hitting the market: catcher Sandy León and infielder Joe Panik. Seeing as the Phillies already have former Marlin J.T. Realmuto, one of the best catchers in baseball, Panik would be the move here.

Eight years into his big-league career, Panik isn’t the same rookie who hit .305 in his debut season in 2014. He struggled to a .208 season between the Blue Jays and Marlins in 2021, putting up some of the worst numbers of his career.

The good news is that means he’ll come cheap, and could help out pretty much anywhere on the infield. He’s not a bad bench player to have in the back pocket, and the wordplay that comes from his last name makes for fun baseball content.

Marcus Stroman (0) Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Marcus Stroman (0) Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

Marcus Stroman, New York Mets

Marcus Stroman was one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, and is always working to get better, as evidenced by his numbers in 2021.

After opting out of the 2020 season, Stroman lowered his FIP and WHIP by significant margins. His hits and walks per nine decreased dramatically, his home runs per nine stayed consistent with the previous four seasons, and he raised his strikeout rate.

Stroman also led MLB with 33 starts and posted the second-best ERA over his career, 3.02 over 179 innings. The fact that he was neither an All-Star nor a Gold Glove nominee is absurd, but then again, Bryce Harper wasn’t an All-Star either.

Stro overlapped with Zack Wheeler in Queens for his first season and Wheeler’s last, and has been campaigning for Wheels to win Cy Young. If the Phillies reunited them, Mets fans would absolutely lose their minds. More than any of the other free agents, signing Stroman would be the crowning achievement of the Phillies’ offseason.

Related Story. 8 Free-agent starters who won’t stall out on the Phillies in September like Aaron Nola. light

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