That Balls Outta Here
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10 Top free agents the Phillies need to pay or pass on

By Gabrielle Starr

Sep 8, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics center fielder Starling Marte (2) slides after hitting a double against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics center fielder Starling Marte (2) slides after hitting a double against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phillies Kris Bryant
Kris Bryant (23) Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Corey Seager SS

Like Correa, Corey Seager is a free agent shortstop looking for the biggest contract of his career. MLBTR thinks he’s also likely to get a decade-long deal valued at over $300M.

The problem with Seager is that he has trouble staying healthy. He only played in 95 regular-season games this year, and has only exceeded 100 games three times in his seven-year career. He hits for average pretty much every year, but he’s never homered more than 26 times in a season, and that was way back in 2016. He’s too expensive of a risk for the Phillies. Besides, they have a top prospect shortstop in Bryson Stott, and he’s expected to debut in 2022. Pass.

3. Kris Bryant INF/OF

Kris Bryant would be a great addition to the Phillies, and his anticipated deal is something they could totally handle; MLBTR predicts he’ll get six years for $160M.

Bryant’s versatility would be beneficial to a Phillies team that seems to need help everywhere. He plays third base, every outfield position, and first base. With Andrew McCutchen and Odúbel Herrera gone, Rhys Hoskins coming back from injury, and Alec Bohm having a terrible sophomore season, it’s too bad the Phillies can’t sign Bryant and then just make three clones of him.

As a Las Vegas native, Bryant and Bryce Harper also go way back. They played baseball with and against each other growing up, and are good friends. Harper even used Bryant’s bat during the 2021 season. Pay.

4. Trevor Story SS

As with Correa and Seager, Trevor Story is someone the Phillies have been linked to, simply because Gregorius was so terrible in 2021. However, I’ll reiterate that Bryson Stott is set to debut in 2022.

You can also attribute a lot of Story’s success to the fact that he’s called Coors Field home for his entire six-year career. Statistically, it’s one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the game. And yet Story still had a down year in 2021, matching his career-low 24 home runs (not terrible, but not what we’ve come to expect from him) and hitting for the second-lowest average, on-base and slugging percentages, and OPS of his career.

Story’s projected six-year $126M is far more affordable than the other shortstops on the market, but still money that would be better spent fortifying the Phillies bullpen. Pass.

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