3 Last-minute moves the Phillies can still make before the MLB lockout

2. The Phillies should sign Corey Knebel before the CBA expires

As GM of the Detroit Tigers for over a decade, current Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski drafted many of baseball’s biggest stars, including Justin Verlander, Nick Castellanos, Rick Porcello, and Curtis Granderson, who is now retired.

In the first round of the 2013 June amateur draft, the Tigers picked pitcher Corey Knebel. Though they’d trade him soon after, it’s clear Dombrowski has kept tabs on his former pick. Bringing players with him from franchise to franchise is kind of his M.O.; just look at former Tigers David Price, Doug Fister, JD Martinez, who each joined the Red Sox during Dombrowski’s tenure as GM.

The Phillies are reportedly in “serious pursuit” of Knebel, who pitched well for the Dodgers in 2021. Over 27 appearances, he posted a 2.45 ERA, struck out 30 batters, and set a career-best 0.974 WHIP.

Knebel also offers versatility that is likely very attractive to the Phillies, whose current pitching situation is largely in shambles. Of Knebel’s 27 appearances last season, four were starts, three were games finished, and he earned three saves. He’d fit in well as a flexible set-up man, to whomever Dombrowski signs to replace Hector Neris, who departed for the Houston Astros in free agency.

Update: The Phillies and Corey Knebel are in agreement on a contract

Less than eight hours before the CBA expires on December 1, multiple reports confirm that the Phillies are signing Corey Knebel to a contract.

3. The Phillies need to throw the bank at Kyle Schwarber before the CBA expires

Like Corey Knebel, Kyle Schwarber is a free agent the Phillies are in “full pursuit” of this winter. He’s a perfect fit for them, but they’ll have to outdo the Red Sox in order to get him.

One advantage the Phillies have is that they recently hired hitting coach Kevin Long. Last winter, Long worked with Schwarber when he signed with the Nats, and the results were astounding: Schwarber set new personal bests in batting average, on-base and slugging percentages, OPS, and struck out less than any other 100+ game season of his career.

Oh, and between June 12-29, he homered 16 times in 18 games.

Schwarber would make a perfect DH for the Phillies if the next CBA reimplements it. He can also play the outfield and he learned how to play first base when the Red Sox acquired him at the 2021 trade deadline.

However, the Phillies have stiff competition from the Red Sox, as well as the Marlins, and other teams eager to add a big bat to their lineups. The good news is that if Schwarber doesn’t sign in the coming hours, the Phillies front office will have plenty of time during the lockout to map out their wooing strategy.