3 Post-lockout moves the Phillies need to make immediately

The Philadelphia Phillies need to be active in free agency and on the trade market as soon as the lockout ends

The MLB lockout began less than a week ago, but we’re already ready for it to be over so the Philadelphia Phillies can keep building a better team for 2022.

While the lockout is in effect, teams cannot sign or trade big-league players; owners and executives aren’t even allowed to be in contact with players. Per federal labor laws, MLB cannot use player names, photos, or likenesses during this time, which is why Bryce Harper’s MV3 banner is conspicuously missing from Citizens Bank Park, and so many players have changed their Twitter photos.

There’s nothing to do now but sit and wait, but that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate – or strongly suggest – what the Phillies will do when the lockout is over, which could be months from now.

Here are three moves they need to be ready to make as soon as they can:

1. The Phillies need to sign Kyle Schwarber

According to FanSided’s own Robert Murray, the Phillies and Kyle Schwarber have a “very mutual” interest in a deal.

However, the Miami Marlins and Boston Red Sox, who acquired the slugger at the trade deadline, are two of several teams in on Schwarber, who put together a monstrous 2021 season. Schwarber set new career-highs in every piece of his slash line (AVG, OBP, SLG) as well as OPS, hit 32 home runs (including 16 in 18 games in June), and excelled in the postseason. He has new Phillies hitting coach, Kevin Long, to thank for totally transforming his swing, and hopefully, the prospect of reuniting with Long gives the Phillies an edge.

Schwarber won’t come cheap this offseason; he’s reported to be seeking a deal in the three-year, $60M range. He’s certainly worth the money, so it’s really a question of whether or not the Phillies will pony up.