MLB insider says this free-agent signing should be Phillies’ first post-lockout transaction
The Philadelphia Phillies have a lot of work to do when Major League Baseball eventually lifts the lockout.
Their current outfield situation, in particular, is quite concerning, as the depth chart contains only Bryce Harper and Matt Vierling. Presumably, signing or trading for proven outfield talent will be their first priority when the lockout ends.
Now, former MLB General Manager-turned-MLB insider Jim Bowden is recommending the Phillies target one of the most expensive free agents still on the market:
Unlike most MLB insiders and media members, Bowden has firsthand experience building rosters; in 1992, the Cincinnati Reds made him the youngest GM in MLB history when he was only 31 years old. By 1999, the Reds won 96 games and Sporting News named him Major League Executive of the Year.
Bowden acknowledges that the Phillies have already crossed some of their offseason needs off their proverbial to-do lists: adding Corey Knebel and Kent Emanuel to their hapless bullpen, and replacing Andrew Knapp with Garrett Stubbs as a backup to their All-Star catcher, J.T. Realmuto. Somewhat under-the-radar was the one-year contract they gave to infielder Johan Camargo, who played for the Atlanta Braves from 2017-21.
The elephant in the room is the empty outfield.