Philadelphia Phillies: Most impactful transactions in 2022

The Phillies front office had many key transactions in 2022.

As the year comes to a close, the Philadelphia Phillies can look back at one of the most memorable seasons in recent history. The club had many ups and downs, but 2022 will ultimately be remembered fondly for the team’s unexpected World Series appearance against the Houston Astros.

The Phillies front office made some significant moves that helped propel the team to the Fall Classic. Whether through firings, signings, or trades, Dave Dombrowski pulled out all the stops to make 2022 successful. Here is a look back through some of the moves.

Relieving former manager Joe Girardi of his duties lit a spark.

In early June, the Phillies were underperforming and had no real drive. Young players like Bryson Stott did not get consistent playing time. The club relieved then-manager Joe Girardi of his duties and promoted Rob Thomson to interim manager. Under the Canadian native, the Phillies went a strong 64-46 in the regular season.

Thomson used the pieces he had to win. He rarely misused the bullpen, young players received consistent playing time, and the players liked playing for him. Had the Phillies not made the managerial switch, who knows if they would have been as successful as they were.

Thomson will be manager for at least the next two seasons, as his interim title was lifted upon signing a two-year extension in the fall.

Notable Phillies free-agent signings

The Phillies front office had many free-agent signings this past year that led to their success. In March, the club signed Kyle Schwarber to a four-year deal. The left fielder went on to lead the National League in home runs and hit many “Schwarbombs” in the postseason that will be remembered in Philadelphia for some time. The signing proved significant, and the Phillies hope he can replicate his successful campaign in 2023 and beyond.

The team also signed outfielder Nick Castellanos to a five-year deal. This deal did not pan out the way the team had hoped, as Castellanos had a down year. It is too early to declare the signing bad, as there are reasons to believe he will improve.

Looking ahead, the Phillies have signed shortstop Trea Turner to an 11-year deal. Turner will be a cornerstone in the lineup for years to come and is undoubtedly among the most significant contracts in franchise history.

These signings all show that John Middleton is serious about building a long-term contender.

The Phillies made a few trades for the short- and long-term this past season.

The Phillies front office had a busy trade deadline in 2022. First, they acquired versatile defensive shortstop Edmundo Sosa from the St. Louis Cardinals. Sosa flashed his leather several times and contributed offensively with some big hits in red pinstripes. He is young and under team control for the next few years. Having infield depth will be important. In Sosa, the Phillies have an affordable player who will continue to make significant contributions.

Another young player under team control is center fielder Brandon Marsh, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for highly touted catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe. Marsh was a defensive upgrade in center field for a team who had not found a long-term solution at the position. The 25-year-old also had some big hits and hopefully will continue to improve offensively.

Both acquisitions helped the Phils in 2022 and will be key pieces moving forward.