The annual Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, the biggest event of the MLB offseason, are coming up fast. The eyes of the baseball world will be focused on Dallas, Texas, from Dec. 9-12 when team and league executives, agents and players gather for four days. Although not officially beginning until Monday, things will get rolling on Sunday as attendees start rolling in for the multi-day event.
At last year's Winter Meetings, the Philadelphia Phillies didn't do much of anything aside from announcing an extension for manager Rob Thomson. They've already done that this offseason during the season-ending press conference, so hopefully there are more moves in store this year.
The big name going into the Winter Meetings this year is Juan Soto. Many believe he'll officially announce his decision during the gathering. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Phillies will be involved. The good news is that his decision should unlock the rest of the free agent market, so we could see some more big names moving next week.
3 needs on the Phillies’ MLB Winter Meetings wish list
The Phillies are heading to the Winter Meetings with well-known needs this time around. Here are the wish list items fans would like to see president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and his front office take care of in Dallas.
The Phillies need to find an outfielder who changes the complexion of the lineup
It's no secret that the Phillies front office is looking for a solution to the outfield. After the three positions combined for the 20th-ranked fWAR in 2024, changes are desperately needed. They've already started the process, non-tendering disappointing trade deadline acquisition Austin Hays.
Signing Soto isn't an option, but there are plenty of other corner outfield free agents out there. The Phillies, however, should be shopping for a very specific skill set. They need someone who doesn't strike out, can get on base at a consistent clip and won't give away at-bats.
Teoscar Hernández and Anthony Santander are the biggest names after Soto, but both bring more of the same big power with swing-and-miss that the Phillies already have enough of. They also come with extra costs for declining a qualifying offer from their previous teams.
Other interesting names include Tyler O'Neill, Max Kepler, Jurickson Profar, Mark Canha and Tommy Pham. However, they all come with some sort of flaw.
If the Phillies miss out on free agents who they'd feel comfortable signing to big contracts and want to make a significant change, they'll have to turn to the trade market. Bleacher Report lists Brent Rooker of the Athletics, Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward as some of the top outfield trade chips this offseason. Although all three feature prominent swing-and-miss in their game.
Perhaps targeting a lower-profile name like Arizona's Jake McCarthy might be a better option. He does everything the Phillies need.
The Phillies need to fill the two huge holes at the back of the bullpen
The Phillies have some heavy lifting to do at the backend of the bullpen this offseason, and the Winter Meetings would be a great place to begin that rebuilding. After losing Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez to free agency, the front office needs to make a couple of serious signings.
Along with the two former Phillies, Tanner Scott, Clay Holmes and Kenley Jansen headline some of the biggest reliever names on the free agent market. Bringing back one of Hoffman or Estévez is still on the table, although the fan favorite Hoffman could be a tough get as he's eyeing a possible starting gig.
There's no shortage of relievers available. Yimi García, A.J. Minter and Kirby Yates catch the eye as you scan the list of veteran pitchers looking for new homes. The Phillies could also look into the recently non-tendered Jordan Romano and Kyle Finnegan.
The Phillies need to finally finalize a trade for Garrett Crochet
The Phillies were known to be doggedly pursuing White Sox left-handed starter Garrett Crochet at the trade deadline. From reports this offseason, that hasn't changed. In the summer, the hangup was Chicago reportedly wanting top pitching prospect Andrew Painter (Phillies No. 2 prospect). That was a non-starter for Dombrowski and the Phillies.
It's hard to imagine that the price of acquiring Crochet's services has decreased since the end of July. The former first-round pick finished the year with a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a ridiculous 209 strikeouts in 146 innings.
Both Painter and infield prospect Aidan Miller (No. 3) are presumably untouchable, or about as untouchable as prospects can get. Outfielder and No. 3 Phillies prospect Justin Crawford has been a popular name included in various mock trades recently, along with third baseman Alec Bohm, of course.
The Phillies will have their work cut out for them, however. Aside from negotiating with the White Sox, they must also fend off other suitors. The World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers were the other team most aggressively vying to get Crochet earlier in the offseason. Perhaps the Blake Snell signing has appeased the Dodgers' appetite for a blockbuster trade to land Crochet — but it's the Dodgers, so probably not.