5 players in the World Series who the Phillies should target in free agency

Which players currently playing in the World Series would look good in a Phillies uniform next season?

Oct 19, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) celebrates while running the bases after hitting a three run home run during the tenth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during game five of the ALCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) celebrates while running the bases after hitting a three run home run during the tenth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during game five of the ALCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images / Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
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As the Philadelphia Phillies look toward free agency this offseason to help revamp their roster for 2025, what better way to do so than to pursue candidates who are currently playing in the World Series?

After all, those players are fully Immersed in the winning culture from making it to the Fall Classic this year and would likely play their hearts out, hoping to return once again next season to have another shot at the ultimate prize.

5 players in the World Series who the Phillies should target in free agency

The rosters of the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers currently contain viable solutions to some of the Phillies’ needs. With the Phillies looking for bullpen and outfield help ahead of the 2025 season, we will take a look at five players in the World Series who Philadelphia should target this offseason in the free agent market to help bolster the chances of winning next year.

Clay Holmes

After spending years as a middle reliever, Clay Holmes was thrust into the closer’s role for the Yankees back in 2022 when star closer Aroldis Chapman went on the IL. Since then, he has developed into one of the premium closers in the game during the past three seasons.

During that time span, Holmes had maintained an ERA below 3.15 while registering 74 saves and striking out more than a batter per inning in the process. As a result of his consistent performance, he was also named an All-Star in two of the past three seasons.

Although Holmes uncharacteristically struggled during the latter half of 2024, which ultimately led to him losing his closer role for the final month of the season, he has redeemed himself a bit with a solid postseason. Taking away the last two playoff games that he has appeared in, Holmes has been literally unhittable during the postseason for his career.

In 14 career playoff games before Friday's Game 1 of the World Series, he has compiled a 2-1 record with a 1.72 ERA and 0.96 WHIP, giving up three earned runs with five walks and 14 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.

With the Phillies likely to lose Carlos Estévez in the upcoming free agency, along with the uncertainty about José Alvarado being able to take on the role effectively again in 2025, Holmes thus becomes a solid replacement as closer for the team next year.

Tommy Kahnle

Perhaps one of the most underrated relievers in recent years, Tommy Kahnle has quietly become one of the most reliable arms coming out of a major league bullpen. Having maintained an ERA consistently under 3.00 for six of his past eight seasons in the league, Kahnle seems to have gotten even better with age. This season, he has put up some of the best numbers of his MLB career with the Yankees.

In 50 appearances during the regular season, he posted a sparkling 2.11 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, while giving up 10 earned runs all year with 19 walks and 46 strikeouts over 42 2/3 innings of work. More impressively, the Yankees have used him in all situations, having come into games as early as the fourth inning and as late as finishing off ballgames. Kahnle managed to register 16 holds along with one save, while not blowing a single save all year in the process.

Not only that, Kahnle has been a monster for the Yankees this postseason, holding the opposition scoreless over seven innings in six relief appearances leading up to the World Series. In fact, in his 24 career MLB playoff games ahead of World Series Game 1 on Friday, he holds a perfect 2-0 record with a stellar 2.54 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, yielding just eight earned runs on 15 hits with 12 walks and 28 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings pitched.

As a proven, reliable reliever both in the regular season and the playoffs, Kahnle would be a perfect addition to the Phillies’ relief corps for 2025. At age 35, he should still have a few good years left in him, as he will also bring valuable veteran leadership and experience to the club as well. He would also make the potential loss of Carlos Estévez and/or Jeff Hoffman to free agency that much more bearable.

Blake Treinen

Blake Treinen rose to prominence during his 2018 season when he became one of the best closers in the league for the Oakland Athletics. Posting a 9-2 record with a minuscule 0.78 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, Treinen registered a career-high 38 saves in what turned out to be his breakout year in the big leagues.

However, he followed that up with a disappointing 2019 season in which things fell completely apart for him. He posted a dismal 4.91 ERA and 1.62 WHIP, giving up 32 earned runs, including nine home runs, in 58 2/3 innings pitched over 57 appearances.

As a result of the underperformance, Treinen was non-tendered by the Athletics following the 2019 season, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. Despite being hampered by multiple injuries that kept him out of action for almost two seasons between 2022 and 2023, along with the start of 2024, Treinen came back with a vengeance this year, posting a 7-3 record with a 1.93 ERA and 0.94 WHIP, yielding just 10 earned runs all year with 11 walks and 56 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings over 50 appearances.

More importantly, he has been one of the Dodgers’ most trusted arms this postseason. In fact, they have believed in him so much that he has practically been the team’s de facto closer in the most important games.

In six playoff games before Game 1, Treinen has given up just one run on seven hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts in eight innings. Proving to be a big-game pitcher, he has converted all three save opportunities that have been presented to him, including finishing off the clinching games in the NLDS and NLCS.

That was exactly what the Phillies were missing during their postseason run this year: a reliever coming up huge in the biggest moments of the game. What better way to rectify their problem than to get one of the best at it in free agency?

Teoscar Hernández

With the Phillies looking for a power-hitting, run-producing outfielder this offseason, there are two obvious candidates that stand out above the rest. One of those standouts is Dodgers’ outfielder Teoscar Hernández. After all, the two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner has produced 25+ home runs and 65+ RBI campaigns in five of the past six seasons. 

This year with the Dodgers, Hernández has been even better, recording career highs in home runs (33), walks (53) and total bases (295). He posted a solid .272 batting average and .840 OPS with 84 runs scored, 32 doubles, 99 RBI and 12 stolen bases for good measure.

More significantly, he has been super clutch with runners in scoring position, hitting .288 with a .943 OPS. With RISP and two outs, he boasts a stellar .306 average with a .939 OPS. He certainly would have come in handy in situations where the Phillies often came up short down the stretch, especially in the playoffs when their offense went dry.

Hernández’s main flaw may be his suspect defense, given that he registered a -3 DRS with a .989 fielding percentage this past season. He does possess a strong arm, as he has recorded seven outfield assists this season and another 12 just the season prior. Nevertheless, it should be more than acceptable for the Phillies, as his offense would likely more than make up for that difference. Hernández will likely be a hot commodity this offseason in free agency, but the Phillies should have the resources to take a run at him if they choose to.

Juan Soto

The other candidate happens to be none other than the crown jewel of the upcoming free agency Juan Soto. Without question, Soto will be the target of many teams this winter. After all, we are talking about a game-changer who has been a four-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger while finishing runner-up to both the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2018 and the NL MVP Award in 2021.

This year with the Yankees, Soto has taken his game to an even higher level, posting career bests in runs scored (128), hits (166), home runs (41) and total bases (328). He has helped lead the team to an AL East division title in the process.

More importantly, he has been one of the key offensive players for New York this postseason, compiling a .333 batting average, 1.106 OPS, together with six runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and eight RBI over nine playoff games before Friday's Game 1 of the World Series. Of his 11 hits to date, none were bigger than his clutch, go-ahead three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning against the Cleveland Guardians to help the Yankees clinch the ALCS.

At the young age of 26, Soto will only get better as he heads into his prime years. There have been recent rumors and reports stating that the Phillies are long shots at best in pursuit of the Yankees’ superstar. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski even hinted that it may not happen.

Nevertheless, you never know with Dombrowski at the helm. If anyone can make the impossible possible, it's him. As a result, if the Phillies somehow miraculously land Soto, they will no doubt be set for the next decade.

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