The Philadelphia Phillies front office could be ready to shake things up a bit this offseason. Despite fielding a talented roster with $261.8 million in contract commitments in 2024, the Phillies' World Series title hopes were dealt a harsh reality check following a lackluster performance against the rival New York Mets in the NLDS back in October.
With that in mind, the Phillies have not been shy about turning over the roster so far this offseason. They said goodbye to a handful of depth options at the start of free agency, non-tendering trade deadline acquisition Austin Hays instead of heading to arbitration, and re-signing backup catcher and fan favorite Garrett Stubbs to a split MLB/MILB contract, a move that suggests the likelihood that youngster Rafael Marchán is the No. 1 choice to split time with J.T. Realmuto behind the dish to begin next season.
Hays' release didn't exactly come as a surprise, as Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski hinted that the team was unsure of Hays' future with the ball club in comments he made during his season-ending press conference. The subtraction of Hays has a ripple effect on players rumored to be available in deals this winter, like Brandon Marsh, but Hays' recent exit might have altered some of the Phillies offseason plans.
Popular Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh won’t be traded this offseason
Last week offered the first indication that recent reports of the Phillies making Brandon Marsh available via trade this winter could be overblown. While anything is possible, it's beginning to look more likely that the Phillies will try to deal third baseman Alec Bohm in exchange for pitching upgrades at some point this offseason.
The Athletic's Matt Gelb appeared as a guest on the Phillies Therapy podcast and spoke about the Phillies' recent pivot away from trading Marsh this winter.
“The one thing I did hear recently — and I think this is pretty good information — is that they are less inclined to move Marsh," offered Gelb. "Marsh is a guy that’s not as available, I guess I would say, as some of the other guys. Not that they wouldn’t trade him if the right offer came around. That stands for everybody. I think he’s less among that group of guys that they are more active in trying to sell."
Gelb's comments about the Phillies' hesitance to trade Marsh this offseason make a lot of sense given the team's unsettled outfield situation for 2025. While Marsh's deficits at the plate are largely attributed to his dreadful splits against left-handed pitching throughout his career, trading Marsh and relying on offensively challenged defensive whiz Johan Rojas to be the team's primary center fielder next season definitely won't solve one glaring problem — a Phillies outfield that collectively ranked 20th overall in WAR in 2024.
With the MLB Winter Meetings set to get underway Dec. 9-12, a better understanding of the Phillies' offseason plans should start to become better known. While it appears that the team is willing to move one of it's beloved Daycare members this winter, it's looking increasingly likely that Brandon Marsh will be a part of the outfield mix next season in center field.
With non-stop rumors and a handful of trade proposals currently hovering around the Phillies, the bigger question shifts to who will be playing alongside Marsh in the outfield next season.