Phillies tabbed as landing spot for pair of aging legends in free agency

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series more than five days ago, so players can begin to sign with other teams in free agency. This year’s free agent class has many impactful players at positions of need for the Philadelphia Phillies.

The rumor mill is heating up. Could Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski look to add an aging legend to help shore up the starting rotation?

Phillies tabbed as landing spot for pair of aging legends in free agency

The Phillies were fortunate to have one of the best starting rotations in Major League Baseball in 2024. Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Cristopher Sánchez carried the load while the final two spots struggled, particularly the No. 5 starter.

The Phillies are stuck with Taijuan Walker for two more years unless they can find a way to get rid of the veteran. Ranger Suárez has proven that he can be an elite pitcher, but it’s worth noting how much he struggled in the second half of the season.

Top pitching prospect Andrew Painter is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the last two seasons. The 21-year-old is progressing well and could join the Phillies starting rotation in 2025.

The Phillies may decide to bring in a veteran starting pitcher for one year to give Painter some extra time to develop. Two aging legends could interest Dombrowski in free agency if he goes that route, per MLB Trade Rumors. Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander could call the City of Brotherly Love home in 2025.

What Phillies would get with Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander

Scherzer might be the better option of the two future Hall of Famers if the Phillies look into signing a starter. The 17-year veteran is an eight-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and three-time Cy Young. He’s a workhorse who has stayed relatively healthy throughout his career.

Scherzer dealt with an injury-plagued season in 2024 with the Texas Rangers. The right-hander started the season on the IL with a back injury, but his return was delayed due to other injuries. He finally returned to the active roster but eventually missed more time with shoulder fatigue. Scherzer owned a 2-4 record with a 3.95 ERA in nine starts in 2024, but the 40-year-old is just two years removed from a 2.29 ERA in 145 1/3 innings pitched.

Verlander is another veteran linked to the Phillies. The 41-year-old is a former Rookie of the Year, former MVP, nine-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, three-time Cy Young, Triple Crown winner, two-time ERA title holder and former ALCS MVP.

Like Scherzer, Verlander dealt with an injury-plagued season in 2024. He went 5-6 with a career-worst 5.48 ERA in 17 starts with the Houston Astros. His home run and walk percentages were up and his strikeout percentage was down. Opposing batters hit .274 against him which was the highest batting average against him since 2014.

The Astros decided to leave the struggling right-hander off their playoff roster. Verlander is just two years removed from a Cy Young in which he posted a 1.75 ERA and earned an All-Star selection. He has been consistently one of the best pitchers throughout his 19-year career and might have just enough left in the tank to finish his career on a high note.

Scherzer and Verlander will look to sign with a contender given their age. The Phillies could interest the two legends with the team’s success over the last three years and talented roster. It would likely take a one-year deal worth between $10-15 million to sign either one of them.

Trending on That Ball's Outta Here