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3 position players the Phillies should still target as depth pieces for 2024

Several experienced players are still available on the free agent market whom the Phillies could target to boost the roster depth.

By Matt Grazel |
World Series - Arizona Diamondbacks v Texas Rangers - Game Two
World Series - Arizona Diamondbacks v Texas Rangers - Game Two / Carmen Mandato/GettyImages
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The list of available free agent options is still plentiful for the Philadelphia Phillies to consider adding to boost their depth. With spring training due to commence shortly, the players still looking to sign with a club before the regular season will need to remain in good condition as they may get an opportunity if a team suffers injuries.

Here are three options for the Phillies to target as depth pieces for 2024.

Eddie Rosario

Eddie Rosario spent the past two and a half seasons with the Phillies division rival, the Atlanta Braves. He had an exceptional postseason offensively during Atlanta's championship run in 2021. The 32-year-old finished with a .383/.456/.617 line, along with 11 runs and 11 RBI in 16 postseason contests.

Rosario can play at all three spots in the outfield but has started the majority of games throughout his career in left field. He has a career fielding percentage of .978 in 811 starts and 865 games at the position.

Kyle Schwarber will see less playing time in left field in 2024 as he transitions to being the Phillies' primary DH. Rosario is a decent option for Philly to consider signing to a minor league deal in case of injury to Brandon Marsh, Cristian Pache, or Jake Cave, the other options listed on the club's depth chart at left field.

The Puerto Rican native can still put up satisfactory numbers as a hitter. Rosario posted 24 doubles, 21 home runs, 74 RBI, and a .255/.305/.450 slash line in 478 plate appearances last season. He could do well as an occasional option off the bench for Philadelphia at the hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park.

Whit Merrifield

Whit Merrifield can still contribute to the majors despite turning 35 in January. Last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, the utility player posted a .272/.318/.382 line with 27 doubles and 67 RBI in 547 plate appearances. He also had 26 stolen bases out of 36 attempts.

Merrifield has demonstrated his ability to play at multiple positions defensively, including first and second base in addition to all three spots in the outfield. Besides second, the other two positions he has played the most throughout his career are right and left field. He has a career fielding percentage of .990 in 181 games in right field and .994 in 119 contests in left.

MLB Network insider Mark Feinsand listed the three-time All-Star as a fit for the Phillies. He cites Merrifield's defensive ability to play multiple positions as valuable, particularly for a championship team such as Philadelphia.

Tommy Pham

The 35-year-old Tommy Pham proved he could contribute last year, specifically to a contender. The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired him from the New York Mets at the Trade Deadline last year.

During the Diamondbacks' run to the World Series last season, Pham finished with a stat line of .279/.297/.475 line and a .772 OPS in 16 contests. He had one hit or more in four of the five World Series contests against the Texas Rangers. The outfielder went 8-for-19 with three doubles, three runs, two RBI, and one home run during the Fall Classic.

Pham mentioned on a previous episode of the podcast The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman that he wants to play every day for a team in 2024. Unless a team suffers an injury or two to outfielders leading up to the start of the regular season, the veteran may end up signing a minor league deal, even though that may not be his first choice.

He could conceivably start for the Phillies in left if the club were to sign him and he performed exceptionally during spring training. If Pham was to do well, it may be in the Phillies' best interest to play him every day.

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