Checking in on the performance of each of the Phillies’ upcoming free agents
How are the Phillies' to-be free agents at the end of the year doing to raise their stock?
At the end of the 2023 MLB season, the Philadelphia Phillies will be in pretty good shape in terms of contracts as they will only have four players that will head towards free agency and become unrestricted free agents. However, three of the four are key players currently on the Phillies’ squad, so it would be to the best interest of the ballclub to be able to retain them if they believe they are an important part of the team’s present and near future.
Here, we take a look at the performances of these four potential 2023-24 free agents and what they have done for the Phillies so far this year, which could ultimately have a direct impact on whether they will be staying or leaving at the end.
Rhys Hoskins
Rhys Hoskins was drafted by the Phillies in the fifth round back in the 2014 MLB Draft out of California State University, Sacramento. Ever since his debut with the ballclub in 2017, he has been a force for the Phillies, hitting in their top half of the order, and producing at a consistent 30-homer, 80/90-RBI clip each season over a 162-game schedule. He practically has been the right solid replacement for the outgoing legendary Ryan Howard at the time and has established himself to be their mainstay at first base in the Phillies’ current era.
However, with regards to his performance for the 2023 season, Hoskins unfortunately suffered a season-ending ACL injury on a non-contact play when he was fielding a ground ball behind first base during Spring Training on March 23rd. His scheduled recovery timeline ranged from seven to nine months, meaning we won’t be seeing him back at all this year.
Despite losing Hoskins for his remaining year before he hits free agency, it’s a no-brainer that the Phillies should do everything they can to keep him in Philadelphia at all costs. With the likes of Eric Hosmer, C.J. Cron, and Brandon Belt being the main attractions for first baseman available in the 2023-24 free agency class, who are all definitely on another lower-tiered level compared to Hoskins, it is crucial that the Phillies lock up Hoskins as soon as they can so that they do not have to worry about the obvious black hole they would have to fill in the future if they choose not to.
Craig Kimbrel
During the 2022-23 offseason, the Phillies signed Craig Kimbrel to a one-year, $10 million contract, as they were willing to take on a low-cost gamble that Kimbrel can revert to form to help the team for 2023. Already armed with hard-throwing relievers in José Alvarado and Seranthony Domínguez, by adding flamethrower Kimbrel to the mix, the Phillies have formed a scary threesome for the back end of their bullpen that could be lights-out for any opposing hitters from the seventh inning onwards.
Last season, Kimbrel had a sub-par season compared to his usual standards, pitching to a 6-7 record and 22 saves with a 3.75 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, with a career-low strikeout rate of 10.8 per nine innings. The Phillies were banking on Kimbrel being able to regain some of his prior form, which encompassed a sub-2.5 ERA, sub-1.0 WHIP, and a strikeout rate closer to his career average of 14.4 per nine innings. Well, so far for 2023, the results have been mixed, but luckily it has been generally more positive than negative. Despite a shaky start to the season, he is 5-1 and a perfect 13-for-13 in save opportunities with a 3.60 ERA, 121 ERA+, 1.00 WHIP, with a strikeout rate of 14.4 per nine innings.
So he may seem to be giving up a lot more runs that one would be comfortable with, but he has mainly been getting the job done whenever called upon, with the key being five wins and no blown saves throughout the season when the games matter most. More importantly, he has been dominant in the Phillies’ recent hot streak, as since June 1st, he is 2-0 with six saves, along with a miniscule 0.60 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, giving up only one earned run, six hits, three walks and 24 strikeouts over 15 innings pitched. In doing so, Kimbrel has now become the ideal closer that the Phillies envisioned him to be when they first signed him this year. It would be wise if the Phillies can hold onto him; however, at age 35, Kimbrel may be looking for that one last big multi-year contract leading up to his eventual retirement, so the Phillies will really need to think it over carefully to see if he does fit in their plans in the long run and if the price is right.
Aaron Nola
Aaron Nola has been a staple in the Phillies’ starting rotation ever since his debut with the team back in 2015. A first-round draft pick back in 2014, Nola fast-tracked to the majors in just one year’s time, going through three minor league levels, then eventually to the big leagues. He has been as consistent as one could be, as in his nine-year career with the ballclub, he has posted a 86-67 winning record, along with a 3.66 ERA, 115 ERA+, and 1.12 WHIP. As well, you can count on him being healthy and be giving you at least 30 starts per year, as shown in his past few years.
This year, however, he has struggled a bit coming out of the gate and his inconsistency has persisted up until now as well. Of his 18 starts, only once did he have a start where he didn’t give up a run, and has only producing seven quality starts in total for the year. On the season, he is 8-5 with a 4.30 ERA, 100 ERA+, 1.10 WHIP, giving up 54 earned runs, including 18 home runs, 30 walks and 114 strikeouts over 113 innings pitched. He finished in fourth for the NL Cy Young award voting just last year, so perhaps this year could just be an anomaly in his resumé. Hopefully, his impressive start from Tuesday is the first step in the right direction in turning around his 2023 season.
Nevertheless, as Nola enters the wrong side of 30 when free agency hits at the end of the year, the Phillies will need to consider whether or not Nola will continue to be in their long-term plans. They tried to get an extension done with him back in March with a proposed five-year, $100 million deal, but it did not pan out, as he could possibly get more as a free agent. They may try again some time this year, but if Nola can’t turn things around soon and lead the Phillies back into the playoffs, more than that could be possible, including being made available on the trade table.
Josh Harrison
The Phillies signed Josh Harrison to a one-year, $2 million deal back in the 2022-23 offseason to provide depth for their bench, and to serve as the club’s backup utilityman. Harrison is definitely the definition of utilityman as he has played every single fielding position in his career other than catcher. Despite being 35 years old, he still got some game in him as he produced a solid season doing part-time duties with the Chicago White Sox just last year.
For this season with the Phillies, however, his age may finally be beginning to show, as he has struggled with a .231 batting average, .617 OPS, 70 OPS+ (all among his lowest numbers in his career), with only three doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, three walks and 18 strikeouts in 101 plate appearances. With speed being also once upon a time his forte, he hasn’t shown any signs of it so far this year with no stolen bases to show for it. As a result, despite providing positional flexibility, his underperformances hasn’t net him much playing time at all this year as he looks to be struggling mightily to find his niche with the Phillies.
Despite heating up slightly for the month of June in which he hit .300 with an OPS of .777, production had been still limited with only one double, one home run and three RBI to show for in his sporadic 10 games played. Consequently, it is more than likely that Harrison will be one free agent the Phillies will probably let go at the end of the year as they can look for internal solutions from within their organization to help fill the void for future years. In the meantime, at least the Phillies can still use Harrison’s veteran experience for spot starts at any position when needed to help fill their daily lineup without hesitation.