1 extension the Phillies should pursue and 2 they should avoid (for now)
With extensions a hot topic at spring training, who should the Phillies extend and who should they hold off on?
With spring training now taking place, the Philadelphia Phillies are still fine-tuning their roster in preparation for the regular season opener on March 28. They have made a few depth signings to strengthen their roster and to provide competition over the next few weeks.
The organization has some key players that will be free agents over the next several years. It will be intriguing to watch the changes that are made over the next few seasons with the team being a World Series contender. If they continue to come up short of a championship, what changes could be made? The organization's biggest moves of the offseason include the re-signing of Aaron Nola and signing utilityman Whit Merrifield to a one-year contract.
Let's look at one extension the Phillies should pursue and two they should avoid for now.
The Phillies should avoid an extension for Alec Bohm
Alec Bohm won his recent arbitration case and will earn $4 million in 2024. The total amount is more than the Phillies' offer of $3.4 million. The third baseman will be eligible for arbitration for the next two years before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
What complicates Bohm's future with the Phillies beyond 2026 is two factors. There is a good chance he will become a free agent and seek the best available deal since he is represented by Scott Boras. The agent is well known for letting his clients seek the best contracts in free agency — see the deals Bryce Harper, New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, and Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager got when they became free agents. To be fair, those three players are superstars but the well-known agent has a reputation for getting the most money for his clients.
Alec Bohm wins arbitration hearing over Phillies. Gets $4M (rather than $3.4M)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 16, 2024
Another factor the Phillies need to consider is the development of young third baseman/shortstop Aidan Miller in their prospect system. If the organization doesn't want to include him a trade, where does that leave Bohm's future with the Phillies?
Bohm is a solid player but has demonstrated his flaws over the last few years with Philadelphia. He hasn't always been the best defender and he was average to below average offensively in the postseason at the plate during the last two postseasons. Last year, in particular, he struggled with hitting fourth in the batting order.
He was a productive hitter for most of the regular season no matter where manager Rob Thomson placed him in the lineup. If the Phillies make the playoffs again in 2024 and he has average to below-average statistics at the plate again, it will be concerning.
Should the front office give him a contract with the long-term deals they have given to Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, and Harper? When the time comes for negotiations on a multi-year contract for Bohm to take place, the front office needs to consider if he is worth it or if they want to explore other options at third base. It would not be unexpected if the latter situation is chosen particularly if Miller is excelling in the minor leagues over the next few seasons.
The Phillies should avoid an extension for Bryce Harper
Earlier this offseason, and more recently at spring training, Harper let it be known he would like to extend his contract and remain a Phillie for the rest of his career. The superstar former outfielder turned infielder agreed to a 13-year, $330 contract with Philadelphia in February 2019.
Harper has done and said everything he can to let it be known he values playing in Philadelphia and wants to be here for the remainder of his playing days. He even requested a contract with no opt-outs in his first deal with the team, which his agent, Boras, opposed.
Here is what 111 decibels sounds like. 🔊 pic.twitter.com/C8rMQCOgjL
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2023
The first baseman is 31 and will be 38 once his current deal expires in 2032. While Harper is motivated to play into his 40s, who knows what his level of play will be then? At some point, no matter how much he endears himself to Philly and the fans, the organization will need to move on from him.
Sports is a business where difficult decisions need to be made. The organization should only be influenced up to a certain point by their star player's loyalty to the team and city. Keeping Harper past 38 years of age is doing the team a disservice, particularly if his play is limited and has gradually declined.
With owner John Middleton previously admitting to underpaying him in his first contract, it is possible the franchise would consider working out an extension with Harper as he has requested. Considering what his age will be when his current contract expires, what makes the Phillies think he will still be productive in his 40s as he is today?
He won't be a full-time first baseman by that point, and Philadelphia will be using up their designated hitter spot for Harper. Father Time is always undefeated, after all. The franchise may be open to him becoming an advisor or ambassador after his playing days to continue to pitch future stars on the appeal of playing for the Phillies.
Harper has demonstrated his interest in recruiting other players in the past with his pitches to several players, including Trea Turner and starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, before the latter signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason.
In terms of giving him an extension that would keep him with Philly past 38 years of age, the team should pass on the idea no matter how difficult the decision is for them. Ultimately, the organization will choose to give him an extension, if I am predicting what will happen. He has been loyal and has reinvigorated the fanbase and club.
The Phillies should extend Zack Wheeler
Zack Wheeler continues to demonstrate why he is the Phillies top starter since he signed with the team before the 2020 season. The veteran pitcher is entering the final year of his contract. Dombrowski has expressed his interest in keeping him with the team beyond 2024.
As good as gold 🤩
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) November 6, 2023
Congrats to Wheels on taking home his first @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Award! pic.twitter.com/eUwBQJ1akm
Wheeler is coming off a season that culminated in him winning the first Gold Glove Award of his career. Durability was a concern earlier in his career with the New York Mets but he has remained relatively healthy in his four previous seasons with Philadelphia.
The starter will be 34 at the end of May but continues to perform at a top level. One of the current stories in spring training is the Phillies and Wheeler working on an extension before the next offseason.
Wheeler has started 101 games for the Phillies over the previous four seasons, two of which he has finished with over 200 strikeouts. Philadelphia would have a big loss to fill in their rotation in the short term if he does not re-sign with the team.
On Feb. 14, the first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers, Wheeler responded to questions regarding a potential extension.
"[I] haven't heard much... [my agent and the front office] are chatting... I'm just trying to concentrate on what we're doing right now and getting ready for the season. I think it could happen anytime. I want to be paid [based] on how I've done, what they expect out of me, that type of stuff... it's not all about the money to me either... I took less to come here [to] be in a good spot, to be happy, to have my family be happy... it's a good organization, I'd love to be here."
“We love it here”
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) February 15, 2024
Zack Wheeler says he hopes the Phillies and his agents can agree on a contract extension before the season starts and he is happy here and wants to stay here. https://t.co/uczL0a5hwU
If they can agree on an extension of a maximum of four years, that should be good enough since he will be 38 once it expires if he agrees to a four-year deal, for example. The Phillies have to be wary of not securing too many long-term deals with players who will be in their late 30s once the contracts expire. There needs to be a balance of signing some veterans while trying to develop young players as well.
The hope is that in 2025, top prospect Andrew Painter will show his promise and be promoted to the big league club sooner rather than later. He seems to have the potential to be a top-two starter in the Phillies rotation. However, in the short term, with the Phillies a contender to win the World Series, they need as many experienced players, like Wheeler, to win a championship over the next two seasons.
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