Phillies News: John Middleton doesn't care how high payroll goes, Alec Bohm, more
By Eric Cole
Spring training is at the forefront of Philadelphia Phillies fans' minds, and with good reason. The roster, while not without warts, looks primed for another postseason run, especially with Trea Turner adding a multi-pronged threat to their lineup.
Creating this roster, though, has required some deep pockets and the willingness to dip into them, and that is what Phillies owner John Middleton has given them. After his "stupid money" declaration ultimately brought Bryce Harper to Philly, Middleton went on the record this weekend to make it clear that he does not care how high the payroll goes, so long as the Phillies win. In the end, he is trying to secure his legacy, and it is frankly lovely to hear, even if running a team that way isn't sustainable.
More Phillies News
We had a couple pieces go up over the weekend worthy of your consumption. First, there is an examination of how the start of Alec Bohm's career stacks up with other past Philly stars. While it may impossible, the start of Bohm's career was better than Mike Schmidt's which, if nothing else, gives hope that Bohm could end up being something special (although it is fair to say that being the next Schmidt is unlikely at best).
Also, we looked at the state of second base going into the 2023 season. Bryson Stott will be counted on to improve from his lackluster rookie campaign, but the Phillies seem to have some roster depth behind him in the infield should the need arise for a replacement, for whatever reason.
MLB News
Usually, when Orioles chairman and CEO John Angelos speaks with the media (which is already a rarity), things tend to go sideways. However, he did speak with the media yesterday, where he addressed the team's lease at Camden Yards, possibility payroll could go up, chances of new minor owners, and whether there could soon be changes in Baltimore's front office. Surprisingly, it was a relatively positive conversation and it sounds like the Orioles are in a good place (at least for the moment).
We also have some top-level MLB news, as the league has formed an Economic Reform Committee in response to the ever-changing landscape of baseball economics, especially in the wake of Bally Sports' impending bankruptcy. While these conversations should happen as sports viewing habits change, any committee that has Chris Illitch and Dick Monfort on it will probably talk a lot about how to get to a salary cap in baseball.