The Phillies face plenty of tough calls this winter. Re-signing Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto tops the list, but what they do with their aging roster could be just as important.
Sure, Nick Castellanos gets most of the trade buzz. But he’s not the only familiar face who might be packing his bags.
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com identified five players the Phillies could shop this offseason. Beyond Castellanos, four other fan favorites might be available.
“The Phillies have tried to trade Alec Bohm… Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh would be attractive to teams looking for Major League talent. A reliever like Matt Strahm could be dealt, although he has been their most reliable lefty in the Phillies’ pen the past three years.”
Alec Bohm makes sense as a trade candidate. The Phillies shopped him last winter, and with just one year of control remaining, they’re running out of time to maximize his value.
But Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh are the really interesting names here.
Both players have been fixtures in Philadelphia, but neither has quite delivered on expectations. The Phillies lose both to free agency after 2027, which gives them a two-year window to either see improvement or cash in while they can.
What makes potential trades more realistic? The farm system finally has answers. Infielder Aidan Miller and outfielder Justin Crawford could step into those roles sooner rather than later.
The Value Play
Stott and Marsh still bring plenty to the table – enough that other teams would definitely be interested. But if the Phillies can flip them for upgrades like Ketel Marte or Jarren Duran, those conversations get real interesting real quick.
It’s not that either player has been bad. They just haven’t been great, and the Phillies need great if they’re gonna get over the hump.
Castellanos is basically already gone. Zolecki says it’d be surprising if he’s still wearing red pinstripes next year, and that tracks with everything we’ve been hearing.
Matt Strahm is the outlier here. Yeah, he’s got one year left on his deal, but he’s been their most reliable lefty reliever for three straight seasons. Trading him would create a hole that’s not easily filled.
If the Phillies want to move a reliever, Jose Alvarado or Tanner Banks make more sense. Finding another Strahm isn’t exactly easy.
All things considered, Castellanos and Bohm seem like the most likely candidates to actually get dealt. But don’t be shocked if Dave Dombrowski surprises everyone and makes a bigger move with one of the younger guys.
That’s where this winter could get really interesting.
