Phillies considering both domestic and foreign outfield options as they refocus on the roster
The Phillies discussed the value of guaranteed innings as they attempted to bring Aaron Nola back. It was difficult to envision a simple solution for them to fill 180-something rotation innings in 2024 without Nola, so their need was evident. The Phillies paid a hefty price for a tried-and-true approach: the dependable workhorse. This offseason, it was the club’s most important goal to complete.
Dave Dombrowski, the president of baseball operations for the Phillies, stated last week, “We’ve had this discussion.” We are in a position to simply assess numerous aspects that we believe improve our club. There isn’t really a clear gap that needs to be filled.
Perhaps not. But innings are needed differently depending on how they fit into the rest of the roster. Although the Phillies have continued to speak with agents and teams regarding possible outfield fortifications, Dombrowski has stated that his positional group is essentially set.
There is still some offseason intrigue surrounding this particular area of the roster. Next week, the baseball community will gather in Nashville, Tennessee, for the annual Winter Meetings of the sport, which may lead to business deals.
Talks with agents, opposing teams, and Phillies officials have shown that the team has looked for innovative ways to address the outfield. Johan Rojas, 23, and Brandon Marsh, 25, are two of their younger players who could compete for starting positions. However, the Phillies aren’t entirely sure which of them will be a regular player in 2024. Essentially, they don’t want to rule out the possibility that Marsh or Rojas could succeed, but they also don’t want to commit to 600 plate appearances apiece for them.
