March 16, 2022
Update [6:21 p.m.] — Bryce Harper's dream of playing with his pal Kris Bryant is going by the wayside. Bryant, the 2016 National League MVP, is reportedly signing with the Rockies:
Breaking: Kris Bryant to Rockies
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 16, 2022
Bryant gets $182M for 7 years
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 16, 2022
With an average annual salary of $26 million, Bryant was certainly out of the Phillies' price range under the assumption that they do not want to pay the luxury tax. Given the financial philosophy from ownership, it appears the organization was only prepared to sign only one player of Bryant or Kyle Schwarber's caliber who was going to get a big deal this offseason.
Update [11:47 a.m.] — The Odúbel Herrera signing has been made official. The 30-year old outfielder will rejoin the Phillies on a one-year contract to give the club another option in center field, a position where options were already hard to come by.
The Phillies have signed outfielder Odúbel Herrera to a one-year contract, President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski announced today. pic.twitter.com/0jQzwffPsA
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 16, 2022
Herrera batted .260 with a .726 OPS in 492 plate appearances last season after missing all of 2020 and the majority of 2019 because of a domestic violence charge and resulting suspension by MLB.
He is still out of favor with many fans.
Update [11:47 a.m.] — The Phillies are losing a versatile bat off the bench with utility-man Brad Miller heading off to Texas.
In 377 plate appearances last season, the 32-year old hit .227 with a .774 OPS, and his 20 home runs were fourth most on the team.
Update [10:02 a.m.] — Details on Kyle Schwarber's contract with the Phillies have emerged from The Athletic's Jayson Stark:
#Phillies deal with Kyle Schwarber, pending physical, is a 4-year agreement with an AAV just under $20 million per year, sources tell The Athletic.@JSalisburyNBCS was on this
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 16, 2022
Update [9:48 a.m.] — Kyle Schwarber to South Philly.
The Phillies have made a move for slugger Kyle Schwarber. NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury had it first:
Phillies have an agreement with Kyle Schwarber, pending all the usual stuff
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) March 16, 2022
Update [9:26 a.m.] — Kyle Schwarber to South Philly?!?
Phillies making progress on free agent Kyle Schwarber, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 16, 2022
Original story to follow...
Patience can be a virtue in MLB free agency, though I'm not quite sure how true that is in the minds of Philadelphians.
The Bryce Harper saga felt like a never-ending ordeal in early 2019. Harper didn't sign with the Phillies until March of that year after the Phils were already in camp at Clearwater. Still, I can't blame Phillies fans who may be a bit anxious right now and are hoping the team makes a splashy move ASAP.
A's third baseman Matt Chapman had been reported as a potential trade target for the Phillies, but he was dealt to an increasingly stacked Blue Jays team on Wednesday morning:
The #BlueJays are finalizing a trade for 2-time Platinum Glove-winning 3B Matt Chapman, source confirms. Carlos Baerga was the first to report. @MLBNetwork @FAN590 @Sportsnet
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 16, 2022
Maybe the Phils won't have any regrets about missing out on a Chapman deal if third baseman Alec Bohm resembles his 2020 form when he finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting. Bohm was so lost in 2021, but has the makeup to be a great player on the hot corner.
Toronto might not be done adding to their talented core, as they appear to be right there with the Phillies in the sweepstakes to land left-handed masher Kyle Schwarber:
Blue Jays currently view their chances on Schwarber as better than their chances on Freeman, sources tell @TheAthletic. The competition for Schwarber, though, remains intense, with Phillies and others in the mix.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 15, 2022
Schwarber made his first All-Star team in 2021, splitting time between Washington and Boston. He hit 32 homers, the third time the 29-year-old left fielder/designated hitter topped 30 home runs in a season in his career.
Harper trusts in president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to get the Phillies right this offseason. Bringing in someone with Schwarber's bat would certainly do wonders for that task.
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