MLB Free Agency 2017-18: Biggest Holes for Every Team

28. Philadelphia Phillies: 66-96 (Last in the NL East)

During the 2016 MLB Free Agency period, the Phillies signed outfielder Michael Saunders to a one-year, $8 million dollar deal after he’d hit 24 homers in 140 games with the Blue Jays in 2016. Saunders was terrible in 2017, hitting .202/.256/.344, with him and the team parting ways early on in the season.

Needing to fill that hole, the Phillies need to snag up a free agent outfielder who can provide offensive production. Or better yet, their farm system has a plethora of talent in the outfield.

Odubel Herrera, Aaron Altherr, Nick Williams, and Rhys Hoskins all looking for playing time there, while Hoskins could make a move to first base, which would leave Tommy Joseph as potential trade bait in the process.

Their most significant need was finding a new manager, which they did recently with Gabe Kapler

The Phillies’ third baseman Maikel Franco was thought to be the candidate long-term at the hot corner, but his production dropped off since 2015: .230/.281/.409.

Starting pitcher Vince Velasquez regressed this past season, missing the mark with an ERA of 5.13, spending time on the DL in the process.

Jeanmar Gomez was the stopper in the back end of the bullpen after closing out 37 games in 2016. He lost he his job early on in 2017, with the Phillies still looking for that long-term guy.

Greg Holland looks to be opting out of his contract with the Rockies, but the St. Louis Cardinals are the front-runners to lock him up.

Their most significant need was finding a new manager, which they did recently with Gabe Kapler, plugging up the biggest hole in the organization.

Even with that massive selection of youth at the MLB level to go with promising prospects in the minors, they might want to pursue Giancarlo Stanton, who is in high demand this offseason and would raise any team to the next level in the standings.