Philadelphia Phillies favorites to land both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado

Sportsbooks are enamored with the City of Brother Love’s prospects of acquiring the two biggest stars of this winter’s free agent class. Both Bryce Harper AND Manny Machado could be Philadelphia Phillies by next season.

The 2018 season wasn’t ideal for Philadelphia Phillies fans. All summer the Phils were in the thick of the NL East race — they had a 70% postseason probability in August — but an 8-20 record in the season’s final month nixed their playoff hopes. However, now that the Boston Red Sox have won the World Series it’s time to look ahead at next season, and there are few teams (nor fanbases) across Major League Baseball that have a more promising winter of free agent signings ahead of them than the Philadelphia Phillies.

On Monday afternoon Las Vegas oddsmakers revealed the early free agency odds, and have dubbed the Phillies as the favorites to sign not only Bryce Harper, but also Manny Machado.

According to OddsShark, Bovada has the Phillies as +300 favorites to land Machado, with EVEN odds to get Harper. Even though the Phillies have been expected to pursue both Machado and Harper in the offseason, dubbing them the odds-on favorite to ink the two most highly coveted members of the ’19 free agent class indicates the team is ready to make a splurge. It only adds fuel to the fire.

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In order to sign Harper and Machado, the Phillies will need to significantly enlarge their payroll. The Phils spent just $104 million on player contracts in 2018, and adding Bryce and Manny could nearly equal that figure on next season’s payroll alone. However, the Phillies are heading into the offseason with deep pockets courtesy of a TV contract with Comcast worth $5 billion (yes, FIVE BILLION) providing management with a ton of financial flexibility. Philly has relatively unlimited gobs of money to spend this winter, making it possible for them to land not one but two stars in this highly anticipated free agent class.

Although Philadelphia’s favored to land Harper and Machado, it would be hard to fathom a situation where the Phillies actually acquire both players. Their free agent contracts will likely combine to at least $500 million (some believe Bryce and Manny could each fetch $400 million deals) which would make it difficult for the Phillies to fill out the rest of their roster needs.

Regardless, Philadelphia’s deep pockets gives them the ability to target a bevy of other free agents, and they could use upgrades at multiple positions. Deadline acquisition Wilson Ramos was a rental with an expiring contract, and backups Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp hit .240 with a combined 15 home runs in 531 at-bats, therefore the Phils would be wise to sign a catcher. Ramos, Yasmani Grandal, and Johnathan Lucroy are the most attractive catchers on the hot stove, and bringing back the former or signing one of the latter two would solidify the Phillies’ hole behind the plate.

In addition to being the favorites for Harper and Machado, Bovada also has the Phillies as contenders in the Craig Kimbrel sweepstakes, with +500 odds. Philadelphia’s expected to be a shark in the free agent waters this offseason, and as a result they can’t be counted out on landing any of the biggest names on the market.