Philadelphia Phillies: Hot Stove slog and a troubling idea
By Rick Soisson
The Philadelphia Phillies offseason has dragged along. So far, there is nothing to see here.
In a development immediately filed under Total Non-Shockers, Santa Claus did not deposit Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, or Dallas Keuchel in the Philadelphia Phillies Christian holiday stocking. And so, the Hot Stove season drags along in Philadelphia, and most other places, like the search for an American with a “who cares?” view of our 45th President.
A quick review of the current free agents list reveals the exciting signings of the likes of Chris Herrmann (A’s), Justin Bour (Angels) and Gregor Blanco (Mets), whose WAR figures add up to…drumroll, please…0.4. The top signing in the past two weeks is arguably Charlie Morton’s by the Rays, and – Holy Cow! – is Daniel Murphy’s WAR actually only 0.8? He signed with the Rockies.
Are we excited yet? In Philadelphia, without Machado, Harper, or Keuchel, no. But this has been said.
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What-has-been-said is a serious problem with the Hot Stove season, which, somewhat oddly, coincides with Call to the Pen’s hottest season. But this winter has so far been a challenge. The Phillies have, for example, signed a former MVP and an All-Star shortstop, and yet their fans continue to tap their feet impatiently. All sportswriters wander around on a nondescript gambling floor that looks the same everywhere except at the three remaining superstars’ table, and they are keeping their cards tight to their vests.
Christmas Day, predictably, the entire NL East listed atop their websites Christmas-themed items. There must have been a memo. For example, Gabe Kapler, the Phillies manager, who lost his home in Malibu to the recent California wildfires, is graciously asking for donations to a charity for Californians in similar situations, but less well off than he is. On the Mets website, we found out Brandon Nimmo grew up in Wyoming, and his favorite holiday movie is A Christmas Story.
Dec. 26 the Phillies and Mets websites ran Q & A pieces by their resident MLB.com writers. The Mets piece was about how Wilson Ramos will “affect” their lineup and roster. This led to the wildly unexpected breaking news the team will “be smart about considering other options” than trading their other catchers, which definitely wins the MLB Monthly Prize for Vagueness.
The Phillies, in contrast, ran the 5257th local piece about the team’s mulling over signing either Machado or Harper. Todd Zolecki, who is a fine writer, answered a fan’s question about whether or not the team would actually get either superstar (probably) in excruciating detail. The most interesting passage was a WAR-based argument that neither player may have hit his prime yet. Both players’ aggregate WAR figures are far below a seven-year total for Chase Utley, and Harper’s current figure is below both Utley’s and Jimmy Rollins’ prime stretches.
Next. Phillies Plan B revisited. dark
A slightly troubling idea occurring here is the possibility that both Machado and Harper might decline after signing their coming obscene contracts. Zolecki ignores this possibility.
That couldn’t happen, could it?