Phillies: 2020’s reloading with 3 top arms

Negotiating the Phillies offseason route to playoff contention is general manager Matt Klentak’s goal, and he’ll probably sign certain pieces to seriously vie for the National League East pennant.

Combination approach:  

For the Philadelphia Phillies, Klentak must firstly free up financial resources he’ll devote to pitching acquisitions by moving some regulars. And then the franchise could re-up J.T. Realmuto and pursue a trio of hurlers including a late inking of Gerrit Cole.

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While some are speculating the Fightins need two starters and four relievers, two of each will be a challenge unto itself. Unlike, however, last winter’s addition of $488 million in commitments, this offseason Klentak will be much closer to the ceiling of $208 million AAV (average annual value). Translation: difficult limitations.

The signing of new manager Joe Girardi signals two possibilities. Firstly, did managing partner John S. Middleton reveal his interest in picking up competitive pitchers? And if those roster additions don’t improve the win column, will Klentak receive his pink slip?

Financially, if Klentak makes moves to increase expenditures from $16.9 million AAV to $63.1 million AAV, then the GM and Middleton must be creative to ink three quality moundsmen. Regarding Klentak, he will have $33.1 to $35.6 million AAV for Realmuto, a rotation piece and a firemen.

The GM’s plan could be to ink a two-slot hurler for $13-15 million AAV, a solid reliever for $4-5 million AAV and a re-upped catcher for $15-20 million AAV. As for Middleton, he can wait out Scott Boras until spring training –as he did with Jake Arrieta and Bryce Harper— plus he can add a year and a higher offer to lower Cole’s AAV.

This is baseball: the hot stove league for negotiations, agents and contracts in the millions. Unfortunately, competition is in no short supply, and the execs just like the hitters and pitchers have their contemporaries. But injuries, ineffectiveness and luck are also in the equation.

Using a combination approach, I demonstrate the parameters facing Klentak in November and December. By Jan.1, though, the GM could have two arms in the fold and a second starter on the horizon if a Cole signing isn’t developing to Middleton’s satisfaction.