Call to the pen
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Phillies: Revised offseason money chase for 2020

By Tal Venada

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros in action against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. The Astros defeated the Yankees 4-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros in action against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. The Astros defeated the Yankees 4-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Ryu is the top starter without a qualifying offer. Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images. /

The Phillies have adjusted their roster by declining three pitchers with club options, plus general manager Matt Klentak is preparing for the Rule 5 Draft, the Winter Meetings and free agency with his most challenging months ahead.

Dollars and sense:   

Like the Philadelphia Phillies, other franchises revised their financials regarding the CBT (competitive-balance threshold) by making similar personnel changes. Basically, each organization decided which free agents received a QO (qualifying offer) or a buyout. Translation: new monetary totals.

"IN OTHER WORDS: “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” – Winston Churchill"

Firstly, the figures for Luxury Tax calculations in my last two articles included the amounts for options: club, player, and mutual. But the resource chart stated only buyout dollars were missing and didn’t mention excluding option amounts. So, the Fightins have less AAV (average annual value) by $6.4 million: All teams have less.

Klentak has $151.3 million committed without a $10.3 million arb estimate for J.T. Realmuto, so the GM has $56.7 million to work with. Therefore, the front office will have some limitations on the free-agent market, and they must be more creative. Plus the other contenders for the National League East have limits as well.

While some franchises are at or over the CBT, others are well below it but also have holes to plug from departing players. And some organizations need to fill spots other than pitching.

The last two offseasons, free agency has dragged on due to QOs and Scott Boras. Plus the super agent has Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon, Hyun-Jin Ryu and four other top stars. Expectation: plan for teams still bidding in January and February again.

While fans impatiently wait, Klentak will be crunching numbers to find the missing pieces from 2019. Realistically, the exec will offer Realmuto and Cole or Strasburg more dollars and 162s to lower their AAVs. And the decision-maker may also consider southpaws Ryu and Cole Hamels to slot second and fourth respectively.

Approach-wise, the Phils’ first move will be Realmuto’s extension. Remember, managing partner John S. Middleton wanted to sign Bryce Harper for 15 summers to lower his AAV more than his $25.4 million. And he will probably do that and/or exceed the CBT for a one-year penalty.

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