PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies will look to get back to October by force of sticks.
After their first positive season since 2011, the Phillies spared no expense to add more offense.
They poured $179 million into Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber, so Bryce Harper is surrounded by two power hitters. The rest of the lineup features wide receiver JT Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins, Jean Segura and Didi Gregorius.
“We’ve added a lot of offense,” manager Joe Girardi said. “The organization has done a wonderful job.”
Harper, the reigning NL MVP, exhorted executives to improve the team after finishing 82-80 last season. Owner John Middleton gave chairman Dave Dombrowski the green light to exceed the luxury tax threshold when Castellanos signed days after the Schwarber acquisition.
“Dave is the only general manager to take three different franchises to the World Series,” Middleton said. “He’s one of five to win two with two different franchises. When that person tells you, ‘This is an opportunity.’ Well, he’s been there. He’s the one who made the decision.”
As agent Scott Boras put it, the Phillies got a “cake” with Schwarber and added the “frosting” with Castellanos, their client.
Schwarber won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs in the postseason, appearing in the postseason in six of his seven major league seasons. He will bring a winning attitude to a clubhouse that needs it. The Phillies are the National team with the longest drought without reaching the playoffs.
The bullpen was reconfigured after the lockout, acquiring righties Corey Knebel and Jeurys Familia and the lefty. Knebel will open the season as the closer. Familia and Hand have a history of All-Star closers in their careers. Preserving the lead has been the Phillies’ Achilles’ heel the past two seasons.
Zack Wheeler was second for the NL Cy Young last year and Aaron Nola was third in 2018 and seventh in 2020. A good 1-2, more formidable if Nole returns to his best form after a poor 2021. Right-handers Kyle Gibson and Zach Eflin and Venezuelan left-hander Ranger Suarez complete the starting lineup.
Harper hit .309 with 35 homers and a 1.044 OPS for his second career MVP and first in three seasons in Philadelphia. Castellanos batted .309 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Reds. Schwarber hit 32 home runs with the Nationals and Red Sox. Hoskins took it out 27 times in 389 at-bats. Realmuto and Gregorius have both had 20-homer campaigns. The last time the Phillies had five sluggers with at least 20 home runs was in 2019, the year they lost to the Girardi-coached New York Yankees in the World Series.
Defense will be a headache for the Phillies, with several starters who might be better off acting exclusively as designated hitter. Schwarber and Castellanos will alternate at left field and designated field. Hoskins (first base) and Gregorius (shortstop) have been shaky on defense. Realmuto, Gold Glove in 2019, is the best.
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Phillies want to return to the playoffs by force of HR