The Philadelphia Phillies will have a busy offseason.
Philadelphia doesn’t need to make a flurry of moves. The Phillies have one of the most well-built rosters in baseball, and most of the core is under contract for the 2025 season. Philadelphia still could look to add more star power.
The New York Yankees’ superstar Juan Soto will be the top offensive talent, and Baltimore Orioles ace Corbin Burnes will be the best pitcher available. Both have been linked to the Phillies at different times, although both are extremely unlikely options.
Philadelphia will have to address the bullpen this winter with All-Stars Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman hitting free agency. Many have said that the club won’t retain both. Hoffman will be cheaper and seems like a more likely option to come back in 2025.
While this is the case, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden still had the Phillies among the “best team fits” for Estévez this winter with an expected three-year, $33 million deal.
“Carlos Estévez had a strong free-agent walk year, posting a 2.38 ERA with the Angels before being traded at the deadline to Philadelphia, where he put up a 2.57 ERA over 20 games,” Bowden said. “He finished the season with 26 saves and 0.909 WHIP but also averaged 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings, the lowest rate of his career. Estévez has 82 career saves and will generate plenty of interest from teams looking for high-leverage relievers.
“Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has said it’s unlikely the club will bring back both Estévez and Jeff Hoffman, who is ranked 43rd on this list. Best team fits: Phillies, Orioles, (Boston Red Sox), (Toronto Blue Jays), (Los Angeles Dodgers)..Contract prediction: three years, $33 million.”
Estévez was acquired by the Phillies this summer and was everything the team could’ve hoped for. It wouldn’t be too shocking if the two sides came together on a new deal unless another team vastly overpaid for him.
