March 17, 2022
Jonathan Dyer/USA Today Sports
Dave Dombrowski has a team to continue building this winter.
UPDATE [11:39 a.m.] — The details are out on Odubel Herrera's contract. The outfielder will earn $1.75 million and up to $750,000 in incentives, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Odubel Herrera Phillies deal is for $1.75M plus 750K incentives
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 17, 2022
From earlier...
The Phillies 2022 squad is rounding into form. The outfield may be set, with Kyle Schwarber in left and Matt Veirling and Odubel Herrera platooning in center. The rest of the order seems to be fine, with some flexibility at the newly added DH spot.
The team spent a little dough adding veteran arm to the bullpen in Brad Hand, Jeruys Familia and Corey Knebel. What is next on the agenda?
If the team is willing (it never has) to really go for broke and really push for a playoff appearance, there are some monstrously big bats left in Carlos Correa, Nick Castellanos, and Trevor Story. Those three players would likely command $20 million plus contracts.
Assuming the team is not planning to exceed the luxury tax threshold of $230 million in payroll obligations, they have a little wiggle room left.
With Familia (1-yr., $6M), Hand (1-yr., $6M), Herrera (1-yr., $1.75M), and Schwarber (reportedly 4 yrs., $80M), #Phillies luxury-tax payroll stands at roughly $216 million.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) March 16, 2022
Here's a look at some of the best remaining players who may be in their price range:
| Player | WAR |
| OF Michael Conforto | 15.7 |
| OF Jorge Soler | 3.6 |
| OF Tommy Pham | 16.0 |
| SP Michael Pineda | 12.6 |
| SP Zach Grienke | 73.1 |
| SP Tyler Anderson | 8.1 |
| SP Danny Duffy | 19.8 |
| RP Ryan Tepera | 4.9 |
| RP Kenley Janson | 18.6 |
| SS Jonathan Villar | 13.4 |
| DH Albert Pujols | 99.6 |
Those are the best names remaining from various top 50 free agent lists — plus Pujols who would be a stretch but is worth adding (he is closing in on 700 homers). The Phils should be able to afford the above players and arguably have a need for all of them.
Adding one of the three outfielders we list would definitely help bolster the unit. The four starting pitchers could each slot in as the No. 2 or 3 hurler in the Phils staff depending on how Aaron Nola rebounds in 2022. And of course, Tepera and Janson are older relievers who've had success in the past, in the mold of the guys they already added.
Will the Phils add a mid-level free agent? Will they add a more marginal piece? Will they go for broke for a superstar?
Follow long all day right here with our live stream and open thread:
Follow Evan on Twitter: @evan_macy
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports
