Which Remaining Top Free Agents Could Be a Fit for Phillies?

The Philadelphia Phillies seem to have a pretty set roster going into spring training later this month in Clearwater. But it doesn’t mean the Phillies couldn’t make a few more moves in free agency to shore up the roster.

There are plenty of options out there, as the free agent market has been relatively slow. Major free agents like slugger Cody Bellinger and reigning Cy Young winner Blake Snell.

But, let’s be realistic. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has said that the team will nibble on the edges of free agency. It’s doubtful they’ll make a push for a Bellinger or a Snell unless there is a bargain to be had.

But that doesn’t mean the Phillies can’t satisfy a need or two in the next few weeks. Here are three potential options.

Whit Merrifield

The Phillies could probably use one more reliable outfielder. Right now the outfield rotation looks like Brandon Marsh, Cristian Pache, Johan Rojas and Nick Castellanos, with a smattering of appearances by Kyle Schwarber thrown in (he’ll likely be the everyday DH).

Merrifield would be a solid fit. With Toronto in 2023 he slashed .272/.318/.382/.700 with 11 home runs, 67 RBI and 26 stolen bases. He also earned his third All-Star Game berth.

Entering his age 35 season, the Phillies won’t have to put a lot down to sign him. He’s a career .284 hitter who can steal bases and also help back up Bryson Stott at second base. He’s a perfect 12th or 13th player at this stage of free agency.

Jakob Junis

The reliever market is still pretty robust, and per reporting the Phillies have expressed interest in Junis, who enters his age 32 season in 2024. Of the relievers that remain on the market, none have a higher wins above replacement in 2023 than Junis’ 2.0.

The seven-year vet spent his last two seasons in San Francisco and he has a history as both a starter and reliever. Last season, used primarily out of the bullpen, he went 4-3 with a 3.87 ERA in 40 games (just four starts). That was his career-best ERA in a single season. The right-hander may have finally found his role. The Phillies could benefit from that by signing him to a one-year deal.

Liam Hendriks

This depends entirely upon how “set” you believe the Phillies’ bullpen is. Hendriks would be a flier, as he’s not expected to be ready to return until around August. After his return from Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma last season, he pitched just five games, but went 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA and had one save. Now he’s recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Before his diagnosis, Hendriks was one of the game’s top closers. He was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022 with the Chicago White Sox, saving an AL-high 38 games in 2021 and 37 more in 2022. His ERA in his last four seasons before the diagnosis was 1.80 (2019), 1.78 (2020), 2.54 (2021) and 2.81 (2022).

This is strictly a sign-and-stash — sign the former closer on a small one-year deal with a big option in 2025 and see if he can reclaim what he had. If he can, then he gives the Phillies a quality reinforcement on the back end of its bullpen for what they hope will be a stretch drive to the postseason.