As we head towards December it is time to start looking at the Philadelphia Phillies offseason plans 2022. The Phillies finished the 2021 season with an 82-80 record, 6.5 games behind the World Series-winning Atlanta Braves in the National League East. The right moves in free agency would see the Phillies close that gap in 2022.
Phillies offseason plans 2022
The Phillies already have a solid base to build from. The key to that is right fielder Bryce Harper. Harper won the NL MVP last season, the second time in his career he has won the award.
The best Phillies free agency targets will give Harper the help he needs to prevent another slide late in the season. Here are five players who fit the bill as Phillies free agent news picks up.
Steven Matz
It is never a bad idea to add depth to a pitching rotation. Steven Matz went 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA last season on a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Matz is a former top-six finisher in Rookie of the Year voting and he looked like a much more mature and confident player for the Blue Jays than he did while battling injuries previously with the New York Mets.
The 31-year-old won’t demand a long-term deal and adding the lefty to a rotation already boasting the likes of Aaron Nola and Cy Young nominee Zach Wheeler would give the Phillies depth and options.
Starling Marte
The biggest hole in the Phillies lineup on paper is their lack of a leadoff hitter. The team declined the option on Andrew McCutchen‘s contract, something that has saved the Phillies $15 million. Starling Marte would not come cheap as the likes of the Yankees are already linked with him, but his skill set is exactly what the Phillies need.
The center fielder just turned 33-years-old and last season he stole 25 bases. Add this to his ability to hit for extra bases, the number of pitches he gets hit by, and his increasing talent at drawing walks, it becomes easy to see why Marte would be a good fit in Philadelphia.
Raisel Iglesias
The Phillies bullpen is young and inexperienced by MLB standards.
There is a ton of pressure on lefty Jose Alvarado, and a veteran closer like Raisel Iglesias would be one of the best Phillies free agency targets.
Iglesias had 34 saves on a pretty bad Angels team last season and his ability to throw a slider along with his rocket of a fastball makes him a nightmare to face in the final inning of a game. The Cuban is coming off of the best season of his career as he is set to test the free agent waters.
Kris Bryant
Realistically the Phillies need two outfielders out of this free-agent crop unless one of their high-round draft picks over the last few years at the position suddenly pans out.
Kris Bryant works here because he is such a versatile defensive player, a very valuable trait. He could easily start in the Phillies outfield while also providing cover at first and third base. Bryant needs a change of scene to get back to his MVP form of 2016 as opposed to the last four years of his career where his production has fallen off. He should be in the Phillies offseason plans 2022.
Nick Castellanos
Another outfield option, Nick Castellanos is a streaky hitter who can be as good as anyone in the league when he is in the zone.
A middle-order threat that can hit for average with extra-base power and speed, Castellanos finished third in the NL in batting average and sixth in RBI last season.
Castellanos will demand, and get a big-money deal, but if the Phillies are serious about contending in 2022 he is the type of player they need to get under contract.
[spreaker type=player resource=”show_id=3300147″ width=”100%” height=”200px” theme=”light” playlist=”false” playlist-continuous=”false” chapters-image=”true” episode-image-position=”right” hide-logo=”false” hide-likes=”false” hide-comments=”false” hide-sharing=”false” hide-download=”true”]