Insider Says Phillies’ Roster Deterring Free Agents

The Philadelphia Phillies have been quiet for their standards during the offseason. They made a huge move to start it off by re-signing Aaron Nola, but since then, there hasn’t been much done. Dave Dombrowski has been aggressive in years past, and while he still might not be done signing players, the Phillies haven’t made an addition that’s going to help their roster become better than it was in 2023. That might not be an issue, given the team was a series away from another World Series appearance, but others around the league have gotten better this offseason. There are still options to out there. Whether they want to add a bat or an arm, star players are available.

Of the possible additions, Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell make the most sense. They’re two of the best pitchers in baseball and can help Philadelphia compete with the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers and others. However, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, free agents are questioning signing with the Phillies. Gelb notes that due to how full the roster is, they are looking for options that give them a more clear role. “The Phillies, in discussions with player agents and other clubs, have identified pitching depth as their priority, according to major-league sources. (This is a priority of every team in January.) But, with five starters locked into their rotation, free-agent pitchers who want a better chance at cracking a big-league rotation will look elsewhere for a guarantee.”

With Spring Training around the corner, it very well could be possible that the current roster is exactly how Philadelphia looks on Opening Day. Perhaps they can add an arm by promising them a certain amount of innings, which could be the reason why many are worried about signing. The roster is certainly good enough to compete with the Dodgers and other teams. However, adding as much help as possible is always the logical solution.