Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
*PREDICTION*
After another frustrating ending to the season, the Philadelphia Phillies come into the offseason with a ton of questions to answer across the roster. Philadelphia also has a few crucial players who are entering free agency, and the team will try to retain them all, if possible.
The biggest name for the Phillies entering free agency is veteran slugger Kyle Schwarber, who is expected to command a strong market. Phialdelphia wants to bring Schwarber back, but due to the demand and price, it could be easier said than done.
However, this team also needs to make some moves to give itself a better chance to win this upcoming season. Philadelphia’s current core has fallen short every year, and the front office could look to shift things around this winter.
With the Phillies needing to make some changes to the roster, the front office could look to cash in on the open market. There are multiple names that could help this team out, and Philadelphia hasn’t been shy about spending in recent years.
But how aggressive this team will be remains to be seen, and could ultimately determine the fate of this core group. This roster is good, not great, and if this team wants to win a title, big changes may need to take place.
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Eugenio Suarez Signs With Philadelphia Phillies
One area that Philadelphia has wanted to improve on is the production from the third base side. If the Phullies wanted to add in free agency to do this, veteran Eugenio Suarez could fit the role very well.
Suarez is coming off a quality season all around, splitting time between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners. However, his numbers during the first half of the season while with Arizona were much more impressive than the second half.
The veteran was one of the more feared hitters in baseball with the Diamondbacks, slashing .248/.320/.576 with 36 home runs and 87 runs batted in. However, after he was traded to the Mariners, his numbers quickly dipped down and he looked like a different player.
Following the move to Seattle, Suarez only hit 196/.255/.428, hitting 13 home runs with 31 runs batted in. It was a strange phenomenon from Suarez, and showed some of the inconsistency that has followed him throughout his career.
However, for the Phillies, adding someone who has the potential to hit 50 home runs could be very enticing. Putting him in a lineup with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and others could offer him a chance to keep his numbers up all season long.
Phialdelphia may lose Schwarber in free agency, and Suarez could be a nice insurance option in case that happens. The team could also look to add both players, giving itself one of the more powerful offenses in the entire league.
The Phillies have to bring new energy into the mix, and Suarez would certainly fit the bill. His bat would be electric in this lineup, and the Phillies could be taken to a new level going forward.