The Philadelphia Phillies are under enormous pressure to win a World Series in the coming years.
With a star-studded roster led by two-time MVP first baseman Bryce Harper, the Phillies have been so close to glory the past two postseasons. But so far they’ve missed out, and if they don’t make it in 2024, they might be motivated to bring in some extra firepower this winter.
Under general manager Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies have aggressively pursued the free agents they wanted. Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler have all signed huge contracts during Dombrowski’s tenure.
However, one insider believes they could be in the running for one of the biggest free agent deals of all time.
FanSided’s Robert Murray listed the Phillies among his top three candidates for New York Yankees superstar outfielder Juan Soto, calling Philadelphia the “mystery team” that could unexpectedly land the Soto prize.
“Soto has played in the National League East in the past and was previously teammates with Bryce Harper,” Murray said. “(He) was with Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long, one of the best coaches in baseball, while with the Washington Nationals and the two had a strong relationship.”
The Phillies were also never considered favorites to sign Harper in 2019, but had the strongest pitching. While there are no two free agent situations, it would be unwise to eliminate the Phillies from the Soto sweepstakes this early in the game.
Soto, 25, is a once-in-a-generation talent who can make any team a World Series favorite. With a career-high 1.034 OPS and 35 home runs this season, Soto could get even better and is already well on his way to being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Additionally, the Phillies’ only weakness this season has been their outfield. Veteran right fielder Nick Castellanos has declined significantly since his 2023 All-Star season, while the future viability of Johan Rojas, Brandon Marsh and Austin Hays as full-time starters is questionable.
If the Phillies could sign Soto, they would be the frontrunner for the World Series in 2025 and beyond. But it will be tough if Dombrowski and Co. decide to enter the sweepstakes.
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