The Philadelphia Phillies have had a relatively quiet offseason, making only minor adjustments to their pitching staff.
Last season, Dave Dombrowski faced criticism for his trade deadline moves, which saw the addition of Austin Hays and Carlos Estevez instead of higher-profile targets like Luis Robert and Tanner Scott. While this winter hasn’t brought the star power fans hoped for, Dombrowski’s efforts deserve recognition given Philadelphia’s financial constraints — their payroll is the second-highest in baseball, trailing only the Dodgers. Additions like Joe Ross and Jordan Romano should bolster the bullpen, and Jesús Luzardo stands out as an immediate upgrade, likely one of the best fifth starters in the National League.
Crucially, Dombrowski has removed Taijuan Walker from the starting rotation. By making this change, Philadelphia has transformed a glaring weakness into a significant strength. Walker, who struggled mightily in 2024, will now remain in a lower-pressure bullpen role.
Walker’s 2024 season was disastrous, marred by injuries and poor performance. Across 19 appearances (15 starts), he posted a 7.10 ERA, surrendering 107 hits and 66 earned runs over 83.2 innings. While his struggles may have been an anomaly, the 32-year-old former All-Star has shown signs of decline for some time. The Phillies can’t afford to gamble on his reliability. In contrast, Luzardo offers All-Star potential when performing at his best.
If Walker can rebuild his value in a bullpen role or as a swingman, that would be ideal, but he cannot be trusted with high-stakes innings. Dombrowski could further solidify the roster by pursuing another marquee addition to reinforce the team.
Phillies among teams scouting Max Scherzer as spring training inches closer
Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated reports that the Philadelphia Phillies attended a recent pro day held by free agent Max Scherzer. The 40-year-old veteran, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series champion, pitched for the Texas Rangers last season. Over nine starts, Scherzer recorded a 3.95 ERA across 43.1 innings.
Injuries have become a recurring concern for Max Scherzer at this stage of his career, but the 40-year-old remains a valuable asset. A key contributor to the Texas Rangers’ 2023 World Series triumph and an All-Star as recently as 2021, Scherzer might not be the ace he once was, but he still offers plenty of value to a rotation. Add to that the leadership, experience, and wisdom of a future Hall of Famer, and his appeal becomes clear.
Are the Phillies the frontrunners for Scherzer? Likely not. Many teams are better positioned financially and have a more pressing need for his services. While Philadelphia could theoretically extend its rotation to six deep, other destinations would likely offer Scherzer a more prominent role and more frequent starts. With a payroll already exceeding $300 million, the Phillies are unlikely to meet Scherzer’s market value, which is expected to be in the range of one-year, $15 million contracts recently signed by Charlie Morton and Justin Verlander.
Still, the idea of a six-man rotation featuring Wheeler, Sánchez, Nola, Scherzer, Suárez, and Luzardo is enticing. Beyond the on-field benefits, signing Scherzer would also have the added bonus of keeping a key target away from division rivals like the Braves and Mets.
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