The Philadelphia Phillies have had a relatively quiet offseason so far. Their only move at last week’s MLB winter meetings was signing two-time All-Star reliever, who was non-tendered by the Toronto Blue Jays after undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in 2024.
The Phillies stayed out of the Juan Soto bidding and couldn’t strike a deal with the Houston Astros for three-time All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker. Reportedly, the Phillies offered third baseman Alec Bohm and outfielder Nick Castellanos, but the Astros turned it down.
In addition to shopping Bohm and Castellanos, the Phillies are reportedly open to trading All-Star pitcher Ranger Suarez. They are aiming to improve both their outfield offense and the back end of their rotation. Top prospect Andrew Painter, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is likely to make his debut in mid-2025.
While some Phillies fans may be growing impatient, there’s still plenty of time left in the offseason, with several power-hitting outfielders like Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernandez still available. One MLB insider predicts the Phillies will land one of them.
MLB insider believes Philadelphia Phillies will sign this All-Star outfielder
ESPN MLB insider David Schoenfield predicts that the Phillies will sign Anthony Santander.
Santander, who earned his first All-Star selection in 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles, has hit 105 home runs over the past three seasons, including 44 in 2024. The switch-hitter would provide an immediate boost to a Phillies offense that ranked 15th in OPS from left field. If Santander joins the team, the Phillies could move Brandon Marsh back to center field and have him platoon with Johan Rojas.
Schoenfield believes the Phillies are likely to make a move, given their veteran, win-now roster that fell short in the playoffs the past two years. Santander would add depth to an offense that, while not lacking power, hit fewer home runs than both the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves in 2024.
However, there are some drawbacks to Santander’s game. His defense is considered subpar, his career on-base percentage is low at .307, and he lacks speed on the bases. Despite these concerns, the Phillies may prioritize his power potential, particularly in the hitter-friendly environment of Citizens Bank Park.
Schoenfield forecasts that Santander will sign a three-year, $69 million contract.
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