Apr 26, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval (75) reacts after a double play to end the top of the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports Darren Yamashita
Every Tuesday, On Pattison's Tim Kelly and Anthony SanFilippo will answer your questions from social media pertaining to the Phillies. Let's get to it.
@KevinFrench on Bluesky: Who are your top trade targets for the Phillies?
Tim Kelly: Obviously, Garrett Crochet is the No. 1 answer on everyone's mind right now. We've written ad-nauseam about the Chicago White Sox lefty this offseason, so I'll go in another direction here.
If the Phillies move Alec Bohm and are looking for a third baseman, Jeimer Candelario is an interesting name. He disappointed in his first season with the Cincinnati Reds, but was an All-Star in 2023, a campaign that he split between the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs. Just two seasons ago, Candelario doubled 39 times, hit 22 home runs and posted an .807 OPS. He's an interesting name if the Phillies would be willing to take on a significant portion of the $27 million he's owed over the next two seasons. He could be a bridge until Aidan Miller is ready to be called up.
What Relievers Could Phillies Target via Trade Outside of Helsley and Williams?
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I took an extended look at relievers the Phillies could potentially target via this offseason, and Camilo Doval of the San Francisco Giants is one of the names that stands out. He struggled this past season, posting a 4.88 ERA over 62 games. But the 27-year-old has three seasons remaining until free agency, and posted a 2.73 ERA across 137 games between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. He could close or be your top set-up man.
Anthony SanFilippo: It's Crochet all day, every day. I said in an earlier mailbag that I think Alec Bohm is part of a trade that gets Crochet done. Don't be surprised if that happens at the Winter Meetings.
I also think the Phillies are looking at bullpen, and while Doval is enticing, the guy that fits the mold of the types of relievers the Phillies want is Ryan Helsley, who has been dominant in St. Louis and they are going full rebuild. One other one that might be a little more under the radar, David Bednar in Pittsburgh. He had a rough year in 2024 but was excellent from 2021-23. He's arbitration eligible for the next two seasons and has a projected salary of roughly $6.6 million. That might be a salary the Pirates look to unload, and the Phillies should pounce if they can.
@Grievances on BlueSky: What have you heard about the organization's opinion on Aidan Miller and Andrew Painter, and are they both untouchable?
Tim Kelly: Buster Olney and Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that last summer the Phillies weren't willing to include Painter in talks for Crochet. Matt Gelb of The Athletic added that he wasn't someone the Phillies were willing to discuss in any trades.
Now that Painter is recovered from Tommy John surgery and looks poised to play a big role for the Phillies in 2025 after a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, I find it hard to imagine him getting moved. It would have to be for a superstar like Tarik Skubal, which I don't think is going to happen.
Phillies Reportedly Declined To Include Andrew Painter in Garrett Crochet Trade Talks @OnPattison https://t.co/fpA1HWz9md
Miller may not be as untouchable, but Aram Leighton of Just Baseball has him ranked as the No. 25 prospect in the sport. You can count on two hands — and it might not take all 10 fingers — the amount of top 25 prospects the Phillies have had in the last quarter century.
I do think it will ultimately take parting with Miller to land Crochet. I can understand the argument for doing that, but if you believe that Miller is going to be an All-Star caliber infielder, it's time for the Phillies to start developing some special players internally.
Anthony SanFilippo: The Phillies think very highly of both, so much so on Painter that he is, as Tim said, untouchable. He may no pitch in the majors until June, as the Phillies look to manage his innings, but man did he look great in the AFL this fall. He's going to be a big piece for them going forward.
They are really high on Miller too, but the question that keeps coming up about Miller is, can he stick at shortstop, or does he eventually transition to third base? The Phillies have been bullish about keeping him as shortstop, but they also have a slick fielding shortstop behind Miller in the pipeline in Starlyn Caba. If it takes Bohm and Miller to get Crochet, then the Phillies will chase someone like Alex Bregman in free agency to lock down third base for the foreseeable future and have Caba developing over the next couple seasons before booting Trea Turner elsewhere on the field. Seems like a rational plan.
@Thirtyballparks on Threads: Let's say hypothetically, the Phillies don't get to the World Series next season. How much longer do you think Dave Dombrowski has before he starts to feel the heat?
Tim Kelly: There may come a point where Dombrowski chooses to walk away, whether it's because he's burned out or ready to retire. But, in my opinion, he'll depart on his own terms. He's given this organization a sense of legitimacy they badly lacked in the years leading up to his arrival.
As far as when he may want to walk away, he said in September he didn't plan to retire even if the Phillies won the World Series. Obviously, they didn't. He's signed through the 2027 season, and is 68 years old. What I will say, though, is his energy level is something people decades younger than him marvel at. He's always upbeat and energetic, so I don't get the sense his retirement is imminent.
What I will say is I feel pretty confident that when Dombrowski does step away, he'll be passing the baton to Preston Mattingly, as opposed to anyone else in the organization or someone currently working in another front office.
First story on some major front office changes for the Phillies at @OnPattison: https://t.co/GonmGekqd7
Anthony SanFilippo: Remember how Pat GIllick still was involved despite handing over the reins to Ruben Amaro, Jr? I think that's the kind of transition that will ultimately happen between Dombrowski and his hand-picked heir apparent in Mattingly. I don't believe that comes before the end of Dombrowski's contract though. He's here through 2027 - World Series or not - and then it's Mattingly's show, but I'm betting that first year or two is with Dombrowski serving as a very close advisor.
@number1Hurtsfan on Bluesky: If the Phillies miss out on Juan Soto is there another move they could make to improve the offense?
Tim Kelly: Obviously, there's only one Juan Soto. While I've never thought the Phillies were a serious contender to sign him, he's clearly the type of free agent you back up the truck for if he's interested in joining your team.
There's not another player in Soto's stratosphere in free agency. I've long been a fan of Teoscar Hernández, but he's averaged nearly 200 strikeouts the last two seasons. What the Phillies need is a player who puts the ball in play and doesn't strike out a ton. Ha-Seong Kim fits that bill for me. He's probably only a fit at third base for the Phillies, who I do believe are earnest about keeping Trea Turner at shortstop and still believe in Bryson Stott at second base. Kim also won't be ready for Opening Day most likely because he had right shoulder surgery in late September. But he makes contact and draws walks. He could lead off or hit near the bottom of the lineup. And he's an elite defender at multiple infield positions.
Anthony SanFilippo: I said it above and I've said it before and I'll say it again - It's Bregman. There's way too much smoke around Bohm for there to not be a fire. I'm confident at this point the Phillies are going to move him. If so, you need a replacement at third base. It just makes the most sense and Bregman is a star-quality player. He's no Soto, but not many are. He's in that next tier down, has won a championship, makes contact, and although he is coming off arguably the "worst" full year of his career in 2024, he was still a 4.1-WAR player (per Baseball Reference) and he did something that Bohm didn't — hit home runs. He had 26 of them and added a modest 30 doubles to boot. Again. That's his down year. I'll take it, thank you very much. And you can't tell me the Phillies aren't already better by swapping out Bohm and a prospect and bringing back Bregman and Crochet. That's a big offseason without including any other moves.
