The Latest Phillies Hot Stove Update
By Ray Dunne
The hot stove is cooking on the final day of November.
We are still less than a month removed from the Phillies’ run to the World Series. But business moves quickly in baseball. On Wednesday morning, a flurry of insiders published thoughts on free agency ahead of MLB’s Winter Meetings, which begin on Sunday.
First up, ESPN’s Jeff Passan began by forecasting what is ahead for the sport as the clubs convene in San Diego on Sunday. Passan seems to be hearing that a flurry of moves could be in the works. Headlined by the aces Jacob deGrom and Carlos Rodón signing in the near future. Rodón was a name that a lot of Phillies fans have been intrigued with since the trade deadline. And speculation in his interest in Philadelphia was spurned by a series of tweets liked by his wife during the Phillies’ postseason run
There also was a nugget in the Passan piece about former Phillie Noah Syndergaard’s work to try to regain some velocity this off-season.
Next up, ESPN’s Buster Olney directly addressed the Phillies’ search for a shortstop.
Longtime agent: "The Phillies will wind up with one of the (elite) shortstops. That's going to happen." The elite shortstops available in FA: Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 30, 2022
Well, which shortstop is it going to be? MLB Network’s Jon Morosi weighed in on the matter, less than five minutes after the Olney tweet.
The #Phillies have emerged as favorites to sign Trea Turner. My latest report here. @MLBNetwork pic.twitter.com/PVjw5f6NhP
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 30, 2022
“Yes, I think that right now the Phillies are viewed as the favorites (to sign Trea Turner)”
Morosi continues on with a lot of the known pieces of the conversation. Other teams are involved, Turner’s east coast preference and the friendship with Bryce Harper. According to Morosi, a deal for the star shortstop will cost “in excess of 30 million dollars per year”. The San Francisco Giants are another team named as interested for Turner’s services. But they are waiting on Aaron Judge’s decision to make moves.
“Trea Turner is the Phillies’ top priority,” according to Morosi.
The segment continues on to mention something similar to Passan’s report that teams are looking to sign players sooner rather than later.
Buckle up, the hot stove may be scorching very soon.
