Where Do Phillies Stand in MLB Offseason After Jesús Luzardo Trade?
Dave Dombrowski (finally) made some headlines during the MLB offseason. The Philadelphia Phillies have signed free agent former Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler and acquired Jesus Luzardo in a trade with the Miami Marlins.
The front office looks unlikely to pursue Teoscar Hernandez, Alex Bregman, or any other remaining big-name free agents.
Instead, they added Kepler, Luzardo, and Jordan Romano, a trio of veterans who collectively showed tremendous upside in 2023 that dipped during injury-plagued seasons in 2024. They’ve also added swingman Joe Ross to the pitching staff.
Where do the Phillies stand as currently constructed in hopes for a World Series in 2025?
Phillies Offseason
A veteran roster with a shrinking World Series window, a future Hall of Fame executive running the front office, and an owner with deep pockets in a large, demanding media market seemed like the perfect formula to make major headlines during the MLB offseason.
“This winter, I think that they’re going to go bonkers. I think the Phillies are going to be one of the most aggressive teams.” –Buster Olney
The Phillies, however, didn’t make the proverbial splash move that Scott Boras and others around the sport anticipated.
Dombrowski aggressively explored the trade market for Garrett Crochet, and he’s dangled established major leaguer Alec Bohm in trade talks. He certainly wasn’t ignoring all the available big fish.
The President of Baseball Ops also showed more restraint than expected holding onto top prospects Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, and Justin Crawford. It’s unlikely Dombrowski stays with the Phillies long enough to see the prime years of their MLB careers.
“One thing we’ve done is we really rode out the development of our farm system over the last few years. And we’re just getting to the point of having the impact that those guys (will bring). It’s not quite here, but we’re on the verge of having some really good young players.” -Dave Dombrowski
He’s alternatively shown the willingness to trade younger prospects farther away from making their MLB debuts. He moved 22-year-old George Klassen ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline for Carlos Estevez, and 19-year-old Starlyn Caba was the centerpiece of the Luzardo deal.
An already expensive payroll probably factored into Philadelphia’s offseason strategy more than initially expected. The three major offseason acquisitions will cost about $25 million this season.
3 Major Phillies Additions
The Phillies went down with a whimper in the NLDS against the New York Mets. Their free-swinging lineup turned ice cold in the MLB Playoffs to spoil another Red October.
“It just doesn’t seem to work. I remember being around some Phillies people maybe August of this past year, early September. I said ‘What do you think of your chances (to win the World Series)?’ They said, ‘We don’t think we have good chances because we’re way too easy to pitch to.’ So I think that’s where they have to shake (up) that lineup so the opposing pitchers don’t settle in. They’ve been dominated two straight postseasons now.” –Bob Nightengale on 97.5 The Fanatic
Does Kepler impact the lineup’s approach enough to offset their critical weakness? He chased a higher percentage of pitches outside the strike zone than a Phillies lineup that finished 25th in the majors in chase rate last season.
His plate discipline numbers were much better in previous seasons, but it’s tough to envision Kepler making the difference the Phillies need to raise a World Series banner at Citizens Bank Park.
Acquiring Jesus Luzardo improves a starting rotation that was among the best in the majors without him in 2024. The MLB offseason pivot to loading up on pitching could compensate for the lack of new blood on offense if the current roster stays intact.
Related Content: Jordan Romano Is A Low-Risk, High-Reward Move For Phillies
Carlos Estevez and Jeff Hoffman are both unlikely to return to the Phillies. Does Romano offset the loss of the two high-leverage right-handers? Probably not.
However, the bolstered strength and added depth in the starting rotation theoretically takes weight off the relievers. The emergence of Orion Kerkering could also help the bullpen rebound from a disastrous week in the postseason.
Moves Left To Be Made?
The majority of the big moves seem like they were already been made before the holidays. However, Dombrowski throws smokescreens with the best of them. The veteran executive will never remove himself from all possibilities.
Thomson and Dombrowski have both publicly downplayed trade rumors surrounding Bohm that followed Thomson’s decision to bench his third baseman in Game 2 of the NLDS.
The likelihood of a trade is much lower than it was before Crochet came off the board at the MLB Winter Meetings. However, the Phillies clearly entered the offseason with a level of dissatisfaction with the 28-year-old.
Any team interested in Alex Bregman that misses out on the free agent splash could pursue a trade for Bohm as an alternative option. A deal would hypothetically create a hole at third base and force Dombrowski to make another move.
Luzardo’s spot in the rotation also adds more uncertainty for Ranger Suarez. The cool, collected fan favorite is unlikely to sign a long-term deal to stay in Philadelphia past 2025.
The Phillies aren’t itching to subtract a prime-age starting pitcher from their roster immediately. They risk losing a valuable trade chip to free agency next winter if they stand pat, however.
The MLB offseason picture isn’t complete, but the Phillies no longer look poised to make major additions. Have they plugged the holes well enough on a roster that’s left their fan base just short of a championship parade in recent seasons?
