Your One-Stop Guide To What You May Have Missed During the Phillies’ Off-Season and Spring Training

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been waiting for the baseball season to come back since the day the World Series ended. However, if you’ve only just gotten on the Phillies hype train recently, it may have gotten your head spinning to see that we’re already playing Major League Baseball again. Not to fear though, your resident baseball nerd is here! This article will be your easy-peasy, no nonsense guide to understanding what went down during the offseason and Spring Training.

Acquisitions, Extensions, and Losses, Oh My!

The Fightins entered the offseason with one big question mark: Aaron Nola. The Phillies’ ace pitcher since 2014, Nola went into the offseason as a free agent, with the risk of any team being able to sign him. However, he expressed his desire to stay, and after a while, he and the front office inked a 7-year, $172 million contract. Though his fate was unclear to start the offseason, Nola is here to stay, hopefully for his entire career.

Another question everyone had entering the offseason was: how soon can we extend the contract of Zack Wheeler? Ever since he joined the Phillies in 2020, Wheeler has been simply invaluable to us, posting yet another dominant year in 2023 and actually overtaking the number 1 pitching spot of Aaron Nola. Sure enough, the Phillies got an extension done, and Wheeler will be staying in the red pinstripes for 3 years, at $125 million, beginning in the 2025 season.

In regards to other free agent signings, the Phillies kept it mostly lowkey. Upon receiving word in early February of Brandon Marsh’s knee surgery and subsequent 3-4 week timetable, the Phils quickly signed super-utility man Whit Merrifield. Personally, I love this signing, as Merrifield boasts a solid bat and can be plug-and-played just about anywhere in the field. Another name the Phillies inked down was starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull, who aims to fill in as the 5th man of the pitching rotation as Taijuan Walker battles injury and a subsequent loss in velocity.

Unfortunately, the Fightins don’t have infinite money, and couldn’t keep everyone on the team. Once news broke that Bryce Harper would be playing first base full time, it basically all but confirmed that longtime Philly favorite Rhys Hoskins would not be returning after his unfortunate ACL tear in 2023. Sure enough, the big man signed a two year, $34 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Other notable players lost to free agency included polarizing veteran closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles, and no-hitter hero Michael Lorenzen, who was scooped up by the Texas Rangers. All in all, the Phillies’ roster moves were highlighted by locking down our ace starters, and supplementing depth of the entire team.

They Don’t Really Matter, But…

Every time I hear about the Phillies either destroying a team or getting destroyed in a Spring Training game, I have to swiftly remind myself that those games don’t matter and are simply the MLB’s preseason. However, they are a glimpse into the team’s near (that is, the upcoming season) and far future, as promising young prospects are often put onto Spring Training rosters. So, I would like to mention a pair of standout players from this year’s Spring Training, who hopefully can continue their effectiveness into the regular season and beyond.

Ranger Suarez brought the heat this spring, posting a 0.00 ERA in 15 innings pitched, with only 5 hits, 4 walks, and a massive 16 strikeouts. This resulted in an amazing 0.60 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched), and opposing batters only had a .102 batting average against Power Ranger. Granted, while Spring Training is a small sample size, if Ranger can keep this type of performance up in the regular season and beyond, we could have three aces on our hands.

Whit Merrifield, the aforementioned super-utility man acquired by the Phillies in free agency, quickly proved his worth in Spring Training. In 16 games, Merrifield posted a whopping .405 batting average, with 17 hits, 6 doubles, and only 5 strikeouts. He was clearly the offensive MVP of the Phils’ Spring Training season, making his case as a dynamic set-and-forget backup to just about anyone on the team who may need a day’s rest.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled

Finally, I’d like to take a moment to turn your attention to a few young players who will – or may have the chance to – take the field in a Phillies uniform this season. Be on the lookout for these guys throughout the year, because if they get the opportunity, I have a feeling they’re not going to waste it.

Orion Kerkering

If you’ve read my previous Phillies article, you know that I’m a big fan of Kerkering. The kid has some serious stuff, with a wickedly fast 97-99 MPH fastball and a devastating slider. I believe that Orion is currently on the Phillies 40-man roster, but he is currently on a rehab assignment with the Phillies’ single-A affiliate team, the Clearwater Threshers. Once he’s back, though, I have no doubts that the kid will light up the Bank like he did late last year.

Mick Abel

The Phillies’ #2 minor-league prospect (and #46 in the entire MLB) is right on the cusp of making his mark with the Phillies. The 2020 first round pick has been working his way through the minor leagues, currently with our AAA affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He’s got a blazing fastball, two knee-buckling breaking pitches, and a very decent changeup. His only issue is being able to keep his pitches in the strike zone consistently, which at 22 years old, he’s got plenty of time to refine.

Andrew Painter

Although Tommy John surgery (aka UCL reconstruction) will keep him sidelined for the 2024 season, I would not be shocked if the Phillies’ #1 prospect (#25 in the MLB) rises quickly to the main roster in 2025. Quite simply, the kid’s got some stuff: a fastball that can touch triple digits, a wicked slider, a deep swooping curve, and a really nice changeup. Combine all that with a healthy 6-foot-7 frame, and you’ve got a prospect who will quickly turn heads upon his return to baseball.

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Aidan Kennish is a sophomore transfer student majoring in Secondary Education, with a concentration in History/Social Studies. He enjoys watching football, playing baseball, all kinds of music, and video games.