Philadelphia Phillies: Realistic, Yet Optimistic Targets for this Offseason

After a season that started with more promise than anyone could have hoped for, the Philadelphia Phillies ended with an extremely modest 71 wins this season. However, this team may only be a few veterans away from contention in the National League.

After a season that started with very premature promise in May, something that was faded by June, the Philadelphia Phillies looked an improved ball club at times this season. Something that not much positive can be said about is their hitting, a category where they ranked dead last in the league in runs scored by far with only 610. While their young pitchers had rough ends to the season as well, this team has lots of improving to do this offseason. Here are some targets who might be a reach, but are also realistic options given how hard Matt Klentak wants to push:

1) Yoenis Cespedes

This would obviously be the biggest reach of them all, but it’s not something to completely rule out.  The Mets have already come out and say that they aren’t interested in any bidding war involving the Cuban, who turns 31 this Tuesday. Cespedes hit .280 this season, with 31 HR’s and 86 RBI’s.

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While those numbers aren’t necessarily indicative of the presence Cespedes provides in the middle of the order, nonetheless, he would be a significant upgrade over anything the Philadelphia Phillies currently have power-wise. If the Phillies are willing to dip into the $30 million+ a year or so range, Cespedes’ likely asking price, they could be looking at a major upgrade at Left Field.

2) Kenley Jansen

Although he is coming off being shelled for 4 earned runs in Game 3 of the NLDS against Washington, Kenley Jansen really took a huge step this year for the Dodgers. The closer converted 47 saves this year while posting an ERA of just 1.83. The bullpen is an obvious need for the Phils, especially in the back end.

Jeanmar Gomez started the season fairly well, but absolutely collapsed late, with a 19.13 ERA in September. Yes, 19. Gomez can certainly be a part of the bullpen moving forward, just likely as a 7th or 8th inning guy. A signing like Jansen, who possibly won’t break the bank, could be the key for the Phillies in all the close games they struggled in this year.

3) Mark Trumbo

Coming off a fantastic season where he hit 47 HR (best in MLB) and had 108 RBI’s, Trumbo would also come at an extremely problematic position for the Philadelphia Phillies. Aaron Altherr and Roman Quinn have shown brief flashes of promise, but Right Field still remains very much a problem position for the Phillies.

A guy like Trumbo would add desperately needed pop in the middle of the lineup, and realistically he will come at a contract around 3 years, $40 million give or take. With the payroll flexibility the Phils possess, they would be hard pressed not to give Trumbo a call.

4) Bartolo Colon

Yes, hear me out. I know he’s 43, and probably the easiest target in the league for a comical meme, but there is some potential serious value here. The man had a 3.43 ERA over 191.2 innings this year.

The best ERA of any Philadelphia Phillies starter this year was 3.65 by Jerad Eickhoff, so it’s fair to say the ageless Colon would vastly improve the rotation, and also offer some much needed wisdom and experience to the Phils young clubhouse and rotation specifically. Colon won’t be signing anything longer than a 2-year deal, and you could expect to get him at around $13-15 million over 2 years, which doesn’t even put a dent in the Phillies payroll.

5) Wilson Ramos

The Phillies have been in need of a good catcher for some time now. Carlos Ruiz was in obvious decline, having not really had a good season since 2012. Cameron Rupp proved he belongs on the roster, but the team could do with a huge upgrade over him in the starting role. Ramos is coming off a fantastic season for the Nationals, hitting .307 with 22 HR and 80 RBI’s, before going down with a torn ACL in late September.

His camp says the rehab plan will last 7 months, targeting him with a return around May-June of next season. Rupp is more than capable of filling in the first quarter of the season while Ramos continues to rehab. Being his stock might take a hit with the injury, the Phillies could look to pounce on the 29-year old Venezuelan.

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Yes, these are certainly optimistic targets. But why should the Philadelphia Phillies not be optimistic with their targets? They are a big market team with a great fan base, and one of the best farm systems and young talent in the league.

With the addition of a Cespedes or Wieters in the middle of the lineup, or a stable arm in the back end of the bullpen like Jansen, this team could really be looking at contention within the next two years. Not to mention, now that Ryan Howard is out of town, there is loads of money to be spent. Matt Klentak and his staff have a busy winter ahead of them as they look to improve this once proud franchise.