It’s hard to add a legitimate playoff-caliber rotation piece for a reasonable price. We saw that at the trade deadline this past August, when the Phillies were unable to make a serious play for a starting pitcher who might have made a difference in the postseason. We saw that on the free-agent market last offseason, when Noah Syndergaard signed a $21 million contract for one season with the Angels.
While Dave Dombrowski has sent some signals that the Phillies will be players in the blue-chip shortstop market this offseason, his most complicated task will be finding a way to add another reliable arm to his rotation. The top of the free-agent market is fraught with risk, but there are a variety of potential upgrades available beyond Carlos Rodón, Justin Verlander, and Jacob deGrom. Among the names to know: Chris Bassitt (Mets), Andrew Heaney (Dodgers), José Quintana (Cardinals), Jameson Taillon (Yankees), and Martin Pérez (Rangers).
That said, the free-agent market is an inherently uncertain place. Complicating matters is the uncertainty that currently exists in-house. A lot of what the Phillies decide to do this offseason will depend on how they evaluate three big questions that loom over the rotation.
