Philadelphia Phillies Roster
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The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-hander Jose Ruiz to a minor-league deal. Ruiz's deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training camp in 2024. The 29-year-old Venezuelan comes to the Phillies with seven years of major-league experience with the San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. He appeared in 38 games (one start) for Chicago and Arizona in 2023 and had a 5.89 ERA (6.26 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP with 21 walks and 39 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings while surrendering 10 home runs. Ruiz will likely open the 2024 season in the minors for the Phillies as relief depth. He has a 4.51 ERA (4.85 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP in 219 1/3 major-league innings across seven seasons.
The Philadelphia Phillies want to keep first baseman Bryce Harper for the rest of his career, making sure he never plays for another team again. Harper's 13-year, $330 million contract won't expire until after the 2031 season, but the two sides are expected to discuss a potential extension that would pay him more than his current $26 million per year. The two-time MVP got a late start to 2023 while recovering from right-elbow surgery, but he was great all year when he eventually returned, slashing .293/.401/.499 with a .900 OPS with 21 home runs, 72 RBI, 29 doubles, a triple, 11 stolen bases and 84 runs scored in 126 games. Harper is going to be a full-time first baseman moving forward in Philadelphia and he should put up even better counting stats over a full season in 2024 if he can stay on the field.
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola has reached a long term extension with the organization. The 30-year-old has agreed to a seven-year, $172 million extension on Sunday. The right-hander went 12-9 with a 4.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 202/45 K/BB ratio over 193 2/3 innings in 2023. He has been a reliable option for the Phillies since breaking into the league in 2017. Nola has thrown more than 180 innings in each of the last five seasons, excluding the shortened 2020 campaign. The deal is pending a physical, but it sounds like Nola is going to stick around in Philly for a long time.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos could reportedly be traded by the club this offseason. The Phillies are "open to the possibility" of trading Castellanos which could clear three years and $60 million off their books. The veteran enjoyed a solid bounce-back season in his second year with the Phillies, hitting .272 with a career-high 29 home runs and 11 stolen bases across 157 appearances. He went on to slug five more home runs alongside an .843 OPS in 47 postseason at-bats before the Phillies were eliminated by the D-backs in the NLCS. Should the Phillies shop Castellanos, they should have a fairly wide range of suitors considering his career .276 average and .799 OPS in parts of 11 seasons, production that grades out 12% above the league average, as per his career 112 wRC+.
Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spoke to Bryce Harper, and the plan moving forward is for Harper to play only first base. Harper had Tommy John surgery in November of 2022 and returned to first base in 2023, with the belief that he would eventually return to the outfield later in the year. That never happened, and now the 31-year-old two-time MVP will stick at the cold corner, which will more than likely force Rhys Hoskins (knee) out of the picture in Philadelphia. Harper took to first base nicely and committed only one error in 36 regular season games. The seven-time All-Star will only have first-base eligibility in fantasy leagues moving forward after slashing a strong .293/.401/.499 with a .900 OPS, 21 home runs, 29 doubles, a triple, 72 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 84 runs scored in 126 regular-season games in his fifth year in Philly in 2023.
