The Phillies' starting pitcher situation is a pressing concern, with questions surrounding the long-term health of some key players and the team's ability to bolster its rotation. While Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter are all expected to take up spots in the rotation, there are lingering doubts about their readiness for Opening Day.
As the clock ticks down on free agency, Phillies fans can't help but wonder if they'll add any of the top remaining starting pitchers to bolster their chances. With 18 talented arms still on the market, Jon Heyman's list is a treasure trove of possibilities.
Framber Valdez, Zack Gallen, and Lucas Giolito are all high-profile targets who would require significant investment from the Phillies. However, with Gallen receiving a qualifying offer and potentially wanting a longer deal, he may be too pricey for Philly's liking. Meanwhile, Giolito's $19.3 million salary last season hints at the fact that he'll want a raise in his next contract.
Chris Bassitt, on the other hand, could be an attractive option if signed to a reasonable one-year deal. At 37 years old, he may not be the top-tier pitcher he once was, but he's still capable of putting up solid numbers. Nick Martinez is another possibility who could fit into Philly's plans at a slightly more affordable price tag.
The likes of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are too pricey for the Phillies to consider, with both future Hall of Famers expected to pitch in mid-season. Meanwhile, Aaron Civale might not be an upgrade over Chris Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, who are already established members of the rotation.
Griffin Canning, however, is a more intriguing option. With a spotrac value of around $4 million, he represents a solid insurance policy that wouldn't break the bank for the Phillies. Canning's 3.74 ERA over 14 starts last season shows he has potential as a mid-rotation starter.
Ultimately, adding one of these pitchers would provide an added layer of depth and security to the Phillies' rotation. With a focus on finding a cheap but reliable option, the team may opt for someone like Canning or Zack Littell in the $4-8 million range. By addressing their starting pitcher needs, the Phillies can maintain their competitive advantage in the National League East and set themselves up for success in 2026.
As the clock ticks down on free agency, Phillies fans can't help but wonder if they'll add any of the top remaining starting pitchers to bolster their chances. With 18 talented arms still on the market, Jon Heyman's list is a treasure trove of possibilities.
Framber Valdez, Zack Gallen, and Lucas Giolito are all high-profile targets who would require significant investment from the Phillies. However, with Gallen receiving a qualifying offer and potentially wanting a longer deal, he may be too pricey for Philly's liking. Meanwhile, Giolito's $19.3 million salary last season hints at the fact that he'll want a raise in his next contract.
Chris Bassitt, on the other hand, could be an attractive option if signed to a reasonable one-year deal. At 37 years old, he may not be the top-tier pitcher he once was, but he's still capable of putting up solid numbers. Nick Martinez is another possibility who could fit into Philly's plans at a slightly more affordable price tag.
The likes of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are too pricey for the Phillies to consider, with both future Hall of Famers expected to pitch in mid-season. Meanwhile, Aaron Civale might not be an upgrade over Chris Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, who are already established members of the rotation.
Griffin Canning, however, is a more intriguing option. With a spotrac value of around $4 million, he represents a solid insurance policy that wouldn't break the bank for the Phillies. Canning's 3.74 ERA over 14 starts last season shows he has potential as a mid-rotation starter.
Ultimately, adding one of these pitchers would provide an added layer of depth and security to the Phillies' rotation. With a focus on finding a cheap but reliable option, the team may opt for someone like Canning or Zack Littell in the $4-8 million range. By addressing their starting pitcher needs, the Phillies can maintain their competitive advantage in the National League East and set themselves up for success in 2026.
. I mean, you've got your guys like Wheeler, Nola, and Painter who are expected to be solid, but there's just so much uncertainty around it all. And don't even get me started on the money 
- Gallen and Giolito are basically out of reach, and Verlander and Scherzer? Forget about it 
. But you know who I think could be a good fit? Chris Bassitt 
. He's not the ace he used to be, but he's still got some decent stuff left in the tank. And at 37, he might not break the bank either 
. That way, they can address their concerns without overpaying 
OMG you guys I'm low-key freaking out about the Phillies' rotation situation 
! They gotta do something ASAP or they'll be stuck with that questionable young crew 
. Now, I know some ppl might say "just wait for Painter to come up" but trust me, no way José 
those guys are gonna get shredded by opposing teams.
! He's like that reliable insurance policy that you don't wanna mess with 
! Plus, his price tag is hella reasonable 
and we don't wanna see Philly getting left in the dust 
. Who's with me on this? 
... but at the end of the day, I think they've got a solid core and with some shrewd moves, they can make some noise in the NL East 
! He's got a low spotrac value which makes him an attractive option without breaking the bank 
. Canning could be that guy! Let's hope they can snag him on a reasonable deal 
️
I went there last wknd with my squad & OMG the soft pretzels r like nothin i ever had before so flaky n salty, we had to get a bunch of them & bring 'em back 2 our hotel room lol anyway, back 2 the Phillies, idk wut's gonna happen w/ their rotation but i think they need 2 sign someone 2 address those concerns. Canning sounds like a solid option tho, dont know much bout him but he seems like a decent risk 4 the price 
. With some of their key players having long-term health concerns, it's like they're playing a game of injury roulette 
. But on the other hand, if they can snag someone like Griffin Canning or Zack Littell, that'd be a total win-win 
. Those guys are like affordable insurance policies 
. And I think Chris Bassitt could be a solid option too - he's not gonna break the bank, but he'll still give them some quality starts 
so I was looking at the MLB stats from last season and I found out that the Phillies' starting pitchers had a combined ERA of 4.42 which is kinda low 
. meanwhile, if we look at the top remaining starters on the market, guys like Gallen and Giolito have SPRA (salary projection revenue adjustment) values of around $35 million and $27 million respectively 
, but Canning's spotrac value is a mere $4 million 
. They've got some great young arms like Wheeler and Painter, but you gotta have depth, right? I mean, what if they get hurt or something? 
.
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. I'm keepin' an eye on Chris Bassitt 
, he's got some miles on him, but he could still bring some heat 
, he's like the underdog who could pull off a surprise win 
.
I mean what's up with all these guys wanting like 200 million dollars a year or more? cant they just chill and play ball for the love of the game lol 
... but Chris Bassitt could be a sneaky good addition on a one-year deal. And I love Griffin Canning's potential as a mid-rotation starter, $4 million isn't too much to ask for some insurance 
i think they should go after someone like griffin canning or zack littell, they gotta find a reliable mid-rotation starter that won't break the bank 
the phillies need to strengthen their rotation ASAP! zack gallen is definitely out of reach tho 
but honestly i think griffin canning or zach littell would be PERFECT for philly's budget 
. And let's be real, with guys like Verlander and Scherzer already locked in for mid-season starts, we might not see too much of them anyway 
. Canning or Littell would be great additions to add some depth without breaking the bank 
. I think it's great that Jon Heyman is out there listing all these top pitchers – it really gives me hope for the season ahead! 
️ or else they'll be struggling 
. I mean, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter are all legit but what about the injury concerns? 
They can't afford to lose any of them mid-season 