The 2013 season was a disaster for Philadelphia. Despite spending nearly $160 million, the Phillies had their first losing season since 2002 and narrowly avoided their first 90-loss season since 2000. So what happened? It appears age and injuries finally caught up with them — few offenses in baseball were worse, and even the usually-strong pitching staff struggled at times. Charlie Manuel took the fall for Ruben Amaro, Jr.'s failures, and the team's all-time winningest manager was replaced by Ryne Sandberg. Finally getting his chance to manage a big league club, Sandberg saw the Phillies finish the year 20-22. He was named the team's permanent manager during the season's final week.
Needs
If there's a positive for the Phillies, it's that they don't stand to lose a ton to free agency. Roy Halladay's contract is off the books after his $20 million option for 2014 didn't vest as a result of being on the disabled list to close the year. Halladay's absence left a hole in the starting rotation, but the extra money could help in finding a replacement on the free agent market. Catcher Carlos Ruiz is also a free agent after hitting .268/.320/.368 in 92 games following a 25-game suspension for amphetamine use. The Phillies could elect to bring him back out of familiarity, or let the soon-to-be 35-year-old walk and find a younger replacement. It's pretty clear, though, that the biggest need is an offensive upgrade — the 2013 lineups were full of OBP black holes. The area most likely to be upgraded is the outfield, where everyone not named Dom Brown struggled.
Possible Options
It's at least a good year to be looking for an outfielder on the free agent market. Jacoby Ellsbury will be one of the bigger prizes, but Curtis Granderson, Shin-Soo Choo, Nelson Cruz and Carlos Beltran will also be available. If the Phils are also looking to become less lefty-heavy, Cruz could make sense, and his Biogenesis suspension could drive down his market price to the point where the Phillies could save some money to also improve the rotation. With the rotation anchored by Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, Philly doesn't necessarily need to chase the big ticket pitchers on the market (like Matt Garza or Ubaldo Jimenez), but would it really surprise anyone if Amaro chased one?
If Ruiz is allowed to walk, maybe Brian McCann could make sense — he knows the division well, and if the Braves don't make a serious effort to keep him, what better way to stick it to them by going to a hated rival?
Trade Options
Years of blockbuster trades have thinned out the farm system, but there are still a few solid pieces left to trade — it's just a matter of whether or not they have enough to get the kind of players they'd covet. Left-handed starter Jesse Biddle is probably the best prospect in the system, although third baseman Maikel Franco will get a few votes for that title after a breakout season. Cody Asche also plays third base, though, and while he's likely penciled in as the team's third baseman for next year, he could be an interesting trade piece if Philly thinks higher of Franco.
Trade Targets
Amaro's crush on Giancarlo Stanton is well-documented. It's almost boring to mention him here. But we have to. He'd be the ideal outfield upgrade for the Phillies, but it's unlikely the Marlins deal him (yet), considering Miami's apparent expectations to contend in 2014. It would take a borderline absurd offer to pry Stanton away at this point, and the Phillies likely don't have enough pieces to make it work without getting another team involved.
If the Phillies have their hearts set on acquiring another ace to replace Halladay, they could jump into the David Price sweepstakes. With Price entering his last year before free agency, he wouldn't be quite as costly as Stanton, but if Tampa got Wil Myers for James Shields, what would they demand for Price? Beware trading with the Rays.
