Trade deadline may change Phillies' look, but what about future of free agents? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The immediacy that is facing the Phillies on improving the team is the looming trade deadline that comes about at 6 p.m. Thursday. The needs/wants for the Phillies are pretty obvious as they are looking for a back of the bullpen arm and a bopping-type of player. Many names have been thrown around and intrigue is high.
Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suarez is a home run hitting machine (36 going into Tuesday) who also drives in runs (league-leading 87). Imagine arranging a lineup with that addition and the possibilities are many. But some on-field factors come into play if the team were to get the 34-year-old.
The first is how would the Phillies construct themselves defensively with the addition of Suarez? Would Alec Bohm move to first and Bryce Harper go back to the outfield? Would Bohm be the odd man out, with Suarez at third, Harper staying at first? Could Kyle Schwarber make the move to left field to have Suarez DH and return Bohm to his normal spot? Suarez did get hit with a pitch on his right-hand Monday but X-Rays came back negative.
All in all, it would be a good problem for manager Rob Thomson to have, as another heavy-hitting bat is probably exactly what this lineup could use. What the cost would be for Suarez is another question, but the Phillies are loaded with prospects (Mick Abel, Justin Crawford, Aiden Miller, Andrew Painter, etc., etc.,).
With the non-disciplinary paid leave (huh?) of Cleveland Guardians close Emmanuel Clase until Aug. 31, more of a premium now has been placed on relievers, such as the Athletics’ Mason Miller, Ryan Helsley of the Cardinals, and Colorado’s Seth Halvorsen. How about a return of Seranthony Dominguez to add another name to the list?
Perhaps the Phillies will be satisfied with a back bullpen that includes Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and veteran David Robertson, who joined the club last week and is currently in Lehigh Valley, amping up his 40-year-old arm for a return. Add to that the club will have the services of Jose Alvarado on August 18th to the rest of the season when he returns from his suspension. Alvarado won’t be eligible for postseason play, however.
The questions should be answered by Thursday as to how the team will look for the playoff push, which will be 54 games remaining starting Friday.
That’s a quick look at the immediate future. But what of the big picture?
The one moving forward and past this season. Because once Thursday comes and goes and the complete vision of fans is focused on what happens this season, someone (Dombrowski and company) must be looking to the years ahead.
Friday in New York, pending free agent Schwarber collected his 1,000th hit on a typical bomb at Yankee Stadium. The ball was caught by a Phillies fan, who was in attendance with two buddies. After giving the ball to the Phillies to give to Schwarber, the All-Star MVP met the three men after the game outside of the Phillies clubhouse. Schwarber brought out two signed balls as a sign of gratitude. When he asked if they needed another, one of the men made an offer. He suggested Schwarber not reward another ball but instead sign a contract to stay with the Phillies. Great line and one that Schwarber obviously appreciated.
There are leaders who do that in a boisterous way, who aren’t afraid to call out a teammate or offer constructive criticism when deemed necessary. Then there are those who earn the title in a less demonstrative way, by showing up every day and putting in all the necessary work, and sometimes maybe even more than that. They are the ones who, when they give you a pat on the back, it means a ton. That’s who J.T. Realmuto is.
The catcher doesn’t look for respect but earns it from everyone with his work diligence, his want to play the toughest position every day and his toughness. There isn’t an organization, team, manager or player that wouldn’t want to call Realmuto a teammate. Though now 34, Realmuto is still a defensive stalwart behind the plate. And for the past couple of months, he has shown there is still plenty of offense to provide.
Walk into the Phillies clubhouse or keep an eye on the bench during a game in which he isn’t pitching and one of the first things to catch your eye will be the ever-present smile of Ranger Suarez. He is the type of person, not just teammate, who brings a smile to faces just by his mere presence. Throw in that he’s been one of the steadiest (when not dealing with nagging injuries) pitchers in the organization for the past few years and it becomes hard to imagine him wearing another team’s uniform.
Schwarber. Realmuto. Suarez. All free agents after this season. All with such a heavy dose of leadership on a team that boasts many veterans but are very soon going to be littered with many younger players.
So, who comes back? Thomson marvels at the way Schwarber “is the same every day, it doesn’t matter if it’s a spring training game or a World Series game” and “I don’t know where we’d be without him.” Funny thing about the 32-year-old Schwarber is that his hitting keeps improving. The home runs will always be there, but his first two seasons with the Phillies hovered around the .200 mark. The past two seasons have seen Schwarber improve that to the .250 area.
To watch the manager interact with his catcher is like someone talking to an extension of themselves. Realmuto just demands respect without even trying. His is a position that is one of, if not the, most important positions on this team. The dominance of the starting pitchers through the first half of this season doesn’t happen without him, and with the possibility of youngsters Painter and Abel perhaps being a part of this team’s future (along with 28-year-old Cristopher Sanchez) there’s little doubt the organization would love seeing Realmuto helping them with their progress.
For fans and most in the organization, the Phillies just aren’t the same without a Ranger Suarez. The soon-to-be 30-year-old garners friendships due to his affable personality but pilfers respect due to his mound presence. If the team does retain him and the aforementioned youngsters are ready to become part of the starting rotation, perhaps Suarez would be a great piece to add to the bullpen in some capacity.
Schwarber. Realmuto. Suarez. Three huge pieces this year for a team whose identity may change a bit by Thursday’s trade deadline. But where they fit moving beyond this year is a bigger question for Dombrowski and company.