Category: Baseball

Advice Tony Vitello has received so far from iconic former Giants managers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Before heading to his first Winter Meetings, Tony Vitello called a half-dozen people around the game and asked about what to expect from the event. As he prepares for his first spring training, his main concern is similar. 

What keeps him up at night?

“What is it like,” Vitello replied on a recent “Giants Talk” podcast. 

There is a lot being thrown at the new Giants manager, but he at least is supported with a tremendously experienced group of coaches and advisors. His staff will include former big-league managers Ron Washington and Jayce Tingler, and the front office now includes Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker, both of whom should get inducted into the Hall of Fame at next year’s Winter Meetings. 

Vitello’s cell phone is filled with the likes of Peyton Manning and Jelly Roll, and when he has a question about managing an MLB game, there will be no shortage of people he can call. The guidance started even before he got hired, though. Baker and Bochy were part of the interview process and both are confident the first-year manager will succeed. 

Bochy had dinner with Vitello and his parents earlier this offseason, and on Thursday’s “Giants Talk,” he said that meeting started with a funny question. 

“First I asked him if he was nuts,” Bochy said, smiling. “Because I live in Tennessee now and of course I know how big he was there and how popular and what a great program they had there in Tennessee. But he’s ready for a new challenge and he couldn’t find a better spot than San Francisco and I told him that.

“I think the fans are going to love him. He’s smart, understands the game. You talk to him and you get it. I think he’s going to have a nice career.”

Bochy’s run in San Francisco included three titles, and they were won in large part because of his postseason bullpen management. It can be difficult from the outside to determine just how much a manager is impacting the clubhouse day to day, but Vitello’s in-game management will be heavily scrutinized given his lack of experience. When it comes to late-game moves, he can lean on perhaps the best to ever do it. 

“There’s no easy answer on that because every year you’re probably going to have a different bullpen, especially in today’s game,” Bochy said of managing late in games. “You have to adjust every year with what you have, who is your closer — we had to change closers when I was there — and how you work your bullpen. You get to know them and you just get better with it as the year goes. 

“Hopefully after a month you have a good feel of what you have and you trust your instincts, because you’re going to get a lot of information. He’s been doing this for a while. Just go with your gut when you think you need to make a change.”

Vitello and Bochy spoke on the phone a couple of times before meeting up in person, but he had a bit more experience with Baker because the two met at this year’s All-Star Game. Baker said earlier this month that he has “been urging people to give (Vitello) a chance.”

“He’s one of ours now,” he said. 

As for any advice, the man who spent 26 years on the top step of the dugout said it’s important to avoid outside noise.

“Don’t read the tweets and the blogs,” Baker said, “Because now you’re judged every day versus just on the weekends.”

That shouldn’t be too big a problem for a young manager who included the phrase “Twitter is not life” in his introductory press conference at Oracle Park in October.

Both Baker and Bochy were at the Winter Meetings and got a chance to catch up with Vitello, who also held a big dinner for his entire staff. He has a busy couple of months ahead, with trips to the Dominican Republic and South Korea on the schedule, along with endless Zoom calls to make sure he’s fully prepared for his first spring. It’s been 30 years since Bochy had to run a camp for the first time, and he’ll be there with guidance if Vitello needs it. But he said he’s confident the new manager will hit the ground running. 

“I think you look at what he’s done up to this point and he started out wearing a lot of different hats, being a pitching coach, being an assistant and grinded his way to being the head coach there at Tennessee. He changed that program around and became a winner,” Bochy said. “He’s a motivator and you get that feeling when you talk to him. I know he’s excited and wants to do well and I think you’re talking about a guy that loves baseball. You can see the passion.

“I’ve already called him a baseball rat and he’s not that old, but that’s his life and I know he’s excited about this opportunity.”

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The Mets announced a pair of roster moves on Wednesday afternoon, claiming catcher Drew Romo off waivers from Baltimore and designating left-handed pitcher Brandon Waddell for assignment. 

Romo, 24, is a former first-round pick of the Colorado Rockies in the 2020 MLB Draft. He was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on December 5 but was DFA’d just five days later.

Romo has spent the majority of his pro career in the minors, though he played 16 games with 2024 and three games in 2025. He has a career .760 OPS as a minor leaguer, hitting 45 home runs and driving in 240 runs over the course of 426 games. 

Waddell, 31, was a depth piece for the Mets last season, appearing in 11 big league games, including one start, while pitching to a 3.45 ERA. He allowed 29 hits and struck out 22 hitters over 31.1 innings of work.

Phillies assistant GM Ani Kilambi departs for Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies are losing a key member of their front office.

The Washington Nationals are hiring Phillies assistant general manager Ani Kilambi to serve as their next general manager, making him one of the youngest GMs in Major League Baseball.

Kilambi, 31, joined the Phillies in 2021 after spending six seasons with the Rays organization, where he served as director of decision science and assistant director of research and development. Prior to his work in baseball, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, double-majoring in Statistics/Operations Research and Management Science.

With the Phillies, Kilambi oversaw the research and development department, an area the organization significantly expanded under his direction. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the department nearly doubled in size during Kilambi’s first two seasons.

With the support of president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and then-general manager Sam Fuld, an organization once viewed as lagging behind analytically became one of the stronger research groups in the sport.

The move comes roughly seven weeks after Washington hired Blake Butera, 33, as its manager — another sign of the Nationals’ shift toward a younger leadership group. The club has finished last in the National League East in five of the past six seasons.

Jorge Velandia, hired in 2020, remains the Phillies’ other assistant general manager. It is not yet clear whether the club plans to fill Kilambi’s role before the season.

Mets pitchers Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes were added to Team USA's World Baseball Classic 2026 roster on Wednesday.

Both right-handers will make their WBC debuts early next year, giving Team USA three confirmed starters after Pirates ace Paul Skenes accepted an invite this summer.

Holmes is coming off an impressive first season with the Mets. After converting from a closer to a part of the rotation, he pitched to a 3.53 ERA and a 1.304 WHIP across 33 games (31 starts).

McLean is perhaps the biggest surprise addition to Team USA. The rookie right-hander made a big splash for the Mets when he was called up in August. In just eight starts, McLean became the team's most reliable starter, with a 2.06 ERA to go along with a 1.04 WHIP.

Both starters join Mark Vientos (Nicaragua) and Francisco Lindor (Puerto Rico) as participants in next year's tournament. Juan Soto, who could join the Dominican Republic team, has not been confirmed.

The 2026 WBC is set to start on March 5. 

Giants DFA outfielder Joey Wiemer to open roster spot for pitcher Jason Foley originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

One comes in; one goes out. 

The Giants designated outfielder Joey Wiemer for assignment Wednesday to make room on the roster for pitcher Jason Foley, who signed a one-year contract with the club Tuesday. 

The Giants DFA’d outfielder Joey Wiemer to open a roster spot for Jason Foley. Wiemer had been picked up earlier in offseason.

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) December 18, 2025

Wiemer was acquired from the Miami Marlins on Nov. 21 in exchange for cash considerations. 

The outfielder posted a solid rookie season with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023, hitting 13 home runs in 132 games played. Wiemer played just 48 games over the past two seasons. 

Wiemer’s short time with the Giants organization might not be over yet, as a DFA’d played can be outrighted to the minor leagues if he clears waivers. 

San Francisco currently has eight outfielders on its 40-man roster, including Justin Dean, who was claimed Nov. 6 off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers.  

Now one week removed from the MLB Winter Meetings, the Giants have yet to make a splash free agency signing, but there still is plenty of time in the offseason for the San Francisco front office to operate.

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The Mets are finalizing a two-year contract worth $22 million with right-handed reliever Luke Weaver, per multiple reports.

New York's move for Weaver comes a week after closer Edwin Diazleft to sign a three-year deal with the Dodgers.

Weaver will join a back end of a bullpen that could be anchored byDevin Williams, who -- like Weaver -- left the Yankees for the Mets this offseason.

Weaver, 32, was strong for the Yanks last season, with a 3.62 ERA (3.89 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP with 72 strikeouts in 64.2 innings.

He relies primarily on a four-seam fastball and changeup -- pitches that both graded out as well above average last season.

As far as Weaver's other advanced statistics from 2025, he was elite when it came to xERA (90th percentile), xBA (95th percentile), chase percentage (91st percentile), whiff percentage (89th percentile), and strikeout percentage (82nd percentile).

His best season came in 2024, when he had a 2.89 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 84.0 innings while striking out 103 -- a rate of 11.0 per nine.

Per Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, roughly 10 teams had expressed interest in signing Weaver.

Along with Weaver and Williams, the Mets' bullpen in 2026 is expected to include left-handers A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley -- though the start of Minter's season could be a bit delayed following lat surgery this past May.

Huascar Brazoban also figures to be in the bullpen mix, as do hard-throwing prospects Dylan Ross and Ryan Lambert.

Other relievers who could compete for roles include Jonathan Pintaro (who made his big league debut last season), Adbert Alzolay (who is on a two-year minor league deal and missed the 2025 season), Justin Hagenman, Richard Lovelady, Alex Carrillo, and Joey Gerber.

Meanwhile, the Mets have also reportedly been discussing trade ideas with the Padres, with relievers Mason Miller, Jeremiah Estrada, and Adrian Morejon's names among those that have come up.

Phillies ink two-year deal with Brad Keller to bolster bullpen originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Middle relief was a clear area of need for the Phillies in 2025.

From innings six through eight during the regular season, Phillies relievers posted a 4.50 ERA — the fourth-highest mark in the National League.

On Wednesday, they addressed that need. Robert Murray of FanSided reported that the Phillies have signed right-hander Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal, with details first reported by Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

Keller, 30, broke into the majors in 2018 as a starter with Kansas City. Over his first three big-league seasons, he was steady, posting a 3.50 ERA across 360 1/3 innings. The next four years, however, marked a downturn. Between 2021–24, he recorded a 5.18 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP over 88 appearances (57 starts).

That trajectory changed last season.

In January, Keller signed a minor league deal with the Cubs, made the Opening Day roster, and quickly became one of Craig Counsell’s most reliable arms. In 2025, he was excellent, logging a 2.07 ERA across 69 2/3 innings with 75 strikeouts and 22 walks.

He was dominant in October for Chicago, making five postseason appearances with a 1.59 ERA and two saves.

The breakout was driven by improvements to his five-pitch mix. Keller leaned heavily on a sweeper–sinker–changeup combination, throwing the trio more than 40 percent of the time. Opponents hit under .190 against each pitch, and his sweeper emerged as a true weapon — batters hit just .067 with a .133 slugging percentage against it.

As expected, the performance was backed by the metrics. Keller ranked in the 86th percentile or higher in seven Baseball Savant categories, highlighted by a 30.6 percent hard-hit rate that placed him in the top two percent of the league.

The Phillies are betting that the improvement is real, particularly given his effectiveness against right-handed hitters, who posted just a .466 OPS against him.

Whether Keller settles in as a primary middle-relief option — he recorded a 1.59 ERA in seven appearances in the sixth inning — or slides into a higher-leverage role behind Jhoan Duran in the eighth (six earned runs allowed across 38 outings), he fits cleanly into Philadelphia’s bullpen plans.

With starting experience, swing-and-miss stuff and recent success in leverage spots, Keller profiles as a strong, under-the-radar addition.

Athletics reportedly made strong Ha-Seong Kim offer before he signed with Braves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Athletics took a big swing but couldn’t quite make contact.

Per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the A’s offered free-agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim a four-year, $48 million contract before the 30-year-old opted to sign with the Atlanta Braves.

As reported, the A’s deal would have represented the franchise’s second-largest commitment to a free agent, surpassed only by pitcher Luis Severino’s$67 million deal from last offseason. Per Rosenthal, the green and gold even were willing to increase that offer to land their man.

Instead, Kim — who split last season between the Braves and Tampa Bay Rays — chose to return to Atlanta on a one-year, $20 million deal that allows him to test the market again next offseason.

For the A’s, it’s a free-agency miss that leaves them still searching for infield help as the new year approaches. Per Rosenthal, the team’s plan was for Kim to spend most of his playing time at second base and occasionally spell Jacob Wilson at shortstop.

Now, however, options on the open market are limited. The top remaining free-agent infielders, such as Bo Bichette, are likely to command more money than the Athletics can spend. With Kim locked up elsewhere, the A’s might have to turn to trades to bolster their roster.

Kim, who received the National League Gold Glove Award for utility players in 2023, is a career .242 hitter with 52 home runs in five MLB seasons. He played just 48 games in 2025, missing most of the season with shoulder and back injuries.

Could the Phillies' next move shake up their infield? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Yesterday at the press conference to introduce Adolis Garcia, PBO Dave Dombrowski said the team’s outfield is “pretty much set.” But there may be a way to upgrade the infield, without overspending.

The Phillies are big spenders. That results in a very talented roster, but very little ability for Dombrowski to make major moves without getting creative when the opportunity presents itself.

An opportunity could be popping up – a holiday miracle at that – from out west.

According to multiple reports, the Arizona Diamondbacks are suddenly interested in third baseman Alex Bregman, widely regarded as the biggest fish in the free agent pond. Signing Bregman will be expensive, meaning the team would have to part with at least one significant contract.

This is where the Phillies come in.

The player mentioned by MLB pundits as potentially expendable by Arizona is switch-hitting second baseman Ketel Marte. If the Phillies truly want to improve their offense, this is where you strike. You may remember Marte as the pest who had 12 hits in the 2023 NLCS against the Phillies, on the way to winning series MVP.

Ketel Marte gives the @Dbacks a quick lead! pic.twitter.com/cVrlc6MRpb

— MLB (@MLB) September 27, 2025

The 32-year-old is the two-time defending NL Silver Slugger at second base, and appears to be firmly in his prime as a hitter. Over the past three seasons, he has hit 89 home runs, most among MLB second basemen by 15, and his .887 OPS over that span ranks ninth among all players. He also hits for average; his .283 mark over the past 3 seasons ranks 17^th in MLB.

Marte has batted first or second in recent years, but his value would be in the much-needed protection in the lineup he would provide behind Bryce Harper, which would force teams to pitch Harper honestly, or face Marte with Harper on base.

Ketel Marte leads it off with home run No. 28! pic.twitter.com/oKxvZ55v3f

— MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2025

This is the kind of move that could not only bolster the Phillies’ lineup, but also give it the versatility it sorely lacks in spots.

Marte has five years and $91 million remaining on his contract, with a player option for 2031 at $11.5 million. That’s rich, but not so rich that it should scare Dombrowski off.

He will become a 10-and-5 player early next season, meaning Marte can veto any trade, but according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Marte’s current no-trade list has just five teams on it: the Athletics, the Yankees, Pirates, Giants, and Cardinals.

A Marte trade will likely require the Phillies parting with incumbent second baseman Bryson Stott, who has never lived up to the pure hitter reputation that led to the Phils selecting him 14^th overall six years ago. In addition, one or two prospects would need to be included, but not at the tier of Andrew Painter or Aidan Miller. After all, Arizona doesn’t have that kind of leverage in this case.

The Phillies’ No. 5 prospect, infielder Aroon Escobar, is a righty bat with pop that the Diamondbacks need. They are also looking for depth in their rotation, so they could include No. 11 prospect Jean Cabrera, who impressed at AA Reading last season.

This is the kind of move that could pay very big dividends for the Phillies, especially in October, when they need them most.

What's next for the Giants after filling a couple of key roster holes? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ announcement on Tuesday that they had signed right-handed reliever Jason Foley included an important update on the health of his shoulder and plenty of information to show why this could end up being a very savvy move. But what was missing from the announcement also was notable. 

The Giants came home from the Winter Meetings in Orlando with a full 40-man roster, and while Foley will almost certainly start the season on the 60-day IL, that move can’t be made until the spring, means they soon will need to announce who is being taken off the roster for Foley. The same will be true once the ink is dry on the two-year deal they have agreed to with right-handed starter Adrian Houser.

For a team that’s most interesting offseason move coming into Tuesday had been DFA’ing former top prospect Marco Luciano, cutting two more players loose is no small thing, and that’s part of what stood out from the busiest day of the Giants’ offseason so far. Foley and Houser fill important holes for the 2026 roster, but right now, the biggest question is: What’s next?

Will a big-name starting pitcher be added in the weeks ahead, pushing Houser to the No. 5 spot in the rotation? Will the front office complement Foley with another free-agent right-hander with closing experience, one who will actually be available on Opening Day? Will the additions to the 40-man lead to a big trade this week?

The Giants have added a solid collection of big leaguers to their roster this offseason, but the fan base is waiting for the splash, and the roster still needs it. 

Houser is coming off the best year of his career, having posted a 3.31 ERA and 3.81 FIP across 21 starts for the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. He was so good in Chicago early in the year that he was on the radar as a sensible trade deadline addition for the Giants before they went in the tank in July and ended up selling. 

Houser’s velocity was up nearly two ticks last season, and while he turns 33 in February, there aren’t that many miles on his arm. At $11 million per year, he’s a reasonable option for the back end of the rotation, and the Giants needed another veteran to throw ahead of their collection of young starters, many of whom looked not quite ready for prime time last summer. Houser also has plenty of relief experience, including as recently as 2024, so there’s a fallback option.

Right now, though, he’s right there with Landen Roupp in the middle of the rotation, and the Giants would feel a lot better about their chances if those two lined up as four and five in some order instead of three and four. They have signaled that they don’t want to give out a nine-figure deal to a starting pitcher, and their preference would be to sign a player without a qualifying offer attached, but given how little they’ve spent so far — less than $15 million has been added to the 2026 roster — they still have the flexibility to add another frontline arm.

When it comes to bullpen spending, you don’t even have to read between any lines. Every time team officials have been asked about rebuilding the bullpen this offseason, they have gone straight to minor-league free agents, non-roster invitees, and high-upside projects like Foley and right-hander Gregory Santos, who reportedly is returning on a minor-league deal. 

The 30-year-old Foley missed all of last season after having right shoulder surgery and the Giants don’t expect him back on the mound until the middle of the 2026 season. If he comes back healthy, though, Foley could be a serious weapon for new manager Tony Vitello. 

Foley has a 3.16 ERA in the big leagues and saved 28 games for the Detroit Tigers in 2024. He has a groundball rate of 54 percent, which is three percent below Logan Webb’s career rate, but Foley gets all those balls on the dirt with a sinker that has touched 100 mph.

On the surface, this was a move right out of the Farhan Zaidi playbook, except that ignores the fact that assistant general manager Jeremy Shelley has been successful with these kinds of bets for years. With two years of club control after 2026, the Foley deal could end up being one of the steals of the offseason if he comes back healthy. 

That last part is the key, though. The roster doesn’t have an obvious closer for Opening Day, and with Luke Weaver reportedly agreeing to a deal with the New York Mets on Wednesday morning, the list of available relievers with closing experience has gotten very, very short. 

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Foley closing games for the Giants at some point next year, but right now, he’s on the mend. Sam Hentges, signed earlier this offseason, also is recovering from shoulder surgery, although he should be cleared by the time pitchers and catchers report to camp. 

The Giants have added talent to their bullpen, but much more is needed. They have added some depth to their rotation, but more is needed there, too. Tuesday was a step in the right direction and they’re certainly better than they were a week ago, but as the holidays approach, they still have a simple question to answer. What’s next?  

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Michael King appears to be the most likely of the free agent starters to sign next, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. 

The belief, per Feinsand, is that King will land a four-year deal. 

Both New York teams are among his suitors, along with the Red Sox, Orioles, and Cubs. 

That certainly doesn’t come as a surprise, as Greg Joyce of the NY Post reported on Monday that the Yankees were open to a reunion with King, whom they dealt to the Padres as part of the Juan Soto trade. 

The Mets have also been connected to the 30-year-old this offseason, and the two sides reportedly had a video meeting ahead of last week’s Winter Meetings.

While King’s injury history makes him a bit of a risk, he does present an intriguing addition to either rotation. 

The Rochester-native was one of baseball's top arms two seasons ago in his first year as a full-time starter, finishing seventh in Cy Young voting after posting a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts.

He was solid again when healthy this past season, but two different stints on the IL limited him to just 15 outings.  

The Mets made the Jorge Polanco signing official on Tuesday evening.

Days after New York signed Polanco to a reported two-year, $40 million deal, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns talked up his acquisition in a press release, and gave some insight into how he anticipates the team to use the 32-year-old.

“We are excited to add Jorge to our organization and expect him to be a big part of our team over the next two years,” Stearns said in a press release. “Jorge’s athleticism and versatility on both sides of the ball make him a perfect fit as we continue to build out our team.  As we stand now, we would anticipate Jorge playing first base, DH, and bouncing around to other positions as needed.”

After Pete Alonso signed with the Orioles last week, the Mets signed Polanco to give the team more versatility and to play first base. Interestingly enough, Polanco has appeared in just one game at the position in his 12-year career. 

Polanco slashed .265/.326/.495 with 30 doubles, 26 homers, 78 RBI in 138 games last year with the Mariners, and while he's not expected to deliver the offensive production of Alonso, it gives Stearns and the Mets options to fill out the rest of the roster. 

There are currently still other viable first base options in the free agent market, including veterans Paul Goldschmidt and Luis Arraez. There is also Cody Bellinger, who plays both outfield and first base, who is still available and the Mets are currently "very in" on. 

But the Mets do have other areas of need this offseason, including in the outfield, starting rotation and bullpen.

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo react to the deal between the Mets and Jorge Polanco, and look for more moves ahead. 

The guys break down the Polanco signing, and what his role will be with the team, then dig through the noise surrounding potential trade action between the Mets and Padres. 

Connor and Joe also go Down on the Farm to pick an “untouchable” prospect, and answer Mailbag questions about Devin Williams, Jett Williams, David Stearns’ style of negotiation, and how long of a leash the Mets president of baseball operations actually has with owner Steve Cohen.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

García brings energy, aims for resurgent 2026 with Phils originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Eight homers, an electrifying walk-off blast in the Fall Classic and a championship ring with Texas to show for it. Adolis García made his mark in the 2023 postseason, emerging as a playoff hero.

Now, as the newest slugger in Philadelphia enters his age-33 season, García understands that the “focus is not to be a hero,” he said through Phillies assistant general manager Jorge Velandia at his introductory press conference Tuesday.

Three seasons ago marked the peak of García’s career. He clubbed 39 home runs, drove in more than 100 RBIs for a second straight year and posted an .836 OPS. The last two seasons, however, told a different story — and injuries played a significant role.

In 2024, García played through a patellar tendon strain that required eight weeks of rehab the following offseason. He finished that year with a career-low .684 OPS. Leading into 2025, he dealt with an oblique strain, then sprained his left ankle and later suffered a Grade 2 right quad strain upon his return. He still appeared in 135 games but posted another career-worst OPS, this time at .665.

The ineffectiveness in those two seasons ultimately led to his departure from Texas, as the Rangers non-tendered the outfielder on Nov. 21.

“I did everything that I could while I was there, and I have great memories in Texas,” García told reporters. “Unfortunately, things happen. Everything happens for a reason.”

The Phillies — who signed García to a one-year, $10 million deal on Monday — acknowledge the 32-year-old’s recent struggles but believe the two-time All-Star can still produce at a high level offensively.

“Even though some things were down, there are still positives,” President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “One thing we talked to Adolis about is being more under control with his swing. We don’t need him trying to hit the ball out of the park every swing.”

“We believe this is more about approach than ability,” Dombrowski continued. “The tools are still there. The bat speed is still there. The ball still jumps off his bat.”

Getting García back on track is a clear organizational priority. While the move is low-risk both financially and in years, the Phillies want to maximize his offensive profile. Manager Rob Thomson said assistant hitting coach Edwar Gonzalez will travel to Tampa soon to begin working with García as he prepares for the season.

While Thomson is unsure where García may slot into the lineup, he shares Dombrowski’s optimism, with the understanding that adjustments will be necessary.

“If Adolis is himself, he’s one of those guys who can protect the left-handed bats,” the Phillies skipper said. “Getting back to basics, controlling the strike zone, using the whole field … his power plays everywhere.”

Regardless, García’s defense gives the club confidence in its outfield alignment, presumably with Brandon Marsh in left field and Justin Crawford in center.

For the 6-foot, 205-pound García — built more like an NFL running back — defense has long been central to his identity.

“It’s something I take a lot of pride in. You may not get an RBI, but you can stop an RBI in the outfield. If you can take a run away, I’m willing to do that at any time,” the 2023 Gold Glove winner said.

Taking away runs is something García has consistently done. Since becoming an everyday player in 2021, he has totaled +36 defensive runs saved (DRS), per FanGraphs — the second-most among all outfielders in that span.

His arm plays a major role. In 2025, he averaged 91.9 mph, and in Outfield Arm Runs Saved (rARM), García ranks first with 24 over the past five seasons, doubling Cleveland’s Steven Kwan, who is second with 12.

“That’s part of what I bring every day. I concentrate a lot on defense in the offseason so I can be at my best in the outfield at all times,” García said.

For context, the defensive contrast is stark. Over that same span, Nick Castellanos posted -51 DRS and -12 rARM — both second-worst marks among all players in baseball.

Offensively, the gap may not be as wide. García and Castellanos are two of just eight outfielders to record five consecutive seasons with at least 200 total bases.

But “El Bombi” brings something else to the field: energy. From emphatic bat flips to memorable home run trots, García has never shied away from showing emotion.

“That’s in my blood,” García said. “Emotion is great. That’s one of the reasons I play this game.”

With the energy the Philadelphia fanbase routinely brings to Citizens Bank Park, García’s personality could make him a quick fan favorite.

“The energy I bring is how I give everything I have to the fans.”