Just when you thought the Philadelphia Phillies might be done adding talent, news from MLB insider Bob Nightengale drops.
According to Nightengale in his Sunday column in USA Today, the Phillies could have their eye on a Cy Young pitcher but there is a catch.
Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner remains remarkably unsigned. A common theme for Scott Boras clients this winter, two of whom have already taken short-term deals in Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman.
Now, Snell could be next. According to Nightengale, Philadelphia is interested in adding Snell but only on a short-term deal. Much like the rest of his Boras compatriots.
But that may work out well in both parties’ favor. Snell would get paid well for a short-term deal that will likely include opt outs so he can re-test the market even as early as next winter.
For the Phillies, it would give them an elite arm to put in an already electric rotation and it serves as a bridge until top prospect Andrew Painter is healthy and ready to enter the Big League rotation.
As mentioned before, Boras may be open to these kinds of deals now that MLB Spring Training has begun and the market has gone stale.
While this may not be the type of win that Boras is used to getting for his clients, it might be the best option on the table.
As for Philadelphia, you can never rule out president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski making just one more big splash to improve the team.
As it stood for the last three years, the Phillies have World Series aspirations. Adding a two-time Cy Young winner to the mix only improves those odds.
