The Philadelphia Phillies are as willing as any team in the league to flip their roster on its head. They've already expressed interest in trading multiple players, including outfielder Nick Castellanos.
Either way, they're going to look to add in free agency this winter. They emerged late in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, but they're not very likely to land him whatsoever. Besides Soto, they could look to add a starting pitcher, bullpen help, and a star outfielder.
FanSided's Nick Villano expects the Phillies to find their outfielder in free agency. Villano projects the Phillies to sign Baltimore Orioles star Anthony Santander. Santander is projected to sign a five-year, $88 million contract, per Spotrac. The switch-hitting outfielder slugged 44 home runs in 2024.
"They (the Phillies) are looking to replace some of the production of their former stars and they'll look to put serious pop in their lineup. With Bryce Harper playing first base full-time, the Phillies could really use a bat out there," Villano wrote. "Santander would be an awesome pickup for Philadelphia, and Santander wouldn't even have to move that far (Philadelphia is just about two hours from Baltimore)."
This would be a huge acquisition for the Phillies and it's definitely one they can afford. Rather than pointing out how well this fit works, let's look at how crushing this would be for the Orioles.
The Orioles are on the verge of losing both Santander and their ace Corbin Burnes in one offseason. They're loaded with young talent, but they can't afford to lose both players unless they plan on replacing them with stars. Baltimore will be kicking themselves if they let Santander land with the Phillies.
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