The Philadelphia Phillies were punched in the mouth in 2024, and now they must get back up off the mat.
Everything about the Phillies’ mentality this season made it evident that they believed this was their year. They hadn’t changed a thing about their roster from the previous season, and after back-to-back deep playoff runs, they thought they were ready to win it all.
Instead, they faded out of the playoffs almost as quickly as they began. A four-game series loss to the hated New York Mets reminded the Phillies that they were much further away from a title than they thought, and there is work to be done this winter to get them back on track.
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The Phillies will need to acquire a fifth starting pitcher to join their formidable rotation, as Taijuan Walker and the shifting array of personalities in that capacity effectively guaranteed a loss in 2024. How about a postseason legend to take that spot? Nathan Eovaldi just became a free agent after turning down a club option to return to the Texas Rangers in 2025. FOX 43’s Jacob Hitz recently predicted that Eovaldi would sign a two-year, $45 million contract with the Phillies.
I’ve been pleading with the Phillies to add another starter to the rotation since the ’24 season began. “With prospect Andrew Painter still recovering from Tommy John surgery, he won’t be ready for the majors for a while,” Hitz stated.
Taijuan Walker proven that he is not the guy. Spencer Turnbull, originally signed as a reliever, briefly took over as a starter before being sidelined for the rest of the season due to injury. I believe Eovaldi is a strong alternative, and possibly the most economical one for the Phillies without sacrificing too much quality. Eovaldi, who will be 35 next season, has had a consistent regular season, going 41-25 with a 3.76 ERA since the beginning of 2021. But he is absolutely filthy in the playoffs, where he has a lifetime 3.05 ERA, two World Series rings, and a 5-0 record in six starts in 2023.
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