Baseball preseason is officially underway with the first game of spring training being played on February 22. Many fans eagerly await the season’s start and make predictions about their team during this time, and fans of the Philadelphia Phillies are no exception.
Last year, the Phillies won 90 games and lost 72, which put them in second place in the National League East for the 2023 season. The team made it to the National League Championship Series but lost to the Diamondbacks. Fans anticipate that they will be just as successful in the 2024 season. Baseball Prospectus, a site that publishes baseball analytics and predictions, has recently released its PECOTA (Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm) projected standings for 2024. The data projects that the Phillies will make the playoffs as a wild card team, as they will only win 85 games throughout this season.
Although the Phillies have had a relatively quiet offseason, the team is still predicted to have a well-rounded roster. Pitcher Aaron Nola has re-upped his contract to a 7-year, $172 million contract. Other returning pitchers include Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez, Christopher Sanchez, and Taijuan Walker. Bryce Harper, who is also a returning player, will now serve as first baseman. Other notable players who resigned during the offseason include Whit Merrifield, Edmundo Sosa, and Alec Bohm. Unfortunately, the team has lost a few players, including Craig Kimbrel and Rhys Hoskins, who are currently free agents.
Fans are generally optimistic about the roster, although some have concerns. Mason Klinger, a student at Pennridge High School and a Phillies fan, states that the Phillies didn’t make enough signings and did not sign any stars. He also says the team should have signed “someone stronger, someone to replace [Kyle] Schwarber in the outfield.” However, Klinger states that the roster “feels good” and notes that very little has changed since last season. Erica Bergey, a fan from Perkasie, Pennsylvania, states that the roster is “ok” because the team still has good players. She notes that they signed many minor league players, and anticipates that there “could be a slow start to the season… it comes down to chemistry.”
While they agree on the roster, Klinger and Bergey have different opinions about who will have a breakout season this year. Klinger believes Alec Bohm will “because he has new experiences and could have a better season this year. He gets at least 28 home runs this season and could get 30 if he’s having an outstanding season.” Bergey thinks Bryce Harper will “because of his first full season at first base.” She also says that Brandon Marsh could have a breakout season, but thinks he might have a slow start as he is healing from an injury.
The team played their first preseason game against the Blue Jays on February 24 in Clearwater, Florida. They won and continued their streak by beating the Yankees on February 25. After the first week, the team won three games, tied three, and lost one. The team’s full schedule and record can be found on MLB.com.
Sources:
https://www.mlb.com/phillies/schedule/2024-02
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/PHI/philadelphia-phillies/transactions/
https://apnews.com/article/aaron-nola-contract-phillies-e098de29b7fa010a7059f3ba38882900#:~:text=AT%26T%20reimbursement-,Nola%27s%20%24172%20million%2C%207%2Dyear%20deal%20with%20Phillies%20includes%20bonus,traded%20in%202024%20or%20%2725&text=PHILADELPHIA%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Aaron%20Nola,stay%20with%20the%20Philadelphia%20Phillies.
https://www.mlb.com/news/craig-kimbrel-orioles-free-agent-deal
