DALLAS -- It’s only Day 1 of the Winter Meetings at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, but Juan Soto signing with the Mets has already sent shockwaves through the NL East. Every team in the division knows it has to respond, and the stakes have never felt higher.
For the Braves, the checklist is daunting. it seems Max Fried likely isn’t coming back, so they’re in the market for two proven starters. Joe Jimenez’s knee surgery leaves a glaring hole in the bullpen, and with Ronald Acuña Jr. out until May while recovering from an ACL tear, they need a corner outfielder. Alex Anthopoulos has a busy winter ahead, and bargain hunting isn’t an option.
In Queens, Steve Cohen didn’t sign Soto to settle for wild cards. He wants rings, and Soto is only the beginning. Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes add intrigue to the rotation, but let’s be honest—the Mets need another ace. First base and outfield depth remain issues, too. Don’t be shocked if Cohen’s checkbook gets another workout before the offseason ends.
And then there’s Philadelphia. The Phillies weren’t serious players for Soto, but John Middleton isn’t afraid to spend. That said, they can’t run back the same roster. Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Nick Castellanos aren’t getting younger, and the team’s window to contend is shrinking. Alec Bohm and Ranger Suárez are on the block, but word is the Phillies may be overvaluing them. The club also needs to add an outfielder as neither Brandon Marsh nor Johan Rojas have shown to be consistent everyday bats in the starting lineup. If they don’t get bold, they risk falling behind in what’s quickly becoming baseball’s toughest division.
Three Potential Targets for the Phillies
First, there’s Alex Bregman. If the Phillies move Alec Bohm, Bregman is the best offensive third baseman left on the market now that Willy Adames and Juan Soto are spoken for. Sure, he’s heading into his age-30 season and creeping toward the back side of his prime, but a three-year average WAR of 4.5 dwarfs Bohm’s 1.4. The catch? The Astros have reportedly offered him six years and $156 million. If the Phillies jump into that kind of bidding war, it could trigger a domino effect: Aidan Miller slides to shortstop, Trea Turner moves to second, and Bryson Stott? He might find himself on the outside looking in.Then there’s Luis Castillo. The Mariners are reportedly open to dealing their ace, and the Phillies could use a jolt in the rotation. Castillo’s 3.64 ERA last season was solid but not eye-popping, and his strikeout rate dipped from 27.3% in 2023 to 24.3%. Still, he’s a three-time All-Star with a live arm and plenty of gas left in the tank. At 32, Castillo is signed through 2027 with a vesting option for 2028, earning $24.1 million annually. He’d instantly bolster the staff, especially with question marks surrounding the back end of the rotation and Ranger Suárez’s shaky second half in 2024.
Finally, Anthony Santander brings power, and lots of it. After launching 44 homers with 102 RBIs last season and posting a 134 OPS+, he’s proven he’s not a one-year wonder. His breakout in 2022 started a three-year run of 105 homers, with Santander playing more than 150 games each season. The switch-hitting slugger reportedly wants a four-year deal in the $85 million range. The price tag is steep, but he could inject some serious pop into a lineup that needs it.
