Philadelphia Phillies' Best Starting Pitching Option is Clear as Day
The Philadelphia Phillies should just make this move and get it over with.
Video Transcript
So the Phillies are still searching for a starting pitcher to add some depth to the rotation after losing Ranger Surez to free agency, and with Zach Wheeler set to miss the beginning of twenty twenty-six as he recovers from thoracic outlet syndrome.
Now, the free agent market for pitchers has definitely been watered down, and on Tuesday, we saw a flurry of signings: Justin Verlander, Aaron Civale, Jos Quintana, Chris Paddack, all those veterans signed with other teams.
Now, those guys are probably too expensive for the Phillies anyway, especially Verlander, who got thirteen million from the Tigers, and Quintana and Civale got six million dollars a piece, and Chris Paddack got four million dollars from the Miami Marlins.
Now, for the Phillies, the best potential option for them remaining could be Walker Buehler, who actually was with the Phillies at the end of last season.
They signed him when Boston released him late in the year.
Now, Buehler made three appearances and two starts with the Phillies in twenty twenty-five, pitched very well during that very brief period, and thirty-one years old, right-hander, you know, used to be one of the better pitchers in baseball during his early Dodgers days, but, you know, injuries derailed him over the last, what, five years or so.
So, you know, he's not the pitcher he once was, clearly, but just for some extra depth and for a cheap piece, I think Buehler would fit very well.
Again, he pitched in Philadelphia last year, so he's familiar with the area, familiar with the team, familiar with the stadium, the fan base, all that.
So I think that would be the best option, the clearest option for Philadelphia, for a team that was slapped with a fifty-six million dollar luxury tax bill after last year, clearly trying to skimp out on, on payroll this year because they don't want to get hit with a penalty again, which I understand.
I think Buehler would be the best and most cost-effective option for the Phillies heading into twenty twenty-six.
