Dave Dombrowski admitted on today's 94WIP Morning Show that the Phillies have had a "quiet," but active offseason. Joe Giglio believes it has been too quiet.
"Here is my perspective of the offseason...I think the Phillies have been too quiet," Giglio said at the beginning of Wednesday's 94WIP Midday Show, about one hour after Dombrowski finished his conversation with the 94WIP Morning Show. "Yes, this is a good team, but I think they can get to another level and be a great team.
"I'd love to walk into the season and say they can win the division and right now, the projections say, they can't. My mind says they're well behind the Braves. I wanted them to close the gap. The Braves got better this offseason, the Dodgers got better. The Phillies are basically running it back. I think it's been too quiet, especially when you consider [outfielder] Cody Bellinger is still out there. [Starting pitcher] Jordan Montgomery is out there. There are still players out there who can help the Phillies. It has not been a bad offseason, Hugh. I don't think they're much worse than last year, they're kind of the same, but I think they've been too quiet."
"I think there is a combination of factors," Dombrowski explained on Wednesday's 94WIP Morning Show, after admitting "quiet" offseason is an accurate description.
"One is, we have a good club, that's apparent. There are not gaping holes and we are also in an opportunity where giving opportunity to some of our young players."
"Several executives think the Philadelphia Phillies could be a sleeper for one of the remaining marquee free agents in starter Jordan Montgomery or center fielder Cody Bellinger," USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale, who reported the Phillies have interest in these two players, told 94WIP that he believes the Phillies will make a deal before Spring Training.
94WIP's Howard Eskin pointed out that both Bellinger and Montgomery are represented by Scott Boras, who also represents Bryce Harper, who Eskin jokingly called the Phillies' GM.
"I think they'll go after Montgomery more than Bellinger because I think it's easier to find a bat during the season if you have to trade for one," Eskin said on Tuesday. "But they know they need a starting pitcher."
Montgomery, 31, went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts with the Rangers last season after being traded from St. Louis to Texas the MLB trade deadline.
Baseball Reference projects the left-hander to go 9-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 172.0 innings in 2024.
