Our last team we will be previewing for our preview series on the NL East are the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils found themselves at the bottom of the East this season and the outlook for next year isn't very great either. Sorry Philly fans.
Strike One!
The team tried to start off this offseason by retaining AJ Burnett this offseason. Burnett had a chance to exercise his $12.75 Million dollar option to stay with the team, but decided to return to the Pittsburgh Pirates by agreeing to a one-year, $8.5 Million dollar contract. Burnett decided that playing for a potential playoff contender was more important than money. Although Burnett is getting older, he still has the goods to help out a team with World Series aspirations.
Biggest Need(s)
Where to start? The Phillies, along with a few other teams would be smart to look at the future, not the present. As with all teams that finish last in a division, whatever they were doing was not working. With a shot in the arm from some young, but talented players, the Phillies can once again compete at the level that they once did. It just won't be this year. Whether it is by raising their talent in their farm system, or by trading away some of their big name players, they have to find a way to accomplish this.
Outlook
The Phillies are again looking to finish at the back of the pack again this year. I see this team winning, at the most, 70 games. I just don't think they have the pieces in place to compete yet. I give this team a few years and I may be changing my tune.
Randy
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