Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco. Those are the names that come to mind when you think about when the last time the Phillies were a good team. All those guys combined to have two MVP awards, 16 all-star appearances, six silver slugger awards, five gold glove awards and one Cy Young award. One thing they all have in common (excluding Halladay) is a World Series Ring when they won the World Series in 2008.
After they won the World Series in 2008, they still were a good team, but there came a time when the Phillies were no longer as good as they used to be -- which is when they started to rebuild.
Utley and Rollins were traded to the Dodgers for minor league players in separate deals, Howard stared to decline and the Phillies traded Hamels to the Rangers for Jerad Eickhoff and others, which Eickhoff is now part of the Phillies' rotation today. It was a few long years in Philadelphia but it now seems like the rebuild is starting to come to an end with the moves the Phillies' front office made in the offseason.
Offseason signings
The Phillies were the first team to make a big splash in the offseason by signing 1B Carlos Santana to a three-year, $60 million deal on November 2. This was a surprising move done by the Phillies as they had Rhys Hoskins at 1B last season, where he hit 18 HR and 48 RBIs in 50 games.
With the signing of Santana, Hoskins is expected to move to a corner OF spot this season in order for new manager Gabe Kapler to keep his bat in the lineup.
The Phillies beefed up their bullpen by bringing back Pat Nehsek on a two-year, $16.2 million deal. Neshek spent the 2017 season with the Phillies before he was traded to the Rockies at the trade deadline.
In 2017 with the Phillies and Rockeis combined, Neshek went 5-3 with a 1.59 E.R.A. in 71 relief appearances. 2017 also was the second year that Neshek was an all-star. The Phillies added another arm to their bullpen by signing Tommy Hunter to a two-year, $18 million contract. In 2017 with the Rays, Hunter had an E.R.A. of 2.61 while appearing in 61 games.
Coming into the offseason, the Phillies' rotation consisted of Aaron Nola, Vince Velasquez, Jerad Eickhoff, Nick Pivetta and Mark Leiter Jr., who are all very young. Well, Leiter Jr. is going to say bye to his rotation mates as the Phillies made another big splash by signing 2015 NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta to a three-year, $75 million deal. Arrieta brings experience to a young rotation who also has playoff experience and a World Series ring -- unlike the other pitchers in the Phillies' rotation. Due to the fact that Arrieta signed later in the offseason, he won't be making his Phillies debut until April 8 at home vs. the Marlins. Citizens Bank Park should be packed when he makes his Phillies debut.
Homegrown talent
The Phillies did get some really good players through free agent signings but they also have players that they traded for in their early stages of the rebuild, as well as players they selected in the draft. One player that has been brought up through their minor league system is 1B Rhys Hoskins. In just 50 games last season, Hoskins belted 18 HR's and 48 RBIs which is really impressive in that many games. With Hoskins' fantastic start to his MLB career, he gives Phillies fans a player to look forward to in the 2018 season and future seasons.
Another player that has been developed in the Phillies' minor league system is 2B Scott Kingery. On March 25, before he even made his MLB debut, he signed a six-year, $24 million deal.
In 2017 in the minor leagues, Kingery batted .304 with 26 HR's and 29 SB's. He was also selected to the 2017 all-star futures game which features the top prospects in all of baseball. Kingery made the opening day roster and is expected to play all over the field for the Phillies in 2018.
Other players that have been developed that will contribute to the big league team in 2018 are CF Odubel Herrera, C Jorge Alfaro, OF Nick Williams, SS J.P. Crawford, and many other players that will be a big factor for the Phillies this season.
2018 season
This season, the Phillies will finally be a decent team that could be a possible contender for a wild-card spot as they remain a long shot to win the NL east -- as they are in the same division as the Nationals.
They will face stiff competition for a wild-card spot as the Mets, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Brewers, Giants and Cardinals are all vying for it.
In order for them to get a wild-card spot, lots will have to happen. Maikel Franco will have to bounce back from a poor 2017 season, Hector Neris will have to be able to record three outs in the ninth inning without blowing saves, Nola and Hoskins will have to carry the momentum from last year's breakout season, and many other things will have to fall into place. The Phillies will also have to find ways to beat division rival the New York Mets as they are also in the race for a wild-card spot.
Whether or not they make the playoffs, there's one thing that Phillies fans can be happy about: The rebuild is coming to an end and they are now becoming a competitive team.
