clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Winter Meetings, Day 1 recap

Anything big happen?

Washington Nationals Victory Parade Photo by Chaz Niell/Getty Images

The first day of the winter meetings brought some of the rumors we’re used to this time of year, a big free agent signing and an eyebrow raising quote.

Rumors

This is the time of year when the craziness begins. You’ve heard about “interested”, “kicking the tires” and all the other cliched saying reporters use. This is when they go into overdrive. This is the one, though, for Phillies fans that kicked things up a notch.

Kris Bryant would be a great addition. Kris Bryant would also cost a lot. However, if the Cubs, thinking they’ll lose the grievance and would only have one year of control, asked for only Alec Bohm - would you do it?

The first domino falls

The big news, of course, is that Stephen Strasburg will finish his career in Washington.

Were the Phillies ever involved with him? Eh, maybe not, but if this amount of money is what Cole is near with his asking price, the team should absolutely be involved with him.

The general manager speaks

Since the team officially announced the Wheeler signing, that meant thatMatt Klentak talked.

Listen, Aaron Nola and Wheeler are a good 1-2 punch. They aren’t better than Scherzer-Strasburg, and maybe not better than Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. It’s a fine quote to make, believing in what you’ve got, but not on a day when Strasburg came off the market and all he cost was money. Especially when the reports indicate the team doesn’t want to go over the luxury tax threshold, even if it meant adding one of the two aces available.

As far as what they aware focused on, adding infielders wouldn’t be the worst decision. Getting Cole would be wiser, but if they truly won’t swim in those waters, grabbing some offensive help wouldn’t be a bad idea. Their 91 wRC+ as a team last year was 21st in the game. So, adding a little bit of punch would help immensely.