Dombrowski: 'We're ready to start the season'
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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies ¡°haven¡¯t quit working,¡± but they don¡¯t anticipate any major additions from now to Opening Day.
As Philadelphia wrapped up its Spring Training slate in a 6-3 loss to the Rays on Monday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski reaffirmed his trust in the club¡¯s current pitching depth and in the projections for a healthy lineup. Add a renewed emphasis on defense, and Dombrowski believes most of the work is done ahead of first pitch on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park.
¡°We haven¡¯t quit working, so [we could still make moves],¡± he said. ¡°Am I anticipating it? Not necessarily. ¡ But we¡¯re staying in touch, looking at things with our scouts, looking at every name that becomes available.¡±
No available name has tipped the scales as of yet.
When the Phillies announced that Taijuan Walker would begin the regular season on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement, questions arose about the possibility of adding another tested starter to the mix -- a pool headlined by Jordan Montgomery. On that front, though, Dombrowski was categoric: He doesn¡¯t believe the team is in the market for a free-agent starter.
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¡°I feel very good about [Spencer] Turnbull stepping in to pitch for us,¡± said Dombrowski. ¡°I think he¡¯s throwing the ball extremely well. He¡¯s healthy, which is great. He¡¯s probably even thrown the ball better than you could have anticipated.¡±
Turnbull, who signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Phillies this offseason, was set for a bullpen role before Walker went down. Instead, he re-adjusted his routine to begin the season, and he delivered encouraging results in his first spring start on Saturday. The right-hander pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts, hitting 96 mph with his sinker, well above his average velocity, while maintaining good movement on his pitches.
The Phillies¡¯ depth options don¡¯t end with Turnbull, either. Kolby Allard, Max Castillo and David Buchanan (who went four innings vs. the Rays on Monday, allowing two runs with four strikeouts) were some of the names mentioned by Dombrowski.
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Behind the pitching staff, Philadelphia¡¯s defense also looks more sound than it was a year ago. Johan Rojas, who will be the club¡¯s starting center fielder on Opening Day, is certainly a big part of that, but there have been improvements across the board.
¡°It was something that we focused on,¡± Dombrowski said of the defensive side. ¡°I tip my cap to our coaches. They¡¯ve done a great job. I mean, [Alec] Bohm has become a much better third baseman with [infield coach] Bobby Dickerson. [Bryce] Harper going to first base ¡ I think he can be one of the best first basemen in baseball. [Bryson] Stott is really good at second base.
¡°So, yeah, it was a conscious decision.¡±
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The offensive potential has always been there for this Phillies lineup, but adding above-average fielders may end up as the difference-maker for a World Series-aspiring club. Philadelphia finished last season ranked 12th in the Majors in Outs Above Average, a huge leap after being 29th in 2022.
That explains the value of Rojas, who has struggled at the plate but profiles as one of the best outfielders in the Majors.
¡°As long as he works, he keeps staying positive ¡ as long as he makes good enough contact, [he¡¯ll be OK],¡± said Dombrowski. ¡°It may not always look pretty, it may not always be the line drive. But he still adds to the club, and I do believe we're a better club with him. ¡
¡°We can talk about Rojas all we want, but if the top seven guys in our lineup don¡¯t hit, that¡¯s going to make a difference.¡±
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Dombrowski anticipates some early tests for those seven hitters at the top, since the Phillies ¡°haven¡¯t been swinging with thunder¡± this spring. An Opening Series against Spencer Strider, Max Fried and Charlie Morton should provide plenty of challenge, but Philadelphia¡¯s lineup is too talented to struggle for long.
That breadth of talent led to some difficult decisions in the final days of spring, too, with the likes of Kody Clemens and Weston Wilson unable to secure roster spots even though the club sees them as Major League-ready players.
It all goes back to depth, and it¡¯s a big reason why Dombrowski isn¡¯t overly focused on external additions at this point.
¡°I think we have a good club,¡± said Dombrowski. ¡°We¡¯re ready to start the season.¡±