Phillies Mailbag: Walker, Marchan, Next year’s OF

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies mailbag.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in Tuesday afternoons to hear your questions answered on the air.

Why didn't the Phillies just release Taijuan Walker?
~Jason

Well, I think the issue here is indeed the $18 million per year the Phillies will pay Taijuan Walker.  I do not think it is that the Phillies are opposed to eating money.  But I think the biggest issue for Walker in 2024 is the lack of velocity.

Should the Phillies release Walker now, he probably sits out the rest of the year and then in the offseason signs a deal with another team that includes an invitation in to Spring Training.  That team will be able to see if he gets his velocity back, which ideally would make him effective.  If you're the Phillies, would you way to be paying his salary while another team figures out that his velocity is back?

The Phillies can bring Walker to Spring Training and hopefully be the ones to benefit from a return in velocity.   If he is unable to do so, especially if other candidates demonstrate they have something offer the big club, then they can release him.

For now, it's not hurting much to keep him in the bullpen.  If there is a lopsided game where the Phillies are losing big, Walker will come in.  If they're winning big, maybe he gets an inning there, too.  But if we're being honest, he probably ranks only ahead of Garrett Stubbs as bullpen depth.

The Phillies have an extra pitcher on the roster because it is now September.  That will help the Phillies bridge now to Spring Training.  He does not need to be on the postseason roster.

Why didn't Rafael Marchan return to the Phillies on September 1?
~Glenn

The Phillies got a lot out of Rafael Marchan when he filled in for J.T. Realmuto earlier this season.  Besides his bat being productive enough, he showed some promise as a defender behind the plate.  But unfortunately, he is not able to help the Phillies now.

Marchan was kept out of action for a few days a couple weeks ago with a shoulder issue.  He returned to the lineup for one day, and then aggravated it the next day before he could bat.

After sitting out from that day, August 23, to August 30, Marchan sat out hoping to return to action.  But the Phillies placed him on the 7-day injured list with a left shoulder impingement.

Ideally he would have helped lessen the workload for Realmuto, as the Phillies head down the stretch towards the playoffs.  If Marchan returns, maybe he will be able to help the Phillies.

But for now, especially with Alec Bohm banged up, having the extra infielder in Kody Clemens is useful.

Do you believe Dave Dombrowski will go into 2025 with the same outfield?
~Frank

I think this question has an answer that is being written right now.  The Phillies starting outfield is currently Brandon Marsh in center, with Austin Hays in left field and Nick Castellanos in right field.  The defensive sub is Johan Rojas, and Weston Wilson can play the outfield, though listed as an infielder.

The Phillies traded for Hays to be a starter.  The numbers have suggested that perhaps he would be better as a platoon player against left-handed pitching.  Hays is batting .350 against left-handed pitching in 2024, as opposed to .201 against right-handed pitching.

Meanwhile, Marsh is batting .254 against right-handed pitching and .200 against left-handed pitching. Might it make sense to platoon them?

The question then would be what happens in center field.  Rojas has hit lefties at a .198 clip while hitting righties at .257.  He does not bring a lot of power to the Phillies, and does not seem like he is a good platoon match for Marsh in center.

I think the Phillies would be best suited to platoon Marsh and Hays.  The Phillies have not shown a willingness to play Hays in center field yet, though he has some experience.

It would be nice to have a center fielder who could hit consistently while platooning Marsh and Hays.  I am not sure where the Phillies find that.  It could come internally in a couple seasons in Justin Crawford.  

It might be asking too much to clear left field completely for a steady bat; if you do so Hays no longer fits.  But if he does not fit in center, it becomes difficult to mix the outfield up much more.