The First Move the Phillies Should Make When the Lockout Ends

With less than two months left before Opening Day, we have no idea when Major League Baseball and the players will agree to end this lockout that began back on Dec. 2 of 2021.

Many of the teams still have a lot of work to do before they head to Spring Training, including the Phillies.

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So far their biggest move has been adding relief pitcher Corey Knebel from the Dodgers, who will likely close games for the Phillies this season. The team still has plenty of needs, including more help in their Bullpen, a center and left fielder, and a few other bench options.

So what is the very first move Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies should make, if and when, the lockout is lifted?

According to former MLB GM Jim Bowden, from The Athletic, the very first thing they should do is Sign Kris Bryant to six-year, $150 million contract.

Left field is an offseason priority for the Phillies, and Bryant would be a perfect fit, playing half his games in the small confines of Citizens Bank Park. The personal and professional connections are a good fit, too: Bryant and his wife are close friends with Bryce Harper and his wife, as Bryant and Harper grew up together outside of Las Vegas; and Bryant is represented by Scott Boras, who has a long history of deals with Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

Bowden mentions that Bryant's versatility and ability to play multiple positions as the main reason why he would be a good fit.  The Phillies could play Bryant at Third, left, center and first.

We do know that the Phillies were among teams that checked in with Bryant before the lockout happened.

The right-handed hitting Bryant hit .264 with 25 home runs, 73 RBI and 10 steals in 143 games with both the Cubs and Giants during the 2021 season.