3 Phillies free agents who will be gone after 2023 and who could replace them
By Tim Boyle
These three Philadelphia Phillies players are free agents after the 2023 season and shouldn’t return after the coming season.
The Philadelphia Phillies have some notable free agents next offseason with the headliner being Aaron Nola. The longtime Phillies starting pitcher had his option picked up for the 2023 season, allowing the club another year to assess how much he’s worth and whether or not they should continue the relationship. Given how much pitchers of his ability are getting paid this winter, the sooner they extend him, the better.
Nola isn’t alone in next year’s free agent class of players hitting the open market from the organization. Both long-tenured and newcomers are on expiring contracts.
Nola should be a priority for the Phillies to retain. These other three are much more replaceable. We should expect them to be gone after the 2023 season. They can already get a picture of who will replace them.
1) The Phillies will move on from Rhys Hoskins and upgrade at another position
Rhys Hoskins is one of those sluggers many fans either love or hate. He strikes out a ton but makes up for it with walks. His defense is atrocious but then he’ll hit a big home run and win back faith.
The Phillies first baseman will come into the 2023 season with a lifetime .242/.353/.492 slash line. As productive as he can be at times, the Phillies are better off moving on from him. They have several first base options already on the roster. Whether it’s moving Nick Castellanos or Alec Bohm there, Philadelphia can find a new first baseman without making a move.
However, the Phillies should be looking to make a huge splash somewhere else. When Hoskins departs, the Phillies need to get involved in next winter’s heavy third base market.
Rafael Devers and Matt Chapman are two of the best free agent third basemen next winter. Manny Machado also has an opt out in his contract. Any of the three would be a dream addition to the Phillies. Chapman might make the most sense, likely costing the least of the three and giving the team some amazing defense.
Hoskins is too similar to other players on the Phillies roster. Letting him walk in favor of a Gold Glove candidate gives them a little something different.