Phillies could be 'mystery team' for game-changing free agent, says insider

The Philadelphia Phillies are under immense pressure to win a World Series in the coming years.

With a lineup full of stars, led by two-time MVP first baseman Bryce Harper, the Phillies have been oh-so-close to glory in the past two postseasons. But they have thus far missed out, and if they can't get it done in 2024, they may be motivated to bring in added firepower this winter.

Under general manager Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies have been aggressive in going after the free agents they want. Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, and Zack Wheeler all signed huge contracts in the Dombrowski tenure.

But one insider believes they could believe they could be in the mix to sign one of the biggest free-agent deals of all time.

Robert Murray of FanSided listed the Phillies as one of his top three fits for New York Yankees superstar outfielder Juan Soto, calling Philadelphia the "mystery team" that could unexpectedly win the Soto sweepstakes.

"Soto has a history of playing in the National League East and was previously teammates with Bryce Harper," Murray said. "(He) was with Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long, one of the best coaches in baseball, with the Washington Nationals and the two had a strong relationship."

The Phillies were also never seen as favorites to land Harper in 2019, but proved to have the strongest pitch. While no two free-agent situations are different, it would be unwise to count the Phillies out of the Soto sweepstakes this early in the game.

Soto, 25, is a generational talent capable of turning any team into a World Series favorite. With a career-high 1.034 OPS and 35 home runs this season, Soto may still be getting better, and he's already on the fast track to becoming a Hall of Famer.

Plus, the Phillies' lone weakness this season has been their outfield. Veteran right fielder Nick Castellanos has regressed sharply from his All-Star 2023 season, while Johan Rojas, Brandon Marsh, and Austin Hays are all questionable as full-time starters moving forward.

If the Phillies could land Soto, it would cement them as World Series frontrunners for 2025, and beyond. But it's going to be a battle if Dombrowski and Co. decide to get involved in the sweepstakes.

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