Oct 6, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (8) congratulates first base Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a home-run in the sixth inning against the New York Mets during game two of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
The Phillies have not made any major trades or free agent signings yet, though with the MLB Winter Meetings beginning on Dec. 9, it probably won't be long before that changes.
Where do the Phillies stand in terms of payroll before making any external additions? We've done our best to project where the Phillies' current roster is at. This story will be updated throughout the offseason.
Zack Wheeler: $42 million
Trea Turner: $27.27 million
Bryce Harper: $25.38 million
Aaron Nola: $24.57 million
J.T. Realmuto: $23.1 million
Nick Castellanos: $20 million
Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber will each make major salaries from the Phillies in 2025. (Bill Streicher/USA Today)Kyle Schwarber: $19.75 million
Taijuan Walker: $18 million
Matt Strahm: $7.5 million
José Alvarado: $7.33 million
Cristopher Sánchez: $5.63 million
José Ruiz: $1.23 million
Total Guaranteed Salaries: $221.76 million
Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh are both arbitration eligible in 2025. (Bill Streicher/USA Today)The Phillies non-tendered Austin Hays last week, while agreeing to terms with Ruiz and Garrett Stubbs (who signed a split contract, and isn't listed because we're projecting he opens 2025 at Triple-A) to avoid arbitration.
They tendered contracts to five other players. If they can't reach terms with these players, they'll go to an arbitration hearing. Here's what MLB Trade Rumors' Matt Swartz projects each will earn in arbitration.
Ranger Suàrez: $8.9 million
Alec Bohm: $8.1 million
Bryson Stott: $3.5 million
Brandon Marsh: $3 million
Edmundo Sosa: $2.5 million
Projected Arbitration Commitments: $26 million
Johan Rojas is not yet arbitration eligible. (Bill Streicher/USA Today)The following players are likely to be on the Opening Day roster, but don't yet have three years of service time. That means they aren't eligible for arbitration, and will make $800,000, and count that price against the luxury tax threshold.
Max Lazar
Kody Clemens
Rafael Marchán
Tanner Banks
Weston Wilson
Johan Rojas
Orion Kerkering
Projected Pre-Arb Commitments: $5.6 million
Whit Merrifield will be paid $1 million by the Phillies in 2025. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today)The Phillies signed Whit Merrifield to a one-year/$8 million deal last spring, but released him in July after he hit .199 in 137 at-bats. His deal included an $8 million option for 2025, which was declined when he was released. Still, the Phillies will owe Merrifield a $1 million buyout on that option in 2025.
Luckily for the Phillies, this doesn't count against the luxury tax threshold.
Projected Declined Option Commitments: $1 million (This will not factor into the final equation, though, because it doesn't count against the luxury tax threshold)
Didi Gregorius is still being paid by the Phillies. (Jim Rassol/USA Today)Largely, the Phillies have avoided adding deferred money into contracts, something the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals have made a habit of doing.
However, the Phillies did include some deferred money in the two-year/$28 million deal they signed Didi Gregorius to after the 2021 season as the baseball world was dealing with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gregorius will be paid $2 million by the Phillies in 2024, even though he hasn't played with the club since the summer of 2022. That full amount will count against the luxury tax threshold.
Projected Deferred Money Commitments: $2 million (This will be factored into the final equation, because it does count against the luxury tax threshold)
Bryce Harper and Trea Turner are two of the highest-paid players on the Phillies. (Jesse Johnson/USA Today)Total Luxury Tax Threshold Projection: $255.36 million
Before the Phillies have made any external additions, they are already projected to be over the luxury tax threshold of $241 million. Even if they trade one or two relatively large salaries away, it stands to reason they will add more salaries.
These are the remaining luxury tax thresholds, at least some of which the Phillies figure to end up over.
First Surcharge (12% tax on all overages): $261 million
Second Surcharge (45% tax on all overages): $281 million
Third Surcharge (60% tax on all overages): $301 million
A report earlier this week connected the Phillies to Willy Adames and Alex Bregman, in the event they have an opening at third base.
For @OnPattison, I broke down which of the two would be a better fit for the Phillies. https://t.co/W4SHqBnwlx
