Report: Phillies will not wait on Machado, Harper decisions before spending
The Philadelphia Phillies are widely expected to be very aggressive in the free agent market this offseason, and not just when it comes to the top names.
The Phillies are likely to pursue at least one of Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, but according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the franchise won’t let those two players hold up the rest of the team’s plans. He reports that the Phillies may pursue and sign multiple free agents before either player makes a final decision on their future.
Among the names the Phillies may have interest in are pitcher Patrick Corbin, relievers Craig Kimbrel and Zach Britton, and outfielders Michael Brantley and A.J. Pollock. They may also be active in the trade market during that time, too.
In other words, Philadelphia may be the team to watch this offseason. They’re already being linked to some other big names in addition to their expected pursuits of Harper and Machado, and they could spend more money than anyone else at this rate.