Having outstanding players around Major League Baseball is obviously the goal, which the Philadelphia Phillies have achieved due to their effective scouting department, willingness to spend money, and other factors.
However, because the Phillies are as talented as they are, it also means that there are massive price tags attached to some of their upcoming free agents. The Phillies understand with Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suarez that there could be a lot of money to go around.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem likely that the Phillies will bring back all three players, but there’s an argument to be made that it could happen.
Could a Phillies star cost too much?
If everybody had to pick, it’d come down to keeping Suarez and Schwarber in town. Realmuto has done a lot of good for the Phillies over the past few years, but he’s getting older and might not be worth as much as he could be looking for in the open market.
Regarding Suarez, some believe that it could be an issue eventually, noting that he might even have a chance of being overpaid because of the market. That includes MLB insider Robert Murray, who named him one of four players who could eventually be overpaid in free agency this winter.
“Philadelphia is going to have to make some very difficult decisions in free agency, with players such as Schwarber, JT Realmuto and Suarez among those on expiring contracts. They can’t keep everyone. The guess here is that Schwarber is the priority and at least two of the three players are extended the qualifying offer.
“That shouldn’t limit Suarez’s market. Not in the slightest. And if the demand for pitching in recent seasons has been any indication, Suarez should have a hot market and land a very, very lucrative contract in free agency,” he wrote.
MORE: Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber receives $35 million free agent prediction
Suarez has thrown the baseball with the best of them around Major League Baseball over the past few years.
He dealt with an injury early on for the Phillies, but has been great throughout the season, pitching in 149.0 innings and posting a 2.84 ERA.
There’s no debate that those types of numbers get players paid.
