Cody Bellinger Is Expected to Surprise Himself by Joining
Cody Bellinger Is Expected to Surprise Himself by Joining the Phillies
At the end of a quiet offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as a surprise contender to sign the most sought-after free agent hitter still available.
MLB pundit Bob Nightengale of USA Today speculated that the Phillies might surprise supporters and competitors by acquiring Jordan Montgomery or Cody Bellinger as a starting pitcher.
“Several executives believe that center fielder Cody Bellinger or starter Jordan Montgomery, two of the remaining marquee free agents, could be a sleeper for the Philadelphia Phillies,” Nightengale writes. “Re-signing Aaron Nola has been their only significant move, and Bellinger would undoubtedly offer another bat and defense worthy of a Gold Glove to balance the lineup.”
Where in the Philadelphia Phillies Lineup Does Cody Bellinger Fit?
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Bellinger might take over for Johan Rojas (.302/.342/.430 in 2023) or Brandon Marsh (.277/.372/.458 in 2023) at center field. With Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Nick Castellanos in the lineup, opposition pitchers may have even more problems if he reverts to his 2023 slash averages of.307/.356/.525 (or higher).
Nightingale did point out, though, that the “Phillies plan to remain patient” at the current predicted price.
Jordan Montgomery Will Become a Sleeper for the Philadelphia Phillies?
Nightingale explained the Phillies’ surprising decision to sign Jordan Montgomery by saying that the World Series champion pitcher “would strengthen the top of the rotation.”
However, the Phillies already have a really good top of their rotation in Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, much like their outstanding batting order.
Rather than any pressing roster need, it appears that Philadelphia has become a possible destination for these elite free agents mostly because of President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski’s reputation.
Under Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies “haven’t been shy about making big moves over the last few years,” as FanNation’s Fastball’s Brady Farkas observed. “Maybe Dombrowski is feeling bold again, since they signed Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos, and Kyle Schwarber in the last few years, and they still feel the pain of losing in the NLCS.”
For Heavy.com, Peter Chawaga writes about Major League Baseball. With over ten years of experience in newsrooms, the author and editor has had his work featured in national newspapers, magazines, and websites. His baseball writing has appeared in several publications, including Yardbarker and Last Word On Sports. Additional information on Peter Chawaga
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