Frenetic spring begins for Dombrowski, Phils

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies started calling and texting teams and agents the minute the lockout ended on Thursday.

They have not stopped calling and texting since.

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“Everybody’s been extremely busy,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said on Sunday at BayCare Ballpark. “We’ve had conversations, I would say, with every club in baseball. We’ve talked to every agent that we possibly could. We’ve expressed interest. We’ve made progress on some things. It’s been productive, but we still have other work to do.”

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Dombrowski and Phillies manager Joe Girardi talked to reporters on Sunday, a day before the Phillies hold their first official workout of Spring Training following the 99-day lockout. Here are some highlights:

Who’s in the outfield?
The Phillies need a left fielder and a center fielder, but that does not mean they will have full-time players at both positions. While there are plenty of quality corner outfielders available, including free agents Kris Bryant, Nick Castellanos, Michael Conforto and Kyle Schwarber, there is far less depth in center field. It explains why Dombrowski raised the possibility of a platoon at one position, then immediately mentioned Matt Vierling, Philadelphia's No. 24 prospect, as a strong candidate in that role. The Phillies like Vierling a lot, and some recent swing changes have impressed.

“So with [Bryce] Harper in right, and then you’ve got Vierling, you may not look for two full-time guys,” Dombrowski said.

Who is the other half of that potential platoon? Sources said the Phillies are trying to bring back Odúbel Herrera, which NBC Sports Philadelphia first mentioned on Monday morning. The Phillies think that Herrera can play better than he did in 2021, his first big league action since May '19.

Wheeler, Eflin and Suárez updates
National League Cy Young Award runner-up Zack Wheeler is behind schedule. He said he expects to throw off a mound on Monday for the first time since the end of last season. Wheeler started to throw in December, but he felt some soreness in his right shoulder, so he stopped throwing for a few weeks. The Phillies said Wheeler might not be ready to make his first turn through the rotation in April, although Wheeler is optimistic that he will.

Ranger Suárez is having visa issues in Venezuela, so he will not be in camp on Monday. Dombrowski said he hopes that Suárez will be in Clearwater before the end of the week, but it is not a certainty. The Phillies are optimistic that he will be ready to start the season in the rotation.

Zach Eflin had surgery in September to repair a tear in his right patellar tendon. He has been throwing off a mound, and the Phillies said they think that he will be ready to open the season with the team. That is an encouraging development, because at the time of surgery the Phillies said Eflin's recovery could extend into May.

Perhaps for those reasons, Dombrowski sounded like additional starting pitching depth is not a priority, at least compared to other needs. He pointed to internal depth like Bailey Falter, Nick Nelson and Cristopher Sánchez.

How much to spend?
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement added $20 million to the luxury tax threshold. That gives the Phillies roughly $40 million-plus before they hit that mark. Last season, they approached the $210 million mark but did not cross it.

“As far as [the luxury tax], I'd say we have ownership that's absolutely fantastic,” Dombrowski said. “They want to win, they're very supportive. I take the Fifth on what our budget will be, because I've never found that that's very helpful to disclose to other people. I don't want to tip my hand on what we are or are not going to do. But I would say that I do not feel restricted at all.”

Who’s available to trade?
The Athletic mentioned that the Phillies could try to trade for A’s third baseman Matt Chapman. The Phillies have Alec Bohm at third, but a young controllable player like Bohm is the type of player Oakland loves to acquire. The Phillies also have prospects that other teams want, like Mick Abel, Bryson Stott, Andrew Painter, Johan Rojas and Logan O’Hoppe.

“We have to get better by all means, but … there are some players that I would not want to trade,” Dombrowski said. “I never say anybody's untradable, because all of a sudden somebody plops something on your lap that you don't anticipate, and you're getting some young All-Star player for somebody. But overall, yes, there may be some people I wouldn’t want to trade.”

Didi vs. Stott
There will be competition at shortstop between Didi Gregorius and Stott, who is the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect. Gregorius figures to have the edge. First, he has a track record. Second, he is in the second year of a two-year, $28 million deal. He will be afforded every opportunity to bounce back from a difficult 2021.

“I think Didi will take that challenge and he's going to fight,” Girardi said. “Didi is a strong-minded person who really believes in himself. You have to remember, this is a kid that had to walk into Yankee Stadium after Derek Jeter. I mean, that's a pretty tough thing to do.”

Joe’s status
Girardi is entering the final season of his contract. He has a 2023 club option, but Dombrowski has not exercised it.

“It doesn't make my job tougher,” Girardi said. “I'm going to do the same job no matter what. I've never been extended in a season before, so it's something I am used to. You play it out. Just like players, managers have to perform. It's a production-based business, so you have to perform.”

More bullpen help
The Phillies signed Corey Knebel in December to be their closer. They recently agreed to a one-year deal with right-hander Jeurys Familia, according to sources.

“We’re still trying to bolster our bullpen,” Dombrowski said.