Klentak: Phillies Inking ‘Mega Contract’ Could ‘Move the Needle’ Even Further

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Other than those considering qualifying offers from their 2018 club, most free agents will hit the open market on Friday at 5 p.m. The Philadelphia Phillies pose to be the most active this offseason, and have been considered to be the favorite to sign both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper.

Read: Klentak: Phillies ‘More Than Likely’ to Explore Long-Term Contracts in Free Agency

Phillies Vice President and General Manager Matt Klentak said Thursday on SportsRadio 94 WIP that if there's a "good deal," the club will "try to make it," and if there's not, it will "pivot to something else."

"It really just has to do with value and what we think the impact of a certain player would have on our team," Klentak said.



Signing Machado and/or Harper would surely add ample value to the Phillies organization. That's known. What is unknown, however, is how well the 2019 Phillies would succeed if they fail to land neither. 

"We have raised the floor of this organization in just about every realm. … At the Major League level, we got a quality player — a league-average-type player or better — just about at every spot now," Klentak said. "That got us to about 80 wins. I’m not suggesting we’ll do this, but rolling out the exact same team next year — just given age, development and likelihood of player improvement — would probably lead to an improved team."

Read: Klentak: Phillies Would 'Love’ to Sign ‘Front-Line’ Starting Pitcher

Klentak said the club needs to "evaluate" where it can "move the needle even further" and build upon manager Gabe Kapler's first season. "Could that come in the form of a mega contract for a free agent? Sure," Klentak said. "Is it necessary that we do that? I don’t think so. We have to be able to evaluate these things objectively, and if they make sense, we’ll do it."

The Phillies and Klentak know where they stand, and although they have ample opportunities to improve the club, they will not spend aimlessly this offseason.

"We’re a big market team. We have been very careful with our payroll commitments for a reason, and that reason is to put ourselves in a position to consider anything," Klentak said. "Now, as we embark on the offseason, we will consider anything.

"We know that we also cannot put ourselves in a spot where we have to do X, or have to do Y. If you put yourself in that position, you are bound to make bad decisions."

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