#Dave Dombrowski

In stretching out Trea Turner's $300 million contract over 11 years, the Phillies diluted the average annual salary for luxury-tax purposes and payroll flexibility. It's the approach they took four years ago in signing Bryce Harper. The length of Turner's deal, like Harper's 13-year pact, was predicated on economics, not baseball. But the Phillies…

It isn't a secret. Not after more than three decades of building major-league rosters. When it comes to pitching, Dave Dombrowski has a type. "I've always believed in power arms," he said two years ago after getting hired to head up the Phillies' baseball operations. "That's something I grew up with in the White Sox organization. We had a lot of…

After signing with the Atlanta Braves as a free agent 13 years ago, Billy Wagner heard from pitching coach Roger McDowell, who mentioned a young, power-armed reliever with whom team officials were enamored. "You're going to think he's your twin," McDowell said. A few weeks later, Wagner met Craig Kimbrel and saw what the Braves saw. Wagner is…

It's not the Rafael Devers news Red Sox fans were hoping for. Tuesday afternoon, the Red Sox agreed to a one-year deal with Devers that will cover his final year of salary arbitration and pay him $17.5 million in 2023, as first reported by ESPN and later announced by the club. At the very least, the team will avoid taking Devers to arbitration,…

The Boston Red Sox signed another older, arm-weary pitcher, Corey Kluber to a two-year deal for maybe as much as $27M to join their starting rotation. Kluber, 37 in April, was once one of the best pitchers alive, winning Cy Young awards in both 2014 and 2017. Those were part of a six-year run of excellence with Cleveland from 2013 to 2018, with…

It's late December, and you know what that means. My peers across the media industry are proudly sharing their favorite stories of the past year, an often self-indulgent practice I'm allowed to poke fun at because I've definitely done it myself. But as I looked back at the words and sentences I put together in 2022, it occurred to me I have been…

The Philadelphia Phillies faithful are performing their annual ritual to improve on last summer's finish. Unfortunately, armchair GMs have no monetary limits plus endless prospects to pry loose a star from another franchise. But they want a stud for what they want to unload. Why would another club want the player you don't? Hint: They…

PHILADELPHIA - When the contingent of three Phillies officials - Dave Dombrowski, Sam Fuld and Rob Thomson - met Trea Turner and his wife, Kristen, at their home in Florida, it was Dombrowski who did most of the talking. The visit before Thanksgiving lasted three hours. And, when Turner reported back to his agents, there was something that stuck…

The Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2022 regular season with playoff expectations. But World Series aspirations? Even the most ardent Phillies supporter had to be surprised with the Phillies' deep playoff run to within two games of a World Series title. Even without Bryce Harper until at least mid-July following Tommy John surgery, the…

PHILADELPHIA -- Trea Turner has 11 years to get dirty, so Thursday at Citizens Bank Park he put on his crisp, clean, new No. 7 Phillies jersey. "I don't want to mess with my hair," Turner joked. "He called a couple of days ago and I missed him," Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. "I called him back and he missed me. He…

By Ken Rosenthal, Fabian Ardaya and Matt Gelb Free-agent shortstop Trea Turner and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to an 11-year, $300 million deal with a full no-trade clause, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Monday. ESPN first reported the news. Here's what you need to know: Turner ranks as No. 5 on The Athletic's Jim Bowden's…

Last year's star-studded free-agent shortstop class is followed by another one, possibly even better than the previous. This one includes four of the top-10 players in fWAR among shortstops, including Dansby Swanson, who ranked second (6.4). Swanson is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, ranking second in defensive runs above average.…

Years ago, before John Middleton became the face of the Phillies' ownership group, Jimmy Rollins equated him with George Steinbrenner. It's a comparison that Middleton never minded. Because the late Yankees owner was notoriously obsessed with winning, a trait that is admirable to a former college wrestler-turned-billionaire baseball owner. And like…

J.D. Martinez, Michael Wacha, Nathan Eovaldi, Matt Strahm and Rich Hill became free agents at 9 a.m. Sunday. A vital Red Sox offseason has started. Xander Bogaerts and Tommy Pham are expected to join them in free agency soon. Bogaerts has until Tuesday to opt out of the remaining three years, $60 million left on his contract. He's expected to do…

The Boston Red Sox have plenty of work to do this offseason, but finding a way to keep Xander Bogaerts is priority No. 1. That won't be an easy task. Bogaerts reportedly has already received interest from a number of teams in free agency including the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres. Chaim Bloom and the Red Sox front…

Earlier this fall, 10-year veteran starting pitcher Kyle Gibson got his first taste of Championship Series and World Series postseason baseball as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. While Gibson did not pitch in the Wild Card Series and NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves, respectively, the right-hander did see NLCS and…

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Five years ago, John Middleton blurted out that the Phillies were ready to spend "stupid money." Middleton followed through in the years since. Since 2019, the Phillies have spent big money. Some names include Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos. Throw in Didi Gregorious, Andrew…

Phillies Nation writers share their one bold prediction for the 2022-23 offseason. Tim Kelly - Editorial Director Prediction: Phillies reach a long-term deal with Ranger Suárez Over the past two years, Suárez has demonstrated that he's unflappable, regardless of what role he's put into. He's also been one of the best fielders among all pitchers in…

The Philadelphia Phillies have announced a three-year extension for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports. The deal will take him through 2027 with the Phillies. BUY PHILLIES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTER Dombrowski has been in this role with Philadelphia since 2020.…

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match. Find me an arm, catch me a bat... Front-office executives won't be serenading potential free agents with bad baseball puns sung to the tune of the "Fiddler on the Roof" classic, but they'll all be trying to upgrade their respective rosters in the coming weeks and months. With that in mind, it's time for our…

The Philadelphia Phillies will be in on some of the biggest names in MLB free agency. Players such as shortstops Trea Turner, Xander Boagaerts and Carlos Correa have already been connected to the Phillies. Pitchers like Justin Verlander and yes, even Jacob deGrom have garnered some attention. But, what about the jewel prize of the free agency class…

These past few years have been tough for baseball. First the sport was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, then it dealt with the financial fallout of the shortened 2020 season, and last year the offseason was overshadowed by labor strife and eventually a lockout the shut down the sport for 99 days. Now, finally, we're heading into a somewhat normal…

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Padres have steamrolled two 100+ win teams this season Phillies just knocked out defending champion Atlanta Philadelphia won season series 5-4 Both the San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies have the talent to make it to the World Series, but that doesn't mean their respective appearances in the NLCS series…

PHILADELPHIA - Phillies outfielder/designated hitter Bryce Harper will have surgery next Wednesday with noted surgeon Neal ElAttrache on his ailing right elbow, putting the beginning of his 2023 season in doubt. Harper injured the elbow in April and spent the rest of the season at designated hitter - save for a two-month stint when he was also…

The New York Yankees made the first major free agent move of the offseason when they re-signed a power hitter. Yet Aaron Judge remains on the open market. The Yankees locked first baseman Anthony Rizzo into a two-year, $40-million contract earlier this week. Owner Hal Steinbrenner says his team very much wants to bring back Judge, who is expected…

Two-time National League Cy Young Award winner and four-time All-Star Jacob deGrom rejected the qualifying offer Tuesday, and is now a free agent, free to sign with any team. The New York Mets are the betting favorites to retain their ace, but where could deGrom go, if he were to sign with another team on the open market? Here are five potential…

Rumors have been floating since the middle of the summer, but after a miraculous run to the World Series, the Phillies will definitely be looking to upgrade through free agency in an effort to make it back. Consistent through all the whispers and speculation over the past several months is shortstop and the two biggest available names to play…

Trea Turner has been ranked anywhere from the top free agent available to the fifth-best free agent available, and the market for his services is rather fascinating. The last time a free-agent shortstop who had most recently played for the Dodgers signed with a new team - um, last offseason - Corey Seager chose the rebuilding Texas Rangers. That…

Xander Bogaerts batted.307 with 15 home runs, 73 RBIs and 84 runs scored for a Red Sox team that finished in last place in the American League East - not a place the proud franchise expects to end up. The four-time All-Star shortstop is on the market after opting out of the final three years of his deal with Boston that would have paid him $60…

2022 was a season of a lifetime for both the Philadelphia Phillies and Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. The Phillies went on a miracle run to the World Series, and the team has recaptured the hearts of Philadelphia. The team won the National League even after finishing with just 87 wins during the regular season. The club went to the big dance, but…

LAS VEGAS - When the Phillies clawed back against the Padres to win Game 5 of the National League Championship Series and clinch a trip to the World Series, they sent a message to the rest of the majors. ''I think it shows you [that] if you get in and you play well, anything can happen,'' Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski…

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Bryce Harper stepped off the team bus after it pulled up outside Citizens Bank Park and posed with fans for selfies - including a little kid who dressed like the Phillies slugger - and waved goodbye to the small party of fans. With that, Harper walked away and into the offseason, one that could include surgery. Harper's need to…

The Philadelphia Phillies are not the same team from a month ago. The personnel didn't change; the players, coaching staff, and front office are identical. But they're somehow a different club anyway. How exactly did that happen? They've morphed from a team that fired its manager in June and finished the regular season 87-75 - losing eight of its…

The Philadelphia Phillies weren't assembled to small-ball teams to death. Yes, they can put together hit parades with the best of them, but this is a team constructed to hit dingers - and hit dingers they did on Tuesday night. In a game delayed a day by rain, the Phillies, back in the World Series for the first time since, well, only 2009, tuned…

Welcome to the real October. The World Series begins on Friday, October 28 in Houston, where the first two games will be played, then three in Philadelphia, then the final two games (if necessary) back in Houston. The 2022 World Series is set between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies. Both teams had incredible seasons, but had…

Dave Dombrowski has had a ton of success over his many years as a front office executive. Dombrowski was at the helm of the Detroit Tigers front office when they went to the World Series in 2006 and again in 2012. He also was the president of baseball operations when the Boston Red Sox won it all in 2018. Four years later, he is the general manager…

This is a blog series I put together on the 8 MLB Wild Card playoff teams. Hopefully it helps improve your MLB playoff experience whether you're a diehard like me or just getting into the season and don't know where to start. And of course - follow Starting 9 for world class MLB playoff coverage. Let's get into it: But first you guys should know…

When Zack Wheeler walked into the manager's office on Aug. 25, the Phillies had the fifth-best record in the National League and a 3½-game lead (4½ games including a head-to-head tiebreaker) over the Milwaukee Brewers for the last playoff spot. It was time to make a calculation. Five days earlier, toward the end of a 5⅓-inning start against the New…

The last time the Philadelphia Phillies were this close to playing meaningful October baseball, Charlie Manuel was at the helm of a team that made the postseason in five straight seasons - a stretch that started in 2007 and was capped off with a franchise-best 102-win season in 2011. The 2008 World Series champion recently joined SportsRadio…

Every now and then, a helpful thing to do is to take a step back and ask yourself three simple questions. Who am I? Why am I doing what I am doing? What is my endgame? These questions are as applicable to organizations as they are to individuals. For the Phillies, they've never been more applicable than they will be over the next seven days. It's…