The likes of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies aren't getting any younger, with all of them being over 30 or close to that age. That puts a timeline on the club to win a World Series in the next one or two years before they could go for a massive overhaul, according to Phillies insider Jim Salisbury.
On Tuesday's "The Phillies Show," Salisbury put a World Series clock on Phillies nucleus before it disintegrates.
"The odometer is up there on this nucleus. Wheeler will be 35 next year. Nola is a high-mileage guy. Harper, Schwarber, Castellanos, and Realmuto are all north of 30. If they’re going to win one, they’ve got to win one in the next year or two," Salisbury said (16:40 onwards).
That comes in the wake of Jesus Lazardo trade who joins Phillies starting rotation, prompting trade rumors for Ranger Suarez.
"So, you know, Suárez really fits that window, and Luzardo, with two years of control, really fits that window as well. I liked their personnel even before the Winter Meetings, and I like it a lot more since the Winter Meetings," Salisbury added.
Phillies offseason moves setting up for a deep run next season
It's been a dull offseason for the Philadelphia Phillies, but in the last week and so, the team has picked pace. They traded for southpaw Jesus Lazardo and minor league catcher/outfielder Paul McIntosh from the Miami Marlins in exchange for shortstop Starlyn Caba (Phillies' No. 4 prospect) and outfielder Emaarion Boyd (Phillies' No. 23 prospect).
Before that, Max Kepler and the Phillies finalized their one-year, $10 million deal, adding former Twins longtime outfielder to their ranks.
Much of the Phillies offseason will be centered around Ranger Suarez who'll become a free agent after the 2025 season. Trading him now could give the Phillies a good outfield bat, but according to Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report, the club isn't expected to pull off a trade involving Suarez just yet.
In 2024, Suarez went 12-8 with a 3.46 ERA. He was named to his first All-Star team. Retaining him should help Phillies rotation, which already looks star-studded.