Phillies predicted to sign $61M 4-time Gold Glove winner, ex-Cubs switch-hitting bat to fill need originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies needed to figure out who their manager would be in 2027 before making plans for the players they want to bring in during free agency. This is a crucial offseason for the organization, as it hasn’t won a playoff series in the last few years.
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The Atlanta Braves ended the Phillies’ season in the Wild Card Series, which certainly left a sour taste in Philadelphia’s mouth heading into the offseason. After the loss, Bryce Harper revealed that he believed the team would look different next season.
“I’d imagine this team is going to look a lot different next year,” Harper told the media.
One thing Philadelphia must address this winter is its outfield problem, which has plagued the team over the last couple of seasons. If the Phillies can figure it out, they will have a strong lineup from top to bottom.
“Of the areas that the team needs to address, not much has changed over the last couple of years. This is still a group that needs more offensively from their outfield and also better pitching from the bullpen. In terms of free agency, these should certainly be the areas that they are focused on, but it might not be the only one,” SI’s Nick Ziegler wrote.
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The Phillies need a reliable bat in the outfield. For this reason, SI’s Kenneth Teape believes they should pursue Ian Happ.
“His body of work and track record speak for themselves. He would provide the Phillies with a source of power, hitting at least 17 home runs in six straight seasons, five of which he hit at least 21. Happ has a .341 career on-base percentage, which would be a massive boost for Philadelphia. Arguably the most important thing is his defense. A four-time Gold Glove Award winner, he would provide a major boost in the field. The Phillies were abysmal defensively in 2026, and that has to change moving forward. With six consecutive seasons of 148+ games played, Happ is a reliable option for an outfield short on such players,” Teape wrote.
This would be a good addition for Philadelphia, as Happ is one of the more consistent switch-hitters in the league. The Phillies could also potentially get him at a reasonable cost. On top of that, he has won four Gold Glove Awards.
Happ played under a $61 million contract with the Chicago Cubs this past season. Philadelphia needs an outfielder it can trust at the plate without having to rely on a platoon, and Happ could be that player.
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