This winter there will be two players at the top of the free-agency market: Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon. The two superstar free-agents will dominate the baseball news cycle until they are signed, though probably not to the extent of last year’s Macharper spectacle. Both players will likely be looking for lucrative, long-term deals and the Phillies have already been in the conversation for both. It’s clear that John Middleton considers the Phillies in a win-now stage, with the additions of Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen, David Robertson (though his 2019 season was a bust with injury), J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper all since last December, plus the addition of Joe Girardi as the new manager.
Anthony Rendon should not be the Phillies’ priority this winter
