The Phillies’ winter picture gets a lot clearer if Aidan Miller is ready to become a real piece of the puzzle.
Philadelphia is already carrying a massive payroll, with Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, J.T. Realmuto, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber combining for $196.4 million. That kind of money leaves President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski with limited flexibility, and the roster still has plenty of holes to patch.
The list is long. The Phillies want another catcher to work with Realmuto, need at least one outfielder and maybe two, and could also use help in the infield. On the pitching side, they need rotation depth and still have to sort out the bullpen before closer Jhoan Duran.
That’s where Miller comes in. The top prospect missed almost the entire 2026 season because of a back injury, but he did return for a few games late in the year and has carried that momentum into the Arizona Fall League, where he has looked good.
Health is the key. If Miller can stay on the field, he should be in the club’s Major League plans in 2027. In fact, he was already trending that way for 2026 before injuries wiped out so much of his season.
His presence could also ease the pain of losing Alec Bohm and Luis Arraez, both free agents. Miller has shown he can handle shortstop, which opens the door for him to help if Trea Turner needs to move to the outfield.
There’s another layer here, too: money. Miller on a rookie deal would give the Phillies a much cheaper infield option than bringing back Bohm or Arraez, and that kind of savings would let Dombrowski attack other areas of the roster.
It would also keep the path open. If Bohm or Arraez returned on a multi-year deal, that would block Miller from a Major League spot. Ideally, he proves ready so the Phillies can spend their resources elsewhere.
That matters because the market is going to be expensive. Free-agent outfielders Randy Arozarena and Seiya Suzuki are expected to cost plenty, and Adrian Morejon is the top left-handed relief pitcher available. If Miller is part of the equation, taking on a multi-year deal for one of those names becomes a lot easier to handle.
Miller’s speed adds another wrinkle. The Phillies want to use their legs more in 2027, and he has the kind of game-breaking speed they’d like to tap into. Of course, speed only matters if players are getting on base, and that was a problem for Philadelphia.
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