With the non-tender market about to open into what could be a frantic few days, the Phillies have a chance to shop for help before the rest of baseball settles in. The timing is unusual, with the self-imposed lockout deadline coming only 11 days after MLB’s last date to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players, and that could make this a rare window for Dave Dombrowski to attack roster holes.
Philadelphia has plenty to sort through, but not every need is going to be solved by this group. Third base and corner outfield still look like spots that will demand more than these bargain options can provide. Even so, the Phillies could use this stretch to hunt for upgrades in the infield bench role, the backup catcher spot and a left-handed reliever.
Andrew Nardi fits the kind of low-cost gamble Dombrowski has made before. The lefty misses bats at a huge clip, with a career 12.1 K/9 and a 4.0 BB/9 across 144.1 innings.
The catch is the health history: since 2024, he’s lost a full season to a back injury and is now rehabbing from season-ending elbow surgery after posting a 5.16 ERA last year. His return timetable points to late in the 2027 season.
Still, if the lockout wipes out the first half of the year, a shutdown lefty available for August and September could suddenly look a lot more useful. He’s also under team control through 2028.
There’s also a catcher angle worth watching. Logan O’Hoppe was blocked by J.T.
Realmuto and traded at the 2022 deadline, and for a while it looked like that might be the end of the story. Instead, his time with the Los Angeles Angels never really took off.
O’Hoppe said his time there was “the hardest four years of my baseball life.” His brief stop with the Texas Rangers late in the season was better - he went 6-for-17 in 10 games as a backup catcher - but it still only scratched the surface of what he’s shown at the plate.
The defense remains a question, though there’s obvious appeal in letting him work alongside Realmuto, a three-time Silver Slugger and four-time Gold Glove winner.
Mark Vientos is another name that should have the Phillies paying attention. He hammered them in the 2024 NLDS, going deep twice and posting a 1.674 OPS.
Since then, the bat has cooled, with a .225/.277/.405 line and a loss of favor with the New York Mets. The upside is still there, especially for a 26-year-old power hitter, and new Phillies hitting coach Peter Fatse would likely welcome the chance to unlock it.
The bigger question is whether Vientos can handle third base, where he appeared in only three games last year. If the Phillies think he can be a right-handed option there, he becomes a very sensible target.
Camilo Doval brings a different kind of upside. He was one of the best closers in baseball with the San Francisco Giants from 2021 to 2025, even if the ride was bumpy at times.
After being traded to the New York Yankees at the 2025 deadline, he struggled to a 4.82 ERA over 18.2 innings, then bounced around three teams in 2026 before ending back with the Giants. He finished that season with a 4.15 ERA and is projected to command more than $8 million in arbitration, which is a lot for a pitcher with that kind of volatility.
If he reaches the market later this month, the Phillies should be in early. Caleb Cotham’s track record with volatile relievers only makes the fit more intriguing.
Joey Bart is another catcher who could be had at the right price. The former second overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft never solved big league pitching, and his -14 career catching runs, according to Savant, are a real warning sign.
But for a player with his tools, and at the cost he figures to bring, he’s the sort of backup option the Phillies can at least explore. There are worse ways to fill that job.
Nolan Gorman rounds out the list as a possible bench bat with some pop. He looked like part of the Cardinals’ long-term core after 2023, but the strikeouts have piled up and he’s now without a clear home at Busch Stadium.
Defensively, he’s passable at second or third base, even if Gold Gloves aren’t in the picture. His walk rate and launch angle are both strong, and his offensive profile is similar to Brandon Marsh’s.
Coming off the bench, that’s not a bad kind of player to have.
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Navarreto brings some big league experience from his time with the Miami Marlins, and his presence gives Philadelphia another option to sort through in camp. He is expected to begin the season at Triple-A, which makes him a flexible piece in the organization, but the real interest is whether he can push himself into the conversation for a more meaningful role if the Phillies decide their backup catching picture still needs more clarity. [Read more 🡒]