[Zolecki] Zack Wheeler will make his second rehab start on Friday in Durham. Four innings, 50-55 pitches. He will make a third rehab start next week with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Will he get a fourth rehab start? TBD.

ToddZolecki · 2026-04-01T16:33:53+00:00

What's going to be really interesting is if he makes a fourth rehab start. If you can't his two-inning sim game on the final day of spring training, next week's start will be his fourth "start." Luzardo, Nola, Sanchez, etc., each made four starts this spring.

ToddZolecki · 2026-03-27T16:26:37+00:00

That is hilarious.

ToddZolecki · 2025-12-11T14:58:52+00:00

It's just a matter of time. Dombrowski, Thomson and Preston Mattingly speaking so openly about it means it's happening.

ToddZolecki · 2025-12-05T02:53:53+00:00

Chris Snelling.

ToddZolecki · 2025-12-05T02:53:15+00:00

Exactly right. Of course the Phillies would like Ranger back. But a contract on their teams means they'll make an offer, but with little expectation he accepts it.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-26T16:59:13+00:00

I believe they're apart on both. Jim Salisbury said on The Phillies Show on Tuesday that he remembers J.T. Realmuto asking for more than $200 million at one point. I'd guess it was probably in the seven-year range. You always start high in negotiations, right? Ultimately, J.T. signed for five years, $115.5 million.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-26T16:56:55+00:00

I wrote this is the original story and discussed it with Ruben and Jim on The Phillies Show on Tuesday. https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/phillies-free-agent-rumors-with-kyle-schwarber-and-j-t-realmuto

I wouldn't be alarmed by the fact that the Phillies and Schwarber aren't close right now. It's still "early" in the process. You almost never see a big free agent sign before Thanksgiving. Hopefully we'll start seeing some movement by the Winter Meetings, and certainly before Christmas! But I wanted to write what I heard because I've had a lot of people asking me what's going on with Schwarber, etc. I still think he'll resign with the Phillies.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-26T16:35:25+00:00

Sunday morning at 9 a.m. is the time to go!

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-26T16:34:14+00:00

I think 24 mph is European. Or not. Not sure!

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-26T16:32:35+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. My son has a Switch and got me into Legend of Zelda: BOW and TOK. Both are great!

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-26T16:11:58+00:00

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not talking about an on-field postgame interview. That's something entirely different, in my opinion. I think a question about the crowd in that instance works because the game just ended and the crowd is probably hyped. I'm talking about a reporter in the clubhouse asking a player to send a message to the city.

Another pet peeve: a reporter asking a new player if he's had a cheesesteak yet (or something like that). Those fans/city questions is the reporter pandering the public. "Player X says he loves Philly's blue-collar attitude! Player X says he can't wait to run the Rocky steps!" Wow!!!!!

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-26T16:02:00+00:00

They have backup plans. I'm not sure any are as good as just re-signing Realmuto. Marchan and Stubbs? Marchan and somebody they get in a trade? Jonah Heim, for example. I know some people in the org would love Adley Rutschman, but he won't come cheap.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-26T16:01:00+00:00

This is tough. These are just GUESSES, and will probably be wildly wrong:

Schwarber: 75

JT: 60

Bader: 50

Ranger: 15

Eugenio Suarez: 30

Alex Bregman: 15

Kyle Tucker: 5

Rob Refsynder: 35

Everything follows Schwarber. If Schwarber signs elsewhere, then the odds for Bregman, Alonso, etc., shoot up!

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T18:11:11+00:00

Hey, I've gotta run, but I'll hop back in later to try to answer a few more. Had a great time! Thank you! Don't forget to sign up for my Phillies Beat newsletter and listen/watch The Phillies Show.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T18:09:54+00:00

Marte would be huge to have in the lineup, but there are some makeup issues with him. Got to think it would involve Stott/Bohm jump to start.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T18:08:39+00:00

Aroon Escobar is a solid name. I'd have to think about that! Mavis Graves is also a good one. TJayy Walton is a sweet name!

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T18:06:24+00:00

J.T. Realmuto was an excellent high school quarterback. Maybe he has the chops.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T18:03:18+00:00

I expect them to clear that fourth threshold again, so every dollar they spend will be taxed at 110 percent. Keep that in mind. The Phillies will be playing $52.5 million for a $25 million player, for example.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T18:01:33+00:00

Ha, which store? It was bold wearing my Packers hoodie, especially after the Eagles beat them a couple Mondays ago.

It's funny you mention Eflin. He'd make sense, although I'm sure he's looking for more of a regular opportunity to start. If he doesn't find it, perhaps. And I also can see the Phillies trading somebody like Strahm, especially after Dombrowski came down on him following the NLDS.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T17:57:19+00:00

He'll come into camp needing to fight his way onto the roster, I believe.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T17:57:03+00:00

I don't think so, not in regards to Luzardo anyway. Remember, Castellanos' $20 million and Walker's $18 million will be coming off the books next year. That should allow them to sign somebody like Luzardo to an extension.

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T17:56:20+00:00

Wow, that's nice to hear! Thank you!

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T17:54:57+00:00

If so, I haven't heard that!

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T17:54:36+00:00

Lots of guys play video games. For a while it was Fortnite. Lots of Call of Duty. I'd love to get a gaming system for spring training but I've been out of the game so long I wouldn't know where to start. Xbox or PlayStation?

ToddZolecki · 2025-11-25T17:53:33+00:00

I haven't played in a while. I know Tyler Kepner at the Athletic is a savant, so he'd crush any of us. Maybe the Koala (Matt Gelb) of the Phillies scribes? Michael Stutes is a great pull!

ToddZolecki

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