PHILADELPHIA -- Dave Dombrowski emphasized at this week's General Managers Meetings the importance of finding a legitimate outfielder before Opening Day 2027.
Is an outfielder like Teruaki Sato, Seiya Suzuki or Randy Arozarena the No. 1 priority on his list? He couldn’t say. But he could say what wasn’t on that list.
“It's not starting pitching,” Dombrowski said. “It’s not closer.”
Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez learned on Wednesday night that he finished second for the BBWAA’s National League Cy Young Award. Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski won the NL Cy Young Award in unanimous fashion. It’s the second consecutive year in which Sánchez finished second for the NL Cy Young Award. Meanwhile, Phillies closer Jhoan Duran placed second for the BBWAA’s inaugural NL Reliever of the Year Award, finishing behind San Diego’s Mason Miller.
Sánchez and Duran are two reasons why Dombrowski is looking to upgrade elsewhere on the roster.
Sánchez went 18-7 with a 2.91 ERA in 33 starts this season. He led MLB in wins and bWAR (8.1). He tied for the NL lead in starts (33), quality starts (22), complete games (one) and shutouts (one). He ranked second in strikeouts (231), fWAR (6.2) and innings pitched (207). He finished third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.13); fourth in walks per nine innings (1.96) and FIP (2.80); and sixth in ERA.
The left-hander had a 50 2/3-inning scoreless streak from late April to early June, which was the longest in Phillies history -- and the fifth-longest single-season streak since 1893 (when the mound moved to its current distance). It’s also the longest by any left-handed pitcher.
Duran had a 1.82 ERA, 33 saves and a 3.4 bWAR.