Major League Baseball executives convened in Las Vegas for the annual General Manager Meetings, where two National League East franchises showcased contrasting off-season approaches. The Philadelphia Phillies are navigating a roster balance between championship ambitions and high financial commitments to aging veterans, while the New York Mets are making starting pitching their primary offseason target.
Phillies Weigh High Payroll Against Aging Roster
The Philadelphia Phillies enter the offseason with a roster capable of competing with top franchises, yet their foundational core is getting older. Speaking at the GM Meetings on Tuesday, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged the squad’s current demographic profile and financial reality.
“We have a lot of high-end salary players, and they’re not young, they’re not old, but they’re in that age bracket that you have to make a decision,” Dombrowski said. “Maybe we have enough high-end players, and we need to complement them with other players overall. That’s a decision we have to make.”
The franchise has an estimated payroll of $247 million projected for 2027. Approximately $164 million—representing nearly two-thirds of that total—is tied to players who will be 34 or older. That veteran group includes Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and pitcher Zack Wheeler, who is heading into his age-37 season while Harper and Schwarber enter their age-34 campaigns. Furthermore, shortstop Trea Turner and starting pitcher Aaron Nola will both turn 34 in June, accounting for a combined $51.8 million salary allocation in 2027.
Dombrowski outlined several immediate positional requirements, noting that Philadelphia is looking for an outfielder, right-handed offensive help, a versatile infielder, and additional depth in the bullpen. While Dombrowski expressed caution over the potential cost of filling every need, owner John Middleton remains willing to authorize spending for appropriate opportunities, with free agent outfielder Seiya Suzuki among the candidates under consideration.
Internal development is also being evaluated as a key component of the roster construction. Dombrowski highlighted 22-year-old infield prospect Aidan Miller as a potential major league contributor, a factor made more relevant following Trea Turner’s performance struggles at shortstop during 2026.
“I really am not going to ever anoint a young player a position,” Dombrowski said. “I do think he has the capabilities, and it’s just not me. Anybody that’s seen him, and people from other organizations probably saying, ‘Wow, you still have to earn the spot, but I think that, as it stands, that would be very helpful for us to have that consideration.’ And frankly, I’m hoping he does. I’m not giving it to him. But I’m hoping that he does.”
Mets Pursue Top Free Agent Tarik Skubal
In Queens, the New York Mets are prioritizing the recruitment of elite rotation talent following a disappointing 74-88 season that left them at the bottom of the NL East. The team’s starting rotation posted a 4.47 ERA, marking the seventh-worst output in the league.
Top free-agent left-hander Tarik Skubal is scheduled to meet with the Mets next week. Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes stated on Tuesday that his club has also been in discussion with Skubal and intends to set up a meeting, positioning New York and Los Angeles as current leading suitors alongside interest from teams such as the San Diego Padres.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns declined to speak directly about pursuit of Skubal, adhering to standard protocol, but emphasized the overarching goal for New York’s rotation.
“Having a complete rotation is really important, and that includes having pitchers who can successfully get you through a postseason and get you through a playoff series,” Stearns said. “We’ve seen over and over again in the playoffs that that can be constructed in a variety of different ways, and so we’re open to doing it in any way possible.”
The pursuit of premier starting pitching comes after several roster shifts during the 2026 campaign. New York traded Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays at the midseason deadline after an initial slump; Peralta subsequently rebounded to help lead Tampa Bay to the World Series and is now a free agent. The Mets also traded converted starter Clay Holmes to the Chicago Cubs at the deadline, and he has likewise entered free agency.
Existing rotation members Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea remain under contract through 2027, with Senga holding a $15 million option for 2028 that is expected to be declined. Owner Steve Cohen’s financial resources position the Mets to pursue major commitments, though Stearns stressed that any contract duration would depend on the player.
“Every situation is unique,” Stearns said. “It’s been well-publicized, even since I’ve been here, we’ve engaged in extremely long-term negotiations for pitchers. We will do so again, but the situation matters. The specific circumstances matter. We do have to look at every individual pitcher on a case-by-case basis.”
