It may seem contrary that a rebuilding team acquires five players older than 32 during an offseason, but that’s just what the Phillies have done. Sean Burnett, Howie Kendrick and Daniel Nava are 33. Pat Neshek is 36. Joaquin Benoit is 39.
And yet they’re still rebuilding. We’re being told, through a glut of stories published Friday and Saturday, that the Phillies are patiently waiting for the right moment to strike big in free agency. And if you’re keeping track on contract terms, the moment is likely to be around December 2018, when players like Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and Clayton Kershaw could enter the free agent market.