When the Phillies declined their 2017 option for Ryan Howard, they shed a financial burden that had plagued them since former general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. signed the monster deal in 2011. They have no long-term financial commitments outside of Odubel Herrera‘s recent extension, and they are expected to spend big when the time is right.
Team president Andy MacPhail said as much in a recent press conference:
“My experience has been that you can find the hitters. Particularly in our ballpark. And we have resources. When you have to sign pitchers through free agency, they’re fragile, they’re expensive.