Arrieta's addition may be able to entice more high-profile players to join the PhilliesGETTY IMAGES
Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton has his "sights set on next winter when some of baseball’s biggest stars like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado hit the market," according to Matt Breen of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Middleton gave the OK to Phillies GM Matt Klentak to spend $169M this winter on "four free agents." The Phillies only have three players -- P Jake Arrieta, 1B Carlos Santana, and CF Odubel Herrera -- "under contract after next season." They have a roster "composed heavily of players who have yet to even reach arbitration, leaving the Phillies enormous payroll flexibility." Nothing the Phillies spent this offseason will "limit them next winter." Middleton said next year’s free agents “would notice" what the Phillies did this offseason. And the team "hopes those four investments make them an even more attractive landing spot for the likes of Harper and Machado." MLB agent Scott Boras, who represents both Arrieta and Harper, said, "When you have players like Jake on the team, you’ve now crossed the bridge" (PHILLY.com, 3/13).
FLYING HIGH: NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA's Jim Salisbury wrote the Phillies are "back in the free-agent game." Not only by signing Arrieta to a three-year, $75M contract on Monday, but also with how they "transported and welcomed the pitcher to spring training." After Arrieta's physical was completed on Monday he was driven to Philadelphia Int'l Airport, where Middleton’s private jet -- "adorned with the Phillies’ red P on the tail -- awaited." Arrieta and one of his representatives then "flew to Florida's East Coast, picked up Middleton and his wife, Leigh, and jetted across the state to St. Petersburg," where four Phillies execs "waited on the tarmac." The entire event was "captured Hollywood-style by two team videographers and posted on social media." Middleton said, "I want people to understand that we’re going to do things in the best way we can possibly do it -- first class. It’s a message to everybody, not just free agents." Boras: "Jake goes to Philadelphia for a physical and the Middleton family has its plane waiting to take him down here. A lot of organizations don’t do that" (NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.com, 3/13).
