While the Phillies will have three days during the Winter Meetings to strike a bargain, the competition for mid-rotation arms will be fierce for general manager Matt Klentak, and he’ll need every ounce of creativity and some good fortune to succeed.

Pros and cons:

The Philadelphia Phillies are in no position to overpay for pitching because they are not a contending team. But moving Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis without filling a need is not the answer.

IN OTHER WORDS: “Additional problems are the offspring of poor solutions.” – Mark Twain

With the powwows and horse-trading ahead from Dec. 10 to Dec. 12, Klentak will negotiate to improve the Phils to the next step in rebuilding toward a more competitive product on the diamond. A valiant endeavor.

To figure out the possibilities for the front office, it requires determining areas of strength and weakness along with the value of available talent. But if they swap a regular, the replacement will be an essential factor in the equation.

In the “have” column, the red pinstripes will continue with their three outfielders, their corner infielders and two of their catchers. And that leaves Tommy Joseph, Cameron Rupp, Hernandez and Galvis as the favorites for a new employment address.

Removing Hernandez and Galvis from the Opening Day roster, the hometown nine must count on J.P. Crawford and Scott Kingery as the new double-play combo. But what will Klentak receive for Hernandez and/or Galvis, and will it be worth it?

With four position players to deal, the need is strictly for hurlers. And an expensive closer isn’t at the top of the wish list. In other words, the organization has an ace and a handful of other starters.

In an October interview, Phillies president Andy MacPhail stated that he told the owners he didn’t expect to be signing free agents: limited options. So, making a trade is the only other route for a major acquisition, but contenders will overpay for a solid rotation piece.