Phillies will spend big bucks in free agency, 'maybe even be a little bit stupid about it'

Bob Nightengale | USA TODAY

ATLANTA -- If anyone had any doubt about Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton’s intentions this winter, he made it abundantly clear before leaving the Major League Baseball owners’ meetings.

“We’re going into this expecting to spend money,’’ Middleton told USA TODAY Sports. “And maybe even be a little bit stupid about it.’’

Middleton laughed, then said without smiling: “We just prefer not to be completely stupid."

But, oh, how they will be spending.

Yes, he is talking about you, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.

The Phillies have just $68.9 million on the books in 2019, according to salary information obtained by USA TODAY Sports. That figure drops to $50.68 million in 2020 and plummets to $15.1 million in 2021.

“It’s exciting to contemplate what we may be able to do this off-season,’’ Middleton said. “We know the free agent class this year is really, really good.’’

Could they spend in excess of $700 million to land the two biggest fish in the free-agent sea?

“I don’t know who you’re referring to,’’ Middleton said, with a laugh. “But we will be spending.’’

The Phillies have been eyeing this winter for years, knowing they could land at least one of the two greatest young players to hit the marketplace in decades. They could sign Harper or Machado, and grab a marquee starter like Patrick Corbin or Dallas Keuchel, or All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel.

“We don’t have like one need,’’ Middleton said. “It’s not like we need a left-handed relief pitcher in the eighth inning. We got lots of ways to go to improve this ballclub. Starting pitching. Bullpen. In the field. At the plate.

“It’s good because it gives you the opportunity to explore a lot of different ways, but it’s difficult because it creates a lot of options. So, you’re talking to a lot of people, and do a lot of evaluations.’’

And at the same time, making friends who happen to be player-agents, who’d love to get a piece of that Phillies’ money pie. If not now, maybe in 2019 or 2020.

“Every free agent now is apparently my free agent,’’ Middleton said. “As Andy [MacPhail, Phillies president] likes to tell me, 'John, we are playing baseball after 2019, so, you can’t spend every last dime after this year.'

“You got to have something in the tank for future years.’’

The Phillies believe their window to win is opening. They were in first place in the NL East as late as Aug. 12, but failed to finish with a winning record for the seventh consecutive season, dropping to 80-82 and losing 20 of 28 games in September. Yet, their 14-game improvement in the wins column and young core have them believing they could be on the verge of greatness, resurrecting the days of 2007-2011 when they reached the postseason five consecutive years and won a World Series.

“If you look back at the end of the season, we quite frankly collapsed,’’ Middleton said. “But we’ve gotten better. It’s always more fun building and making progress, than the beginning of that rebuilding stage. There’s a lot of talk in Philadelphia about the off-season now.’’

The expectations have become so great in Philadelphia there would be a major meltdown if the Phillies don’t come away with either Harper or Machado, and a few other free agents or trade acquisitions.

“It makes it fun,’’ Middleton said, “but there’s a lot of pressure, too. ... We’re looking at it like if things break the right way, we could be a really good team next year.’’

General manager Matt Klentak already is besieged by an onslaught of agents and team executives.

“Matt is going to be a busy boy this winter,’’ Middleton said.

Follow Nightengale on Twitter @BNightengale