The Philadelphia Phillies' 2014 season was the 132nd in the history of the franchise. After a disappointing 2013, the Phillies entered the offseason with a strategy to reload rather than rebuild; they did not want to relinquish the opportunity to do well in 2014 in hopes of being competitive down the road. Commensurate with this strategy, among their key acquisitions were right fielder Marlon Byrd and starting pitcher A. J. Burnett. The Phillies began the season with new coaches (as Ryne Sandberg entered his first season as manager after taking over on an interim basis in August 2013) and new broadcasters: Jamie Moyer and Matt Stairs, two members of the 2008 World Series squad, replaced Chris Wheeler and Gary Matthews as analysts on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia.
After offseason headlines indicated a tenuous relationship between Sandberg and shortstop Jimmy Rollins and controversy about draft picks who did not sign with the team, the season began auspiciously with an opening-day win. However, the Phillies then lost their next two games. April continued in that fashion; the team played .500 ball in their first 26 games, exceeding expectations. One commentator called them "pleasantly mediocre", despite a horrific performance from the bullpen. May was a frustrating month for the Phillies; failing to win games they were in a position to win, they posted an 11–16 record and a .230 team batting average (the worst in the National League). June was almost as bad; although the team had 12 wins and 17 losses, the bullpen improved to one of the best in the NL. In the 2014 Major League Baseball draft that month the Phillies selected Aaron Nola as their first-round pick, encouraging optimism from fans and the media. Although the Phillies began July at the bottom of the National League East Division, they amassed a five-game winning streak shortly before the All-Star break. This moved them to within nine games of .500, but they lost the last two games and had a 42–53 record at the break.
As the trade deadline approached, it was speculated that the Phillies would surrender older players to obtain younger ones. They made two deals, neither involving key components of the team. In August they had their best month of the season: a 14–13 record, thanks to strong pitching and adequate hitting. Although the Phillies began September with four pitchers combining for a no-hitter, their month deteriorated from there. The squad had an 11–15 record, finishing the season with 73 wins and 89 losses. Significant personnel changes on the field and in the front office were expected during the offseason.
Preceding offseason
Player transactions The Phillies entered the offseason with a strategy of "reloading, not rebuilding". According to Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Bold best describes what Rubén Amaro Jr. has done so far in putting together the 2014 Phillies and it sure is appropriate that the word ends with the letters O-L-D." The team wanted to re-sign Carlos Ruiz (or find another catcher) and sign a right-handed-hitting corner outfielder and a middle-of-the-rotation starter to supplement Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee after the departure of Roy Halladay and the discovery of medical problems in Cuban Miguel Alfredo González, signed by the Phillies the previous summer.
Players becoming free agents Outfielder Roger Bernadina – Signed minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on January 31, 2014. Right-hand pitcher Roy Halladay – Announced his retirement from baseball as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays on December 9, 2013. Left-hand pitcher César Jiménez – Re-signed with the Phillies on November 15, 2013. Left-hand pitcher John Lannan – Signed a minor-league contract with the New York Mets on January 18, 2014. Catcher Steven Lerud – Signed a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves on January 13, 2014. Infielder Michael Martínez – Signed a minor-league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 13, 2013. Right-hand pitcher Zach Miner – Signed a minor-league contract with the Seattle Mariners on February 11, 2014. Infielder Pete Orr – Signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on January 27, 2014. Right-hand pitcher J. C. Ramírez – Signed a minor-league contract with the Cleveland Indians on November 1, 2013. Catcher Carlos Ruiz – Re-signed with the Phillies on November 18, 2013. Outfielder Casper Wells – Signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago Cubs on November 23, 2013.
Acquisitions
The Phillies' first offseason acquisition was Shawn Camp, a right-handed middle reliever coming off an "awful" season with the Chicago Cubs who was signed on November 11, 2013, to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. The next day, they signed the right-handed-hitting corner outfielder for whom they were looking: Marlon Byrd, a member of the team from his debut in 2002 to 2005, signed a two-year contract for $16 million. Soon after the agreement was announced, Phillies general manager Rubén Amaro Jr. was criticized by analyst Keith Law for overpaying Byrd; according to Law, Byrd's 2013 season was a "fluke" and an "outlier". Near the end of that week, the Phillies signed two players to minor-league contracts with invitations to spring training: outfielder Clete Thomas, who led Minnesota Twins outfielders in games played in their 2013 season (with a .214 batting average), and Cesar Jimenez, a left-handed specialist who pitched 17 innings with the Phillies in 2013. The following week the team signed infielder Reid Brignac, a well-regarded prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays who had struggled in the major leagues, to a minor-league contract with a spring-training invitation. Shortly afterwards the Phillies addressed their catching needs, re-signing Carlos Ruiz to a three-year contract (with an option for a fourth year) worth $26 million. Similar to the Byrd deal, Amaro was criticized for signing a 35-year-old catcher to a three-year contract. Cliff Corcoran wrote for Sports Illustrated, "While Ruiz may have been an underrated player in the past, heading into his age-35 season, he doesn't have far to fall before he's little more than a replacement-level catcher."
The Phillies made no more acquisitions until December; on December 2 they signed Jeff Manship, a right-handed pitcher who was mediocre as a starter and reliever (since 2011, he had an 0–5 record and a 7.44 earned run average), to a minor-league contract with a spring-training invitation. The next day they made their only trade of the offseason, sending 2013 backup catcher Erik Kratz and minor-league relief pitcher Rob Rasmussen to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Brad Lincoln, a veteran right-handed relief pitcher who the Phillies hoped would improve their bullpen's depth and leadership. Uncertain if minor-league catching prospects Cameron Rupp, Tommy Joseph and Sebastian Valle were ready for the major leagues, the Phillies signed "strong defensive catcher" Wil Nieves to a one-year contract for $1.125 million as a backup. On December 12 they selected Kevin Munson, a right-handed pitcher from the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, in the Rule 5 draft; if Munson did not remain on their 40-man roster, they had to offer him back to Arizona. On December 18 they brought back Lou Marson, a top catching prospect for the Phillies "languish[ing]" on the Cleveland Indians as part of a package of players traded for Cliff Lee, on a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. That day, the Phillies signed four other players to minor-league contracts with invitations to spring training: right-handed relief pitchers Sean O'Sullivan and Chris Bootcheck and outfielders Dave Sappelt and Tony Gwynn Jr. Right-handed starting pitcher Roberto Hernández, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, was signed to a one-year contract worth $4.5 million.
It was nearly a month before the Phillies signed another player; on January 13, 2014, journeyman infielder Ronny Cedeño was signed to a minor-league contract with a spring-training invitation. Just over a week later they signed Chad Gaudin, a right-handed pitcher with starting and relief experience, a 5–2 record and a 3.06 ERA with the San Diego Padres in 2013 (before an August season-ending carpal tunnel injury), to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training; he was released on February 13, 2014, after failing a physical. On January 21 they signed Bobby Abreu, a member of the Phillies from 1998 to 2006 who had not played in MLB since but had performed well in the Venezuelan Winter League, to a minor-league contract with a spring-training invitation. On February 12, when Cole Hamels announced he would not be ready for opening day due to tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, A. J. Burnett was reportedly signed to a one-year, $16 million contract despite Amaro's previous assertion that the Phillies would make no more major acquisitions. Burnett's salary was later clarified as $15 million, with a $1 million buyout clause and a partial no-trade clause. To make room for Burnett on the roster, the Phillies designated former first-round draft pick Joe Savery for assignment; Savery was later claimed from waivers by the Oakland Athletics. Shortly before opening day, the team acquired infielder Jayson Nix (younger brother of Laynce Nix, whom the Phillies acquired for their bench several years earlier) from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Coaching changes In Ryne Sandberg's first full season as manager (after replacing Charlie Manuel near the end of the 2013 season), he reconfigured the Phillies' staff. Among his first acquisitions were long-time friend Larry Bowa (who managed the Phillies from 2001 to 2004) as bench coach and former bench coach Pete Mackanin as third-base coach. At the same time, the team announced the retention of Steve Henderson as hitting coach. Shortly thereafter, the Phillies announced that Juan Samuel would switch from third- to first-base coach and Wally Joyner would return for a second season as assistant hitting coach. About a month later, the team reported that the Detroit Tigers had lured Joyner away as their hitting coach. Although the most difficult position to fill was pitching coach (vacated by Rich Dubee at the end of the 2013 season), on November 21 the Phillies announced that they had hired Bob McClure and retained pitching-coach candidate Rod Nichols as bullpen coach and Jesús Tiamo as bullpen catcher. Sandberg finished his staffing a week before Christmas by promoting minor-league assistant John Mizerock to assistant hitting coach.
TV and broadcast changes On January 2, 2014, the Phillies and Comcast Sportsnet announced a 25-year, $2.5 billion TV contract; although it averaged $100 million a year, it was structured to begin below the average and end above it. Soon after the agreement was reached, Comcast (who would hire announcers under the deal) removed 37-year announcer Chris Wheeler and seven-year announcer Gary Matthews. Although the remaining Phillies announcers were disappointed with the decision, they all returned for the season. One replacement analyst was planned, and early candidates included Ricky Bottalico, Mitch Williams, John Kruk, Chris Coste, Jamie Moyer, Brad Lidge and Matt Stairs.https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-tv-broadcasters-chris-wheeler-gary-matthews-set-for-new-roles/c-66399898 Lidge and Kruk were among the first to be contacted, but both declined. Mickey Morandini was a possibility, but Stairs and Moyer reportedly interviewed well and were favored. On February 11, Comcast announced that Moyer and Stairs would join Tom McCarthy and Gregg Murphy on the Phillies' TV broadcast team. The company later announced that Moyer and Stairs would each call over 100 games, including 30 games together with McCarthy. After the first spring-training game, it was announced that Mike Schmidt would join the broadcast team for Sunday afternoon games.