🔥 HOT NEWS: The Phillies need starting pitching help fast, and the free agent market still holds uncomfortable answers ⚡.DD

As pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater, the Phillies arrive with optimism shadowed by an obvious structural flaw.

Their bullpen depth borders on excess, yet the rotation behind the top arms feels alarmingly thin.

Questions surrounding Zack Wheeler’s return only magnify that concern as spring training begins.

Philadelphia appears prepared to rely heavily on Taijuan Walker and Andrew Painter early.

That plan offers little margin for error if injuries strike, as they so often do.

Beyond the projected rotation, reliable starting depth is scarce.

The Phillies do not need stars, but they desperately need options.

Inviting overlooked free agents to camp may be the most realistic solution.

Walker Buehler represents the highest-upside gamble still available.

His brief 2025 stint in Philadelphia showed flashes of dominance, despite a rough season elsewhere.

In limited action, Buehler delivered elite results, reminding teams of his ceiling.

Health and cost remain obstacles, but the upside is undeniable.

Griffin Canning offers a different type of appeal.

Before his Achilles injury, he provided stability and quality starts in New York’s rotation.

Recent throwing sessions suggest recovery progress, though readiness remains uncertain.

Canning profiles as a classic low-risk depth addition if expectations remain realistic.

Germán Márquez is the most intriguing reclamation project.

His 2025 season was disastrous on paper, clouded by injuries and Colorado’s dysfunction.

Before surgery, Márquez consistently missed bats while limiting walks and generating ground balls.

At twenty-nine, he still carries starter traits worth exploring.

None of these pitchers are solutions on their own.

But collectively, they represent protection against a fragile scenario.

Philadelphia’s bullpen-heavy strategy left a gap that cannot be ignored.

Inviting arms like these to camp costs little and offers insurance.

Ignoring the issue could prove far more expensive once the season begins.

For a contender, depth is not optional.

It is the difference between surviving April and scrambling by May.