Last night the Dodgers and Red Sox pulled off a blockbuster move that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to Los Angeles. The Phillies, meantime, were busy acquiring Anthony Swarzak on a minor league deal, which was met with the appropriate grumbles.

Are the Phils going to continue dumpster diving looking for value in the margins? Or do they have something else up their sleeve this offseason? Bob Nightengale:

Not sure what “at least exploratory interest” means, but at least the Phillies are linked to a big name in Bryant. The 28-year-old, three-time All Star is set to become a free agent after the 2021 season after recently losing his service time grievance.

Bryant is friends with Bryce Harper, so putting those guys together on the same team would make a lot of sense. Here’s Mike Lowell talking about a Phillies lineup with Bryant, on MLB Network:

Hmm, yes. I, too, like that lineup.

There’s only one thing for John Middleton to do. He needs to go out and get Kris Bryant and pay the tax and make this team into a juggernaut in order to get his fucking trophy back.