By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The post-2018 MLB free-agent class — which could feature talents like Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, among others — may very well be where the Philadelphia Phillies turn themselves from a talented young team to a legitimate playoff contender that has the perfect mix of young talents ready to peak mixed with veteran talents deep in playoff experience.
The Phillies currently don't have a cent committed after the 2018 season and while that may change this off-season, the point is general manager Matt Klentak and company are in a very good position to be major players in what may be the greatest free-agent class in the history of the league.
Let's assume that for whatever reason, the Phillies aren't completely satisfied after the chips fall in the 2018-19 free-agent class. Perhaps they land some second tier free-agents, which would probably be first tier in any other year, but play the 2019 season and still feel they are a veteran bat away from being able to win a World Series. If that's the case, Toronto Blue Jays third baseman and reigning American League MVP Josh Donaldson may be a realistic target for the club.
It should be noted, the current version of Donaldson, who followed up an MVP 2015 by posting a 7.6 WAR in 2016 per FanGraphs, won't be the one that becomes a free-agent after the 2019 season. Donaldson will turn 31 in December, meaning that he would either be 34 or close to 34 by the time that he would reach free-agency.
That said, Donaldson will still probably be a very good hitter at that period, and could conceivably join a talented young lineup where he would be asked to be one of the best hitters, not the best hitter. From the Phillies perspective, signing Donaldson to a three to five year deal (it's not even worth guessing at what annual salaries will look like at that point), may be similar to what the team's thought process was in trading for Hunter Pence during the 2011 season — add a really good hitter to put an already talented team over the top.
Position wise, Donaldson may also make sense because he's a strong fielding third baseman and the Phillies seem to lack a definitive long-term first baseman. So signing him would likely push Maikel Franco to first base. If Franco continues to develop as a fielder and/or Donaldson regresses in the field, it's also conceivable that Franco could remain at third and Donaldson could move over to first.
Donaldson may not ever reach free-agency, of course, though it seems realistic to think he may. Regardless of whether the Blue Jays come back in the ALCS or not, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion appear likely to exit in free-agency this off-season. The team wasn't able to retain David Price after trading for him last summer. Talents like Troy Tulowitzki and Aaron Sanchez are likely to be with the team for the next few years, but it's fair to wonder if the Blue Jays window won't close after this season. Donaldson's current contract runs through the 2018 season, but he's under team control through 2019.
If the Blue Jays do regress the next few seasons, it's possible they will trade Donaldson before he's able to become a free-agent. In that case, the Phillies may be able to be players for his services even earlier than anticipated. If not, it appears within the realm of possibility that the team eventually sign the man whose been the best hitter not named Mike Trout over the past two seasons.
The nuggets (A random collection of thoughts pertaining to the Phillies)
- Our top 25 Phillies of all-time series began yesterday with Garry Maddox. The formula is statistically based, though we left room for some input, which will please some and anger others. That tease is purposely vague. No. 24 will run tomorrow.
- I've spent quite a decent amount of time recently trying to think if I would rather have the 2008 Phillies lineup or this year's Blue Jays. Things are obviously complicated by the DH being in the American League and not in the National League, but the debate remains interesting.
- I'm in my junior year of college. The lack of buzz that the Phillies have throughout the course of the year to anyone but the niche die-hard baseball fan now as opposed to when I started high school is nothing short of amazing. Late in their 2007-2011 run of National League dominance, the Phillies became more than just a really good baseball team. Citizens Bank Park became the place to be on summer nights in eastern Pennsylvania, not just to sports fans but to middle-aged people who never otherwise cared about baseball or sports. It wasn't a secret that the Phillies gained their fair amount of bandwagon fans during their most recent golden era, but it is surprising to a degree how few of those fans became die-hard fans even after the team regressed. Certainly if their fall hadn't been as steep and prolonged, things may have been different.
- Why is it when the Chicago Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908, America stops to root for them, but when the Philadelphia Eagles have never won a Super Bowl, America stops to make fun of them?
