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If last offseason proved anything, it’s that money isn’t an issue for Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton. Last offseason, the team paid $330 million for Bryce Harper and spent nearly half a billion dollars in all on Harper, Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen, and David Robertson.

Despite the hefty spending, the Phillies find themselves in third place in the NL East, one game behind the Washington Nationals and a full 5.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves. It may be good enough to snag the second wild card berth, but it’s difficult to see the team contending with the Los Angeles Dodgers to reach the World Series without a serious upgrade in the starting rotation.

Here are 10 potential free agents the Phillies could go after this offseason.

Gerrit Cole

It’s rare for a young and talented starting pitcher like Gerrit Cole to hit free agency, but such will likely be the case after 2019. The Houston Astros will surely make every effort to re-sign Cole in the winter but they also have to prioritize eventual extensions to Carlos Correa and George Springer, and a case can be made that those two are more important for the long-term.

Cole doesn’t turn 29 until this offseason and he’s making a case to be the highest-paid pitcher ever, even ahead of the $217 million that was paid to David Price. Cole was a former No. 1 overall draft pick who has enjoyed his two finest years so far in Houston; since joining the Astros in 2018, he’s 26-10 with a 2.94 ERA, a 1.021 WHIP, and a ridiculous 12.8 K/9 rate. He has a strong chance at recording 300 strikeouts this year, which would be quite a way to enter free agency.

The Phillies free themselves from Jake Arrieta’ contract after 2020, and they need another pitcher to pair with Aaron Nola. They’d have to really open up the checkbook for Cole, but when has that stopped Middleton? Look for them to be frontrunners for Cole, even if it will cost them well over $200 million.

Josh Donaldson

Josh Donaldson has enjoyed a career resurgence so far in Atlanta, and he should get a multi-year deal worth $20 million or more this coming offseason. Donaldson is hitting .259/.376/.520 with 23 home runs and 60 RBIs along with good defensive metrics at the hot corner.

Even at age 33 (34 in the offseason), Donaldson is still a prominent player who could provide the same kind of impact for the team that Andrew McCutchen did early this year. And he fills a spot that has lacked star power during the Maikel Franco days.

Cole Hamels

How awesome would it be if the team brought back former World Series hero Cole Hamels? He’s in his 14^th season but still going strong; in fact, a case could be made that he’s better than ever right now. With the Chicago Cubs, Hamels is 10-6 with a 2.71 ERA and a 8.7 K/9 rate since being acquired last summer.

The Phillies have no lefties in their starting rotation and desperately need a pitcher of Hamels’ caliber. He was nothing but a pro during his decade with the team, winning NLCS and World Series MVP in 2008 and then throwing a no-hitter in his final start with the team in 2015. How about a two-year deal worth $44 million? That should satisfy both parties.

Anthony Rendon

Anthony Rendon is probably the best position player on this upcoming offseason’s free agent class. He has yet to sign an extension with the Washington Nationals and it’s not unreasonable to see him signing a $200 million deal with a team.

Rendon is a .307/.391/.552 hitter the last three seasons and he’s going to clear 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2019. That, coupled with his defensive versatility at second base and third base, should make him a prime target. Rendon would fill the void the Phillies have in their lineup by having to start Maikel Franco every day, and he could also fill in at second base if needed.

Zack Wheeler

Zack Wheeler has never hit his peak after having been the sixth overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft, but he’s still a middle-of-the-rotation starter who theoretically has All-Star upside. Wheeler’s numbers this year are down; he’s 6-6 with a 4.69 ERA but his 3.67 FIP suggests he’s been dealt with a bit of bad luck.

Wheeler is 29 years old still without much mileage on his right arm. If the New York Mets trade away Noah Syndergaard, they’ll push much harder to retain Wheeler. But even so, money talks.

Given that Jeff Samardzija got a $90 million contract and Homer Bailey reached $100 million, it’s not unreasonable to think Wheeler reaches the same figures or even pushes for Patrick Corbin money ($140 million). That’s a lot of money to pay for a pitcher of his caliber, but when the alternatives are Nick Pivetta and Vince Velasquez, it makes sense.

Dellin Betances

Missing the entire season before free agency is not ideal, but that may be the case for Dellin Betances. It’s late July and he still hasn’t pitched yet in 2019 and may spend the full year rehabbing. What that will do though is impact his free agency numbers and perhaps allow a team to sign him for cheaper.

Betances is a unique case; he’s 6’8”, 265 pounds, and throws in the upper nineties. His career ERA is 2.36. Until this year, he had struck out at least 100 batters in five consecutive seasons. That’s absolutely unheard-of production from a reliever. Betances’ career 14.6 K/9 rate is the highest in American League history for a pitcher with at least 100 games pitched.

He’s rarely been used as a closer for the Yankees, and if the Phillies signed him, they could pitch him in the eighth inning or the ninth (depending on David Robertson’s health). Betances will be 32 years old at the start of next season and coming off a serious injury. That should put a damper on his contract situation, but the Phillies would still likely have to pay at least $60 million over four years to acquire him.

Marcell Ozuna

Andrew McCutchen will be back as the team’s left fielder in 2020 and Bryce Harper isn’t going anywhere. That leaves center field open, especially with Odubel Herrera unlikely to come back. Roman Quinn is best suited for the minor leagues – to put it delicately – and unless Adam Haseley seizes the job, the Phillies may need to look to the free agent market.

Ozuna will get paid quite handsomely by whichever team signs him. Since the start of 2017, he’s a .289/.347/.497 hitter whose 126 adjusted OPS is in line with Nolan Arenado (127), Manny Machado (126), and Jose Abreu (125). He was a Gold Glove right fielder in ’17; while he hasn’t played center field since 2016, he would be fine at holding the fort down there.

Ozuna’s contract is going to be higher than you’d think. If Jason Heyward got $184 million and Jacoby Ellsbury got $153 million and Eric Hosmer got $144 million, Ozuna should be at least in line with those three, if not closer to Heyward. He’d likely slide back to left field after McCutchen’s contract expires, but still, if the Phillies prioritize going after Ozuna, they’re likely going to have to do it at the expense of signing Cole.

Madison Bumgarner

The Phillies have been linked to Madison Bumgarner this summer, and they still could trade for him in the next week. But given San Francisco’s recent winning streak, it’s likely they hold onto their ace for the rest of 2019.

Bumgarner will hit free agency at the age of 30 but with an impossibly-high total of close to 1,900 innings (postseason included) on his arm. He’s not the MadBum he was of old, not after having missed significant time in both ’17 and ’18. His 3.66 ERA this year is a career-worst and he’s 37^th among starting pitchers in WAR (7.0) over the past three seasons.

It’s important to know you’re likely not getting a Cy Young contender if you sign Bumgarner, and the workload he has on his arm should make the Phillies keep their offer to three years. Still, a three-year, $75 million contract might work for the Phillies while allowing Bumgarner to go to a team in which he can potentially get back to the World Series.

Sergio Romo

You wouldn’t think a 36-year-old relief pitcher who tops out at 86 miles per hour would have value, but Sergio Romo isn’t your normal reliever. The 12-year vet is on his fourth team in four years but maintaining solid enough numbers – a 3.58 ERA, 1.221 WHIP, and a 115 adjusted ERA – and he’s doing it as Miami’s primary closer. Romo is on a one-year, $2 million deal and probably would take a similar deal to pitch for a hopeful contender in Philly in 2019.

Gio Gonzalez

Gio Gonzalez’s streak of nine straight seasons with double-digit wins will end in 2019, but the soon-to-be 34-year-old lefty will be looking for a new deal when he hits free agency this winter. In seven starts with Milwaukee this year, Gonzalez is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA and he could be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter for the Phillies on a modest one-year deal.

If it fails, it’s a pretty low-risk signing. And if it works, the Phillies have a league-average innings eater. That’s a good bargain for a pitcher off free agency.