New Phillies GM Preston Mattingly and president Dave Dombrowski pulled the trigger at the recent winter meetings to possibly solve their closer problem by signing Toronto’s Jordan Romano to a one-year, $8 million pact.

With the Mets’ signing of Juan Soto, the NL East suddenly has become an anticipated tighter race. The Braves were ravaged by untimely injuries last season, and they figure to bounce back.

The Dodgers made a big splash by adding Blake Snell to their starting rotation, which arguably is one of the best – if not the best – in the National League. The Cubs acquired Astros’ outfielder Kyle Tucker – highly sought by the Yankees – to make them contenders in the NL Central.

As far as the Yankees are concerned, their pitching staff improved drastically by bringing aboard Braves’ lefty Max Fried and Brewers’ closer Devin Williams. They also added ex-Cub Cody Bellinger, who can play in the infield or outfield. They also re-signed reliever Johnathan Loaisiga to lay claim as the AL’s best staff.

Suddenly, the Dodgers and Yankees look like they can be early favorites for a World Series rematch. The Mets have raised their bar, and still are not done putting pieces around Soto.

And then there’s the belligerent Braves, who will find a way to win if they can avoid another injury landslide.

So, in the big picture, where does this leave the Phillies?

In this week’s version of my Behind the Plate column, I’ll look at some of the Phillies’ options after the winter meetings, as well as review the Yankees and Mets.

Closing the Deal ... The Phils are banking on Romano returning his form of 2021-2023, when he was one of the game’s more effective closers. Romano had arthroscopic surgery in July, and the Blue Jays non-tendered him after the season, concerned about his health and his upcoming projected $7.7 million in salary arbitration.

Romano had a WHIP of just over 1.0 for ’21 and ’22, and just over 1.2 for ’23. His strikeout to walk ratio was 3-1 during that period.

Let’s Make Another Deal? ... The Phillies are still pretty adamant about adding another starter to the rotation, and it’s likely they will deal either Ranger Suarez and Taijaun Walker or even both of them. Or the Phils could expand to a six-man rotation.

One of the latest scenarios on the free-agent market involves ex-Dodgers’ right hander Walker Buehler, who also is generating plenty of interest from the Mets as well as other clubs. Buehlerwill likely receive a short-term deal because he struggled upon his return from Tommy John surgery, yet sparkled down the stretch of the Dodgers’ championship run. He went 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA with 13 strikeouts and one save in the postseason.

How about ex-Phil righthander Michael Lorenzen? You may remember him from throwing a no-hitter against Washington in his Citizens’ Bank debut on Aug. 10, 2023. He finished the year with a 4-2, 5.51 slate in seven stats.

Lorenzen was a key part in Kansas City’s postseason run last year after he was acquired from Texas. He went 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in six starts, but didn’t pitch in the postseason.

Another name that has surfaced is ex-Angel lefthander Patrick Sandoval, who underwent Tommy John surgery in June and will likely miss most of the 2025 season. Overall, he struggled with a 2-8 record, 5.08 ERA campaign, with 81 strikeouts in 79.1 innings.

So, why try and sign him? Sandoval will be available at a low price and could be a steal for the 2026 season. At the present time, he can be an insurance policy.

If necessary, pitchers still on the market are Dan Schatzeder or Justin Verlander, both of them could be one-year deals at a reasonable price due to their injury and age issues.

Others on the market are Charlie Morton, ex-Phil farmhand Nick Pivetta, Jack Flaherty, Lance Lynn, and Alex Wood. Jordan Montgomery would have been a very tempting signing, but he decided to exercise his option with Arizona.

Let’s Talk Trade ... Without another deal during the meetings, Phillies’ brass will investigate possibilities via the trade route. They would like to unload Nick Castellanos’ big contract and find a suitable centerfielder via free agency or trade.

The Alec Bohm trade winds have calmed down, but they would still deal him for a frontline pitcher, and apparently Seattle is still in the mix.

If they would deal Bohm – and it would have to be soon – the Phils would seek to ink Alec Bregman to a long-term deal.

Probable Phillies’ Fodder ... If they don’t make a move soon, Dombrowski and Mattingly will likely stand pat, and will move forward with the current lineup.

The brass does want to see how top pitching prospect Andrew Painter will develop, and they could pull the trigger at the All-Star break. Third baseman trade chip Aidan Miller is also valued.

Dombrowski has spent plenty in the past to bring aboard the current cast of Castellanos, Zack Wheeler, Trea Turner, Byrce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, and extend Aaron Nola. He could pick up outfielder Anthony Santander or Jurcikson Profar, whose names are still being floated.

Great George’s Ghost ... With the Yankees’ recent flurry of signings, it has conjured memories of late owner Georger Steinbrenner and his brash and rash decisions and rapid spending to try to win a championship, the kind that would price any other prospective buyer out of the market.

Son and current owner Hal Steinbrenner initially had taken a more conservative approach, but there are signs and rumors that the younger Steinbrenner may emulate the ways of his father and pass the luxury tax threshold.

The Yankees are very determined to put as many pieces in place regardless of the cost with long-term contracts to capture their 29th World Championship, especially after they lost the Soto bidding.

Look for the Yanks to sign either Christian Walker or Pete Alonso, but the lean here is to the 34-year-old Walker, even though he would want a multi-year deal.

There also is talk they could go for a one-year rental like Paul Goldschmidt or Carlos Santana to pave the way to pursue Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2026.

The Yanks are also in the market for Bregman, and they easily could secure him soon.

Mets’ Mania ... There is plenty of euphoria about the arrival of Soto, but the Mets need to finish the puzzle.

In a pair of puzzling pitching moves, the Mets signed often-injured starter Frankie Montas (ask the Yankees) and Yankee reliever Clay Holmes to be a starter.

They did lose Luis Severino to the A’s, and apparently are at odds with re-signing Sean Manaea. Former starter Jose Quintana is still a free agent.

The Mets’ pitching staff currently consists of Montas, Holmes, Kodei Senga, David Peterson, and either Paul Blackburn - who missed all of last season – or Jose Butto. There is growing speculation the Mets will add Walker Buehler.

Another recent rumor had them working to acquire Padres’ ace Dylan Cease.

Time Passages ... Each week, I’ll recall a former player, team, or situation from our national pastime.

Through the years, Dec. 19 has proven to be a very busy day in baseball with many free agent signings, trades, and other transactions.

Here are a few of them:

1960 - Billy Martin signed with the Reds (don’t remember that one).

1983 - Darrell Evans signs with the Tigers; Amos Otis signs with the Pirates; and Vida Blue receives a 90-day prison sentence for cocaine possession (Blue was removed from the Hall of Fame ballot in 1995 after he received low voting numbers).

1991 - Dave Winfield signs with Toronto; Former Cy Young award winner Rick Sutcliffe signs with the Orioles.

2001 - Moises Alou signs with the Cubs.

2002 - Hideki Matsui signs with the Yankees.

2003 - Kevin Milwood accepts salary arbitration and stays with the Phillies; Kei Igawa is acquired by the Yankees from a Japanese league team.

2009 - Scott Rolen resigns with the Reds.

2014 - Jimmy Rollins is traded to the Dodgers for Zach Eflin and Tom Windle.

Like Father, Like Son ... Clay Bellinger, Cody Bellinger’s father, played for the Yankees from 1999-01, and like his son, he played first, third, and the outfield.

The elder Bellinger played 181 games, but hit just .194 for his career.

Your thoughts are always welcomed; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com