Luxury Tax, Shmuxury Tax

When the Phillies closed up their checkbooks after signing Zack Wheeler and Didi Gregorius this winter, it was widely assumed they were done spending because the team was nearing the $208 million luxury tax threshold.

Not so fast. Team president Andy McPhail says the team expects to go over the threshold this season. That doesn't mean a trade for Cubs third baseman and Bryce Harper bestie Kris Bryant is going to happen any time soon. It just means if the right deal comes around, the Phils are prepared to make it happen and spend the extra cash, if need be.

It could be a starting pitcher or reliever from a non-contending team. Or it could be a higher caliber player from a team that was supposed to contend but isn't. My guess is that the target will be a hard-throwing proven reliever who can also work as a closer, because as we know, Phillies closer Hector Neris is prone to doing Hector Neris things, and those things are bad.

It could be former Phils closer Ken Giles (pictured above), now with Toronto, if the Jays are out of the NL East race, which is entirely possible consider they'll have to overtake the Yankees and Rays and probably Red Sox to make it to October. Or someone else in the Giles mold.