Phillies GM doesn't think free agency's the way to rebuild club

The Philadelphia Phillies won't be making a splash on the free-agent market under new general manager Matt Klentak.

Klentak, who took over the position on Oct. 26, is dedicated to rebuilding the franchise the right way, which he thinks doesn't involve spending big bucks in free agency.

"I think this will not come as any great shock, I don't view free agency as the way to build your club," Klentak told reporters Thursday. "Good clubs, we just saw it in the playoffs this year, in the World Series this year. The core of the best clubs are built internally through the draft, through savvy international signings, through signing key players to contract extensions and extending the club control."

The 35-year-old GM, who has been settling into his new role over the past week and a half, believes acquiring pitching is the right plan of attack for the future.

"We really want to raise the floor and add some depth," Klentak said. "Kind of at every turn, that's what we're going to be focused on. And in the pitching department, I think we really need to work on just - again, I say raise the floor - but kind of establish sort of a firm foundation of pitching. That's not going to end when we break camp at the end of spring training. That's something we're going to be committed to for a long time."

The Phillies saw a breakout season from rookie and former first-round pick Aaron Nola last season, and the club's No. 2 prospect Jake Thompson - who came from the Texas Rangers in the Cole Hamels deal - pitched to a 1.80 ERA in Double-A after the trade, so that's a good start.

Klentak may find another major piece of the franchise's future with the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, where arms such as Alec Hansen and Riley Pint, regarded as two of the best pitchers in the draft, are available.