will begin Thursday in Atlanta against the Braves.

The latest move came Sunday when the Phillies signed Kingery to a record-breaking and unprecedented contract for a drafted player yet to play a major-league game. Kingery's contract could last nine years and be worth as much as $65 million.

The Phillies also signed first baseman Carlos Santana as a free agent back in December, long before many free agents ended up in a sort of purgatory until March. The Phillies then signed one of those purgatory players in starting pitcher Jake Arrieta, who had been the ace of the Chicago Cubs' staff the past three seasons.

Phillies manager Gabe Kapler begins his first season as a major-league manager on a team hoping to make the playoffs after five straight losing seasons.(Photo: LynneSladky, AP)

"I think the message is, ‘We’re ready. We’re ready to take a major step forward,’" said Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, who has never managed a game in the major leagues. That was another bold moving considering Kapler's emphasis on analytics, something the Phillies have been reluctant to use in the past.

All of this leaves the Phillies, who haven't had a winning season since they won a team-record 102 games in 2011, talking about making the playoffs this season, whether it's winning the NL East where only the Washington Nationals finished above .500 last season or getting in as one of the two wild cards.

It's quite a change from spring training last season when former manager Pete Mackanin was saying that the goal was a .500 season, or