Dombrowski hopeful Phils can keep core together, but won't elaborate: 'Story for another day'

PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies are built to win the World Series, and they know they need to take advantage of the opportunity.

It could be the last chance with this group.

“Could it be? For sure,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. “I mean, I'm hopeful that we’ll retain most of the guys, if not all of the guys, but I’m also realistic that it’s not going to be easy. But we like our core and we’re hopeful to keep them with us. But that’s, you know, that’s a story for another day.”

The Phillies will play the winner of the Dodgers vs. the Reds in Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils finished the regular season with 96 wins, which were the second-most in baseball. They have a top five offense. They have one of the best rotations in baseball, even without ace Zack Wheeler. They have a dominant closer in Jhoan Duran, who should make the sixth, seventh and eighth innings a little easier to navigate in the postseason.

But the Phils have potential free agents, including Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Ranger Suárez, Harrison Bader (mutual option), José Alvarado (club option), Max Kepler and David Robertson, among others.

It’ll be impossible to bring everybody back.

“This is a conversation for next year, because we’re still worried about this year,” Dombrowski said.

Dombrowski spoke for more than 20 minutes before the Phillies' workout on Tuesday. Here are a few highlights:

Why this team can win it all

“We have as good a club as anybody,” he said. “We’re a well-rounded club. We’ve been there before. … We have some really good players that have had good seasons. When you start looking at the Schwarbs and the [Trea] Turners and the supporting cast, I think it’s deeper in the lineup. I think a guy like Bader’s brought a lot to us. I think when you look at our lineup, I don't think you look at one spot and say, ‘Wow, there's an out there.’ We play solid defense. Our starting pitching is deep, and I think right now, our bullpen is probably a little bit better than it's been at various times.

“Now, when I say that, you have to play well at the right time. You don't want to be three and done. I mean, it can happen to anybody, really. … You have to play well at the right time, but I think we’re more equipped to do that.”

NLDS roster

Dombrowski didn’t tip his hand on the 26-man NLDS roster, including whether they will carry 12 or 13 pitchers. An argument can be made for 12 in a best-of-five series with three off-days.

If the Phillies carry 12, they can carry an extra bench player. Johan Rojas might have warranted a spot, but he is recovering from a quad injury. He will not be ready for the NLDS, but Dombrowski said he could be ready for the NL Championship Series, if the Phillies advance. Rojas’ injury improves the chances of both Weston Wilson and Otto Kemp making the roster.

Matt Strahm

Left-hander Matt Strahm will be back in 2026 as expected. He passed a physical on Monday, which officially exercised a $7.5 million club option that became guaranteed once he pitched 60 innings.

Zack Wheeler

He had successful thoracic outlet decompression surgery on Sept. 23 in St. Louis. He is expected to need six to eight months to recover.

“Everything went well,” Dombrowski said.

Andrew Painter

Dombrowski said in December that the Phillies planned to monitor prospect Andrew Painter’s innings early in the season for a potential “July-ish” promotion, provided there was a need and provided he was pitching well.

Painter went 5-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 22 starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

He did not make his big league debut as expected, but he has a good chance to make the Opening Day roster in 2026.

“Andrew had a solid year,” Dombrowski said. “I mean, he went out there every five days, basically all year long, he pitched over 100 innings. Felt good at the end of the year. His stuff was still good, his command wasn't quite as good. But we thought it was a very solid season for him … and be in a position where we think he'll come to camp next year and be in a position where he can compete for a spot. So that's really an encouraging scenario for him. And he's healthy too.”

Justin Crawford

Crawford batted .334 with seven homers, 47 RBIs, 46 stolen bases and an .863 OPS with the IronPigs. The Phillies considered promoting him midseason, but once they acquired Bader at the Trade Deadline there was no fit.

Dombrowski said he watched Crawford play for an entire week in early June.

“I would have felt very comfortable that time bringing him up,” he said. “In fact, we talked about it at the time, but the need wasn't there at that particular time. We always had said, if he was coming up, he was going to play, need to play every day. But we would have felt very comfortable do something. He will have chance to compete for a spot in the spring.”