Breaking down the Phillies' OF options after re-signing Schwarber

The Phillies answered one big offseason question by re-signing slugging lefty DH Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million deal. But other questions remain -- including how the outfield will shape up in 2026.

With Nick Castellanos expected to be traded or released before next season, Philadelphia could be left with an important hole to fill. But the team has several potential solutions.

Here are five routes the Phillies can take to shore up the outfield before Opening Day.

1. Bring back Harrison Bader

The Phillies acquired Bader from the Twins in a Deadline deal on July 31, and he finished the season strong in Philadelphia. Bader hit .305 with an .824 OPS in 50 games with the Phils, finishing the season overall with 17 homers and 3.9 bWAR. By WAR, it was his best season since 2021 with the Cardinals (4.1). That led him to decline his portion of a $10 million mutual option and test free agency. After a few years plagued by injuries, Bader has played at least 143 games each of the past two seasons. Re-signing a healthy Bader could be a solid option for the Phillies, though the length of contract could be a sticking point if the team re-signs catcher J.T. Realmuto, which is said to be a priority.

2. Go bigger in free agency

With the two-time defending NL East champs in win-now mode, Philadelphia may prefer to target a bigger bat. In our current context, that list really just includes lefty sluggers Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker. Both would be expensive, with Tucker likely being very expensive. But either would represent a significant upgrade. Bellinger is coming off a bounce-back year in 2025, when he hit 29 homers and carried an .814 OPS for the Yankees while remaining an exceptional outfield defender. Tucker, arguably the most sought-after free agent in this class, was limited to 136 games because of injuries, but hit 22 homers and had a 143 OPS+. He would also bring a degree of speed to the lineup, having notched his third 20-20 season in 2025.

3. Swing a trade

The trade market has a way of opening up scenarios nobody thinks possible until they happen. What could this look like in the Phillies' case? Hard to say. But suppose they find a way to get Byron Buxton from the Twins. Adding one of the most talented overall players in the game would obviously pay big dividends. Now the cold water: The Twins are unlikely to trade Buxton, according to multiple reports. Still, the chance of a trade is not zero. Apart from Buxton, other attractive outfield bats who could be traded and may be a fit for the Phillies include Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, Steven Kwan of the Guardians and Jarren Duran of the Red Sox.

4. Put Justin Crawford out there

It might be time. Crawford, the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, seems ready for the Majors, given his 2025 production at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The lefty-hitting speedster hit .334 with an .863 OPS and 46 stolen bases in 112 games. In four seasons across five Minor League levels, Crawford has hit .322 with an .831 OPS. It's certainly not hard to imagine him roaming the outfield at Citizens Bank Park in 2026. He's been groomed as a center fielder, but could also be used in the corners. If Crawford's part of the Phillies' Opening Day lineup, he'll immediately become an NL Rookie of the Year favorite.

5. Get an impact first baseman and put Bryce Harper back in right

This one is a loooong shot, but we'll mention it anyway because it's technically an option. Harper hasn't played the outfield since 2022, the same year he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. But before that, he logged more than 1,200 games there. He displayed a strong arm at times, but was limited in terms of range. Considering that, and that he's 33 years old and has likely lost a step or two on that already-limited range, and this is a scenario that only happens if the Phillies engineer a truly earth-shattering trade for a first basemen that leaves them with literally no choice but to move Harper back to his old spot to keep his bat in the lineup.