PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies offered few details on Thursday about their true offseason plans.
Maybe they really will bring back almost everybody from the 2022-25 core, including Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, who are their top two offseason free-agent priorities. Maybe it’s just a ploy and instead they will shake up the roster in a significant way before Spring Training.
Here are five questions facing the Phillies this winter, and what the team said about them on Thursday:
Are they going to run it back?
Kind of? The Phillies reiterated several times on Thursday that they won 96 games this year, and that they had one of the best offenses in baseball. They pointed to the Dodgers’ excellent pitching in the NLDS -- which has continued into the NLCS against Milwaukee. Los Angeles might have been the only team that could beat the Phillies in the postseason. (We’ll never know, of course.) Dombrowski’s comments on Thursday weren’t wrong, but they weren’t satisfying for frustrated fans.
Still, there is reason to believe that if the Phillies make a few smart adjustments to the roster they can win next year.
“Needs to be more change?” Dombrowski said. “Well, we won 96 games. Again, you’re always looking to get better. So we will be open-minded to that.”
Who’s the most likely to be re-signed?
Dombrowski mentioned four free agents as priorities. It starts with Schwarber and Realmuto. Schwarber had one of the best offensive seasons by a Phillies player in recent memory, and there are reasons to believe he will maintain solid production for the next few years. Realmuto’s 91 OPS+ ranked as the worst full season of his career, but he remains a tremendous asset to the pitching staff and a respected leader in the clubhouse, like Schwarber.
Ranger Suárez is one of the best postseason pitchers in baseball history, but agent Scott Boras is going to want a lucrative, multiyear deal for one of the best starting pitchers on the market -- as he should. So while the Phillies would love to bring back Suárez, it’s difficult to see.
Dombrowski also mentioned Harrison Bader, whose $10 million mutual option will not be exercised. Bader had a .796 OPS and a 117 OPS+ this season. Is that who he’ll be in the future? Bader had a combined .644 OPS and 80 OPS+ the previous three seasons, when he played for the Cardinals, Yankees, Reds and Mets. The Phillies will have to determine how much they believe in Bader’s 2025 performance compared to previous years.
José Alvarado has a $9 million club option. He is expected back. Dombrowski said Max Kepler and David Robertson will not be back. Jordan Romano and Walker Buehler are not expected back.
Who’s the most likely to be traded?
Nick Castellanos tops the list, although he could be released. Dombrowski wouldn’t say much about Castellanos, whose production cratered in 2025. Castellanos also had a couple run-ins with Phillies manager Rob Thomson.
The Phillies tried to trade Alec Bohm last winter, but they never got far. They could look into that again, especially if they believe No. 2 prospect Aidan Miller will be ready at some point. Brandon Marsh could be dealt, if the Phillies think No. 3 prospect Justin Crawford is ready to play. Matt Strahm has value as a left-handed reliever -- and Dombrowski isn’t happy with Strahm’s recent comments about the Phillies not doing any PFP (pitcher fielding practice) during the season.
But Dombrowski should be open-minded and listen on almost anybody on the roster. Why not? It can’t hurt.
Is there going to be a youth movement?
Fans should feel good about Crawford’s and Andrew Painter’s chances to make the Opening Day roster, although Dombrowski said no jobs are being promised. But both make sense. Crawford has nothing left to prove in Triple-A, although it’s unclear how much center field he can play. Painter should be better another year removed from Tommy John surgery.
Dombrowski also mentioned youngsters like Otto Kemp, Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Miller playing important roles next season.
How much payroll flexibility will they have?
The Phillies had the fourth-highest payroll in baseball in 2025 at $290 million, according to Spotrac. It likely will increase, especially if they bring back Schwarber and Realmuto and address other needs on the roster.
“[Owner] John [Middleton] is very supportive of that,” Dombrowski said. “We have a good club with a lot of good players, but you don't have unlimited [money]. … I don't think we're going to have a $400 million payroll. I just don't think that that's a practicality, but we will be open-minded to get better and make a move.”
But will the Phillies be limited to one-year deals beyond what it might take to re-sign their own free agents?
“I don’t know, and even if I did I don’t think I’d answer that question,” Dombrowski said. “Because I wouldn’t tip ourselves with where we’re going to go this wintertime.”