Heading into the MLB offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies were widely expected to take an aggressive approach after yet another painful postseason exit.
Instead, the winter came and went with relatively little to show for it, much to the disappointment of the fan base.
Philadelphia did lock up star power early by re-signing Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract, and later brought back catcher J.T. Realmuto as well. Beyond those two moves, however, the Phillies failed to make any splash additions. Their biggest missed opportunity came when they appeared close to landing former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, only to watch a last-minute push by division rival New York derail the deal.
As the offseason winds down, the Phillies have now been hit with a discouraging outlook for the 2026 campaign.
A new projection has given Philadelphia little reason for optimism.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic was unimpressed with the Phillies’ offseason, predicting the team to finish third in the National League East in 2026. Along with that forecast, Bowden raised several pressing concerns about the roster, including whether the core has been kept together too long, if Zack Wheeler and rookie Andrew Painter can stay healthy and meet expectations, and whether Aaron Nola can rediscover his previous form.
Bowden also issued a harsh assessment of the Phillies’ winter moves, assigning the organization a C+ grade—an evaluation that underscores how underwhelming the offseason was viewed from the outside.
While the criticism is understandable, Philadelphia still has a chance to change the narrative once the season begins. The road ahead won’t be easy, and the offseason clearly left much to be desired, but the outcomes will ultimately be decided on the field.
A closer look at the Phillies’ offseason reveals a lack of impactful additions.
Schwarber was the headline move, and bringing back Realmuto provided stability, but those signings accounted for most of the team’s notable activity. The Phillies also added reliever Brad Keller on a two-year, $22 million contract, signed outfielder Adolis García to a one-year, $10 million deal, and brought in right-hander Zach Pop on a one-year, $900,000 contract.
Additionally, Philadelphia acquired pitchers Yoniel Curet, Jonathan Bowlan, and Kyle Backhus via trade, though none are expected to play major roles during the 2026 season.
There are legitimate reasons for concern as the Phillies head into the year, especially given the significant improvements made by the Mets. Still, the roster remains talented, and if key players perform up to their potential, Philadelphia could yet prove capable of competing for a playoff spot.
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