One former Phillie is guaranteed a World Series ring 21 Oct 1:30 AM (yesterday, 1:30 am)
Former Phillies outfielder Buddy Kennedy is a World Series champion.
Two of the three major league teams he played for this year, the Blue Jays and Dodgers, will square off in the 2025 World Series. He’s one of two players, the other being pitcher José Ureña, to play for both pennant-winning clubs this season. He is guaranteed a World Series ring, regardless of the outcome of the Fall Classic.
Kennedy played in two games at the major league level with the Blue Jays and seven games with the Dodgers.
Kennedy, a native of Millville, N.J., was in a spring training battle with Kody Clemens for the final spot on the Phillies’ 26-man roster. Clemens won the job, and Kennedy was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, released and re-signed to a minor league contract. The Phillies selected him to the big league roster in June when he reportedly exercised his upward mobility clause.
He was designated for assignment by the Phillies on June 30, signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays on July 9, selected to the roster on Aug. 5 and designated for assignment on Aug. 12. He was picked up on waivers by the Dodgers and appeared in seven games for Los Angeles before being DFA’d again 10 days later. Kennedy signed with the Blue Jays again on a minor league deal in early September and finished the year in Triple-A Buffalo.
Kennedy, a former Arizona Diamondback, also received a 2023 National League pennant ring.
Former Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman sends Blue Jays to World Series with pennant-clinching save 20 Oct 9:04 PM (yesterday, 9:04 pm)
Jeff Hoffman turned toward center field inside Toronto’s Rogers Centre and raised both arms straight into the air. The journeyman pitcher, the scrap-heap reliever who made himself into one of the better bullpen pieces in baseball starting in 2023, had just fired the biggest pitch of his life: an 88 mph slider to strike out Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez and send the Blue Jays to the World Series. Hoffman spun back toward catcher Alejandro Kirk and embraced him before the mob fully formed.
In Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night, the right-hander Hoffman was called upon to pitch the top of the ninth inning. He struck out all three batters he faced to pick up the save and clinch the pennant for the Blue Jays with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Jeff Hoffman was drafted by the @BlueJays in 2014 and traded away in 2015.
— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2025
He returned to the organization 10 years later and just sent Toronto to the World Series! pic.twitter.com/cEzirpvXcQ
Hoffman, 32, was a first-round draft pick selected by Toronto in 2014 and was traded to the Rockies the next year. He never quite found his footing as a starter, but he started to make some strides as a reliever for the Reds in 2022.
The next year, Hoffman signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies. He famously threw live batting practice to Bryce Harper as the superstar recovered from an injury, and then he stuck with the big-league team. Hoffman had a 2.28 ERA in 122 appearances across two seasons in Philadelphia, and he became an All-Star in 2024. While he developed into a hidden gem for the Phillies, he had some postseason struggles, especially last October when he allowed six runs in three games during the National League Division Series.
Last winter, Hoffman signed a three-year deal with the Blue Jays to return where his career started. He had an up-and-down regular season, but he’s allowed just one earned run in six outings this postseason.
Facing elimination in Sunday’s Game 6, the Blue Jays handed Hoffman the ball for the last two innings of their 6-2 win. A night later, the club needed Hoffman again.
Although Hoffman threw 35 pitches in Game 6, Toronto went to its closer for the ninth in Game 7 after a momentous George Springer three-run home run gave the Blue Jays the lead in the seventh. After starter Shane Bieber and reliever Louis Varland combined to allow three runs in the first five innings, the rest of the staff held things down. Seranthony Domínguez, another former Phillie, threw a scoreless inning. So did Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt, two usual starters. That gave Hoffman the chance to come in for the one-inning save.
Hoffman struck out Leo Rivas. He struck out Dominic Canzone. He struck out Rodríguez to complete the victory and put Toronto in the World Series for the first time since 1993.
The Blue Jays will host the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night in Game 1 of the World Series. With three days of rest in between, Hoffman should be available to take on the biggest moments out of the bullpen for Toronto.
What do Phillies expect from injured ace Zack Wheeler heading into offseason, 2026? 20 Oct 10:12 AM (yesterday, 10:12 am)
PHILADELPHIA — Dave Dombrowski breathed a sigh of relief when he found out the more particular diagnosis for his ace, Zack Wheeler. The veteran executive has had a few of his pitchers deal with thoracic outlet syndrome, and he’s seen the condition sabotage careers. But when Dombrowski heard that the blood clot near Wheeler’s shoulder that was discovered this summer was caused by venous thoracic outlet syndrome and not neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, Philadelphia’s president of baseball operations was encouraged.
No person wants to develop a blood clot, and no pitcher wants to have TOS. But the belief is that a pitcher has a better chance of returning to peak performance if coming back from venous TOS. That makes the Phillies confident that Wheeler can take the mound and continue to look like a No. 1 starter by early next season after undergoing surgery in late September.
“As I’ve learned more about it, the difference in the thoracic outlet syndromes that there are, I feel much more optimistic than I first heard that statement made, when he first had it,” Dombrowski said Thursday at and end-of-season news conference at Citizens Bank Park. “There are differences between them, and they feel that pretty comfortable that he should be able to come back in that six to eight months with the same ability that he had in the past.”
Wheeler, perhaps the best starting pitcher since signing in Philadelphia prior to 2020, had his season come to a screeching halt in August when doctors found a blood clot in his right upper extremity. He had a procedure done to remove it, and later had surgery to correct the TOS that led to the clot.
TOS is a scary three-letter acronym for pitchers. Talented former top-tier starters like Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey never looked the same after it. Jeremy Bonderman, who debuted for Dombrowski’s Tigers as a 20-year-old in 2003 with no minor-league experience above High-A, was out of baseball by age 30 after dealing with TOS in 2008 and other injury issues in the following years. Josh Beckett, who broke into the big leagues for the Marlins in 2001 while Dombrowski was still running the organization, had TOS at the end of his career.
Still, there are success stories. For example, Rangers pitcher Merrill Kelly has been a productive starter since undergoing TOS decompression surgery in 2020. Like Wheeler, Kelly’s condition was venous. He has a 3.66 ERA in five seasons since returning and had a stellar 2023 postseason in which Kelly’s Diamondbacks upset the Phillies to win the National League pennant.
Dombrowski and the Phillies hope that Wheeler can bounce back in a similar way. Wheeler will start his rehab this week, Dombrowski said, and the plan is for the right-hander to be ready for action from somewhere in between the end of spring training to the end of May, when he’ll turn 36 on the 30th of the month. Wheeler has rested up and is feeling good, so the club believes he can begin to work his way toward a return.
“Nothing’s changed in the regards that they feel it would be six to eight months that he could be back pitching for us,” Dombrowski said.
While the club has confidence in Wheeler moving forward, it’s fair to wonder if he may not be able to be his typical, dominant self. He’s set a high bar with a 2.91 ERA and three All-Star appearances in six seasons with the Phillies. Pitchers tend to decline with age anyway, and now Wheeler has the health obstacles to overcome as well.
If that does become the case, the Phillies have an incredible insurance policy in left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, who has emerged as an ace and settled into the top-of-the-rotation role in Wheeler’s absence. But Philadelphia would obviously prefer to have both pitchers humming in 2026.
“It helps,” Dombrowski said of having Sánchez, “but I would rather have Zack Wheeler back and Cristopher Sánchez.”
Because of the Phillies’ belief in Wheeler’s ability to pitch at a high level once again, his current status will not have much of an impact on what the team does this offseason, Dombrowski said, barring an unforeseen setback. Of course, there could be changes to the rotation as starter Ranger Suárez could depart in free agency and top prospect Andrew Painter could come into play. But no matter the rest of the personnel, the Phillies expect to see Wheeler as an impact arm next season, just as he’s been his entire tenure with the club.
“I don’t think it’ll affect us a great deal of what we do,” Dombrowski said, “because we are looking for him to come back.”
Phillies not interested in moving Bryce Harper back to outfield: ‘He’s a really good first baseman’ 18 Oct 2:11 PM (3 days ago)
Could Bryce Harper move back to right field? It’s possible, but the Phillies prefer to keep him at first base.
“I think Bryce is a first baseman at this time,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said on Thursday at the club’s end-of-season press conference at Citizens Bank Park. “That’s what we look at him as.”
When Pete Alonso lingered on the free agent market last offseason, Harper reportedly reiterated to the Phillies and his agent Scott Boras (who also represents Alonso) that he would be “more than open” to moving back to the outfield.
“But I’d go out there to have a guy who was going to play first base and hit 35 or 40 homers,” Harper told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Alonso is a free agent again this offseason.
Harper again was willing to switch positions near the trade deadline if the opportunity presented itself. It would have been a short-term fix for a Phillies offense that desperately needed more right-handed thump in the lineup. Harper’s long-term preference is to remain at first base.
“He has asked to go out to the outfield,” Dombrowski said. “He’d be willing to do so, but I think it would be more for the short term if we had done something at the trading deadline. But it’s been a while since he’s been out (there). I’m sure he’d be fine, but he’s a really good first baseman and that’s the position we looked at him playing for us.”
Harper in 2025 was nominated as a Gold Glove finalist at first base for a second consecutive season. He originally made the switch in the middle of 2023 to expedite his return to the field after undergoing Tommy John surgery after the 2022 postseason. With Rhys Hoskins becoming a free agent after 2023, the Phillies declared Harper as the club’s everyday first baseman in 2024. He last played right field on April 16, 2022.
The Phillies are likely to sign or trade for at least one outfielder this offseason. Top outfield prospect Justin Crawford is a strong candidate to break camp with the club. Harrison Bader was identified as one of the club’s four priority free agents the Phillies would like to retain. Brandon Marsh is under team control for another two seasons. If he’s not traded, he could open the season at any of the three outfield spots. Nick Castellanos, who has one year and $20 million left on his contract, is likely to be traded or released, The Athletic’s Matt Gelb reported.
Harper finished second on the Phillies and 11th in the National League among qualified hitters with an .844 OPS. It’s his lowest OPS in a full season since signing with the team in 2019. It was a great, but not elite season from the Phillies superstar.
The Phillies would love to have the best version of Harper again in 2026.
“I don’t think he’s content with the year that he had,” Dombrowski said. “And again, it wasn’t a bad year, but when I think of Bryce Harper, you’d think elite, right? You’re thinking one of the top 10 players in baseball, and I don’t think it fit into that category.”
Thomson cites need for RH hitters, but where are they coming from? 17 Oct 10:00 AM (4 days ago)
A postmortem like the Phillies held Thursday morning at Citizens Bank Park does not yield many direct answers because the men leading the organization have little to gain by tipping their hand before the offseason begins.
One comment from manager Rob Thomson did stick out, though, in response to a question about what he thinks the 2026 Phillies offense needs.
“We’re awfully left-handed, I can say that. Where that comes from, right-handed bat, I don’t know,” Thomson said. “Is it out there? I don’t know. But we’re awfully left-handed, this year anyway.”
Based on how the second half of the season went, it seems rather obvious that one of the Phillies’ right-handed bats, Nick Castellanos, will not be back. He lost his everyday role late in the season, feuded briefly with the manager, and on Thursday, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski offered little more than, “We’ll see what happens,” when asked about Castellanos returning for the final year of his $100 million contract. Given the facts that the Phillies shopped him last winter and he has only one year and $20M remaining on his contract, a trade seems almost like a formality at this point.
Plus, you’ve got to upgrade somewhere in the lineup. There’s no more running it back with one middling addition like Max Kepler, whose left-handed bat never made a ton of sense for this roster to begin with.
If lefty-hitting Justin Crawford claims an everyday outfield spot out of spring training, which the Phillies would like, then the only areas to upgrade offensively would be the outfield corners and third base, where Alec Bohm remains just OK.
One of those outfield corners, when the Phillies face a right-handed starting pitcher, will likely be manned by Brandon Marsh. But the Phils will need a strong right-handed option in the other outfield corner, along with a right-handed platoon partner for Marsh. The platoon partner for Marsh could be someone like Otto Kemp. But the other spot, the starting spot, must be filled in a meaningful way, not with a right-handed hitter you cross your fingers with.
This all, by the way, assumes that the Phillies find a way to re-sign both Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto. If they can’t, then the already present need for offense will rise substantially. You’re not finding other guys with 56-home run potential or catchers with as many above-average qualities as Realmuto in this year’s free-agent class.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, this free-agent class also lacks the right-handed-hitting outfielder they need. Harrison Bader might be the best one. Aside from him, you’re looking at complementary, end-of-roster players like Mark Canha, Tommy Pham, Starling Marte and Randal Grichuk. Ramon Laureano is more interesting than that group and coming off a career year, but he also hit .225/.309/.392 from 2020-23, so who knows what his next club is getting? The Padres could pick up his $6.5 million team option for 2026.
Free agent Pete Alonso has a difference-making right-handed bat but can’t fit onto the Phillies’ roster unless Schwarber signs elsewhere or Bryce Harper moves back to the outfield. Harper indicated last summer that he would move back to the outfield temporarily if it enabled the Phillies to add the right hitter, which Dombrowski acknowledged on Thursday before reiterating that the Phillies view Harper as their first baseman long term.
So, barring the extremely unlikely situation where the Phillies re-sign both Schwarber and Realmuto, move Harper back to the outfield and sign Alonso, where is this meaningful right-handed help coming in free agency? The answer is it’s probably not. It will probably require a trade.
And, again, there just aren’t a ton of quality, obtainable right-handed-hitting outfielders to trade for.
Maybe Brent Rooker if you can live with the defense, but the Athletics also just committed five years and $60M to him.
Do you kick the tires on Randy Arozarena, who has one more arbitration year with the Mariners?
Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs is entering the final year of his contract, so perhaps theoretically the Cubs could think about a deal, but he’s another player who struggles in the field.
Taylor Ward of the Angels might be the most realistic trade candidate of the bunch. He hit .228 last season with 36 homers, 103 RBI and a .792 OPS. He’s streaky and he’s never been an All-Star-caliber player but he’d be an upgrade over Castellanos offensively (.732 OPS as a Phillie) and defensively. The upcoming season is Ward’s final year of arbitration eligibility.
True free agency begins five days after the World Series ends, with those first five days serving as a period for teams to negotiate with their own free agents. We’ll be exploring potential Phillies targets and trade candidates in depth in the weeks to come.
The offseason could go in a number of ways. There could be enormous change if Schwarber and/or Realmuto depart. Or the Phillies could bring both back and follow a more traditional path of finding one more good outfielder. There could also be a big trade that few see coming.
The days of running it back are over, though. This particular roster ran its course. It was talented enough to win a World Series if everything broke right in 2022, 2023, 2024 or 2025, but that didn’t happen, leaving these Phillies as one of the many teams in baseball history with a mid-90s win total and no trophy to show for it.
José Alvarado expected to be back with Phillies in 2026: ‘I love his stuff’ 17 Oct 7:15 AM (5 days ago)
PHILADELPHIA – José Alvarado is expected to be back with the Phillies in 2026.
The left-hander has a 2026 club option worth $9 million with a $500,000 buyout. The Phillies have until five days after the conclusion of the World Series to pick it up. He could return on either the club option or a restructured deal.
“I’d be surprised, without making any announcements, that Alvarado’s not back with us,” Dombrowski said on Thursday at the team’s end-of-season press conference at Citizens Bank Park. “But we’ll see what ends up happening.”
Alvarado, 30, ended the season on the injured list with left forearm tightness. Dombrowski said that Alvarado’s health is “fine” and that he “already received the medical attention that he needs to have in preparation for next year.”
The Phillies essentially committing to an Alvarado return isn’t surprising considering how the team spoke about him following the announcement that he was going to miss the rest of the regular season with an injury. “Our plan now is just get him ready for next year,” manager Rob Thomson said on Sept. 12.
“Tough year, it really was for him in a lot of different ways,” Thomson said on Thursday. “I think making sure that he’s healthy going into the offseason kind of eased his mind, eased my mind.”
Alvarado on May 18 was suspended 80 games and deemed ineligible for the postseason after testing positive for a banned substance. After posting a 2.70 ERA in 20 games before the suspension, Alvarado did not have the same command following a three-month layoff.
2026 would be Alvarado’s sixth season with the Phillies. He was Dombrowski’s first acquisition via trade back in 2021, when the Rays dealt him to the Phillies as part of a three-team deal between Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
At times, Alvarado has looked like one of the better left-handed relievers in the sport. Sent to Triple-A for a reset in 2022, Alvarado finished the year with a 1.66 ERA over his last 42 regular season games. He followed up with a 1.74 ERA in 42 games in 2023. His only earned run allowed in the postseason that year came in Game 7 of the 2023 NLCS.
For at least one more year, the Phillies will ride the highs and lows with Alvarado.
“I’m bullish on the club, I’m really bullish on Alvarado too,” Thomson said. “I love him, I love his energy, I love his stuff. I think he’s, wherever he’s at, he’s going to have a really good year next year.”
Phillies executive says it’s ‘probably impractical’ for team to retain all four key impending free agents 17 Oct 1:45 AM (5 days ago)
PHILADELPHIA — Dave Dombrowski will have some tough decisions to make this winter.
The Phillies fell in the National League Division Series once again, so the offseason started earlier for their president of baseball operations than he would’ve liked. Dombrowski announced Thursday during Philadelphia’s end-of-season news conference at Citizens Bank Park that manager Rob Thomson and his entire coaching staff will return in 2026, with an additional coach being added for next year as well.
Now, the attention will return to the roster.
After running back an awfully similar squad from 2024 into 2025, the club will face additional uncertainty heading into next season as four important players enter free agency. Three longtime Phillies staples in designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, catcher J.T. Realmuto and starting pitcher Ranger Suárez were all in the final year of their contracts, and trade-deadline acquisition Harrison Bader has a mutual option for next season that seems poised to be declined by the player. The Phillies will have to choose who to keep around and how to replace the ones who leave.
“We have others that are free agents, but those are really the four key guys for us,” Dombrowski said. “So bringing them back, not bringing them back, we’d love to have them all if it worked out, but it’s probably impractical that we’re going to have all four of them back.”
Schwarber, who exploded for a National League-leading 56 home runs and major-league-best 132 RBIs this year, is a priority for the Phillies. He’ll turn 33 years old next season and could command a large deal for a player who’s used almost exclusively in the DH spot. But it’s hard to imagine the Phillies being able to replicate Schwarber’s power production should he sign anywhere else.
Realmuto, 34, had the worst full offensive season of his 12-year career in 2025, but he still caught 134 games and will be one of the top catchers in free agency. Both Thomson and Dombrowski spoke highly of the backstop’s work with the team’s pitching staff, and Realmuto had a strong showing at the plate in the NLDS.
The left-hander Suárez had another productive season for the Phillies after getting a late start due to a back issue. He’s a bit of a throwback, a soft tosser who can cruise behind his control. Suárez has been a playoff weapon for years for Philadelphia, but an already strong Phillies rotation and durability concerns could make the team let him walk.
Bader had a career year with his bat, and he soared upon being traded to the Phillies from Minnesota. His offensive and defensive abilities in center field raised the floor for Philadelphia’s outfield, and the team missed Bader when he got hurt during Game 1 of the NLDS.
Additionally, David Robertson, Max Kepler, Jordan Romano and Walker Buehler will become free agents. Dombrowski said it was unlikely that Kepler would return and that Robertson will probably not pitch at the start of next year after signing with the Phillies midway through this season. Romano finished the season on the injured list after putting up one of the worst seasons by a reliever in franchise history, and it would be tough to imagine a reunion with Buehler after his cameo with the team.
The Phillies have a club option for next season on reliever José Alvarado, who missed 80 games due to a performance-enhancing-drug suspension and got hurt upon his return. Dombrowski said he’d be “surprised” if the lefty is not back in Philadelphia, either under that deal or a revised one.
With veterans departing, Philadelphia could rely on some prospects and inexperienced contributors to fill the gaps in 2026. “We also have some young players that we’re going to mesh into our club and leave open,” Dombrowski said. “I’m not going to declare that anybody has a job, but there will be some people that we’re really open-minded to being with our big-league club next year coming out of spring training.”
Dombrowski mentioned Otto Kemp, who played with the Phillies this season, and top outfield prospect Justin Crawford as players who could push to make the team. He didn’t rule out infielder and former first-round pick Aidan Miller either. Maybe the power-hitting Gabriel Rincones Jr. could come into play at some point.
Top pitching prospect Andrew Painter, who struggled with his command in his first season after Tommy John surgery, never made the big leagues in 2025. He should be able to pitch for the Phillies next year.
If some younger players can step up in 2026, it could help the Phillies remain as competitive as possible in the event that they give large contracts to players like Schwarber and/or Realmuto. Owner John Middleton has been a spender, but the team won’t be built totally around big-name free agents.
“We have a very substantial big-league payroll, and I don’t see that that’s going to change,” Dombrowski said. “John is very supportive of that. We have a good club with a lot of good players, but you don’t have unlimited.”
The Phillies possibly could look to shed some salary in trades as well, and the $20 million remaining on Nick Castellanos’ contract comes to mind after Dombrowski said “we’ll see what happens” in the outfielder’s future. But the team would probably have to eat at least a portion of the money in any Castellanos deal.
The exact moves will come to fruition a bit deeper into the offseason as the Phillies identify their targets. But no matter who exactly returns and what mix of old and young the team enters next season with, Thomson is confident that the staff above him will have the club moving in the right direction.
“I’m bullish on this team,” Thomson said. “I really am, partly because we have a great front office, great owner, who are going to go out and try to make this team better.”
Will Bryce Harper return to ‘elite’ status for Phillies? ‘I don’t really know that answer,’ says Dave Dombrowski 17 Oct 1:15 AM (5 days ago)
PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies could use more out of Bryce Harper next year after a relatively down season in 2025. Their president of baseball operations isn’t guaranteeing it.
Harper, a two-time National League MVP who just finished the seventh season of a 13-year contract in Philadelphia, hit 27 home runs with an .844 OPS in 132 games. His OPS ranked sixth among qualified first basemen, but it was his lowest in a Phillies uniform. He was a productive player when he was on the field, just not a superstar.
Can Harper get back to his MVP-type ways? Veteran executive Dave Dombrowski said he wasn’t quite sure at the Phillies’ end-of-season news conference on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park.
“In Bryce’s case, of course he’s still a quality player,” Dombrowski said. “He’s still an All-Star-caliber player. He didn’t have an elite season like he has had in the past. And I guess we only find out if he becomes elite or he continues to be good.”
Harper, who turned 33 on Thursday, is an eight-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, former Rookie of the Year and 2022 NL Championship Series MVP after hitting the go-ahead home run in the game that sent the Phillies to the World Series. He is one of the most decorated, most recognizable, most impactful players in recent memory. He was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2010 at age 17, hit the ground running for the Washington Nationals two years later and lived up to the hype that followed him.
Since signing with the Phillies in 2019, Harper has a .912 OPS, good for seventh in the major leagues in that span. He has a 1.090 OPS in the postseason for Philadelphia, even after hitting just .200 in the 2025 NL Division Series. But after a relatively disappointing year for Harper’s standards, it’s fair to wonder if the full-on heroics are a thing of the past. Players and teams do have to account for aging, especially on a lengthy contract like Harper’s. But it would certainly be a boost for the Phillies if Harper can bounce back to the form that everyone is used to.
Dombrowski put the onus on Harper to do so.
“Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer,” Dombrowski said. “He’s the one that will dictate that more than anything else.”
Dombrowski compared Harper to Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman when trying to come up with an example of an elite hitter who’s settled into being simply an All-Star. But Freeman, at three years older than Harper, still had an OPS that was 25 points higher while playing 15 more games. The performance just wasn’t up to the standard that Harper has set.
“I don’t think he’s content with the year that he had,” Dombrowski said. “And again, it wasn’t a bad year. But when I think of Bryce Harper, you’re thinking elite, right? You’re thinking one of the top-10 players in baseball, and I don’t think it fit into that category. But again, very good player.”
Phillies manager Rob Thomson noted that Harper’s homer total would’ve looked a lot nicer had he played in 25 or 30 more games, but the reality is that he did miss time due to injury, and his durability is a concern. But Dombrowski reiterated that Harper’s wrist was not an issue by the end of the year and that he’s “100%” healthy.
After shifting positions in 2023 in the aftermath of his Tommy John surgery, Harper is now a first baseman and not a right fielder. First base is a power position that has a little extra emphasis on offense. Although Harper has expressed his willingness to go back to the outfield if it meant that Philadelphia could add a difference-making player at first, the team views him as its first baseman.
A stronger version of Harper in 2026 could make the whole lineup look a lot better, and Thomson thinks it could be coming. The manager believes Harper will put in the work in the offseason that will allow him to play as well as ever in his 15th year.
“I think he’s highly motivated to have the best season in his career next year,” Thomson said. “That’s what the plan is going to be for him.”
On the other hand, Dombrowski — the man tasked with putting the roster together with four key players hitting free agency in Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Ranger Suárez and Harrison Bader — said he has “no idea” if Harper can find his usual top-of-the-league form.
“I have seen guys at his age — again, not that he’s old — level off,” Dombrowski said, “or I’ve seen guys rise again. We’ll see what happens.”
Dave Dombrowski pushes back against Matt Strahm’s comments about fielding practice: ‘He didn’t do them, but we did them’ 16 Oct 2:20 PM (5 days ago)
PHILADELPHIA — Phillies president Dave Dombrowski pushed back against the notion that his team did not do enough pitchers’ fielding practice leading up to the club’s National League Division Series loss that ended on a botched tapper back to the mound.
Shortly after Orion Kerkering’s game-ending blunder to hand the Dodgers an extra-inning win in Game 4 last Thursday, reliever Matt Strahm reportedly questioned whether or not the Phillies focused enough on PFPs and if that could have made a difference on the play. A week later during Philadelphia’s end-of-season news conference at Citizens Bank Park, Dombrowski said that the team worked on PFPs during its bye week ahead of the NLDS — and that Strahm may not have been a full participant.
“We did plenty,” Dombrowski said, “and actually, as it turns out, we did do PFPs in the postseason.
“He didn’t do them, but we did them.”
Strahm, a veteran in the bullpen who’s taken the younger Kerkering under his wing, spoke with reporters, including Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, in Los Angeles following the series defeat. The left-hander mentioned that he wished he had called for the pitchers to work on fielding their position more often.
“As soon as it left his hand, my initial thought was, ‘Why didn’t I, as a veteran guy, bring up the fact that we need to do PFPs?’” Strahm said to Zolecki. “It’s something that you can’t expect to do right every time if you don’t practice it enough. Or at all. It sucks that play was in the (11th) inning and not the seventh. If that’s in the seventh, we have a chance to score after it.”
While Phillies manager Rob Thomson also asserted on Thursday that the team did do “a long PFP” in the days prior to the NLDS, he doubted that any number of repetitions with the glove would have helped Kerkering in that disastrous moment. With the bases loaded and two outs, Dodgers nine-hole batter Andy Pages hit a ball back to Kerkering, who fumbled it, picked it up and fired wildly to home plate. He had a play at first base, but the right-hander seemed to panic in the chaos. Game and series over.
In Thomson’s view, there wasn’t any type of practice or drill that could have properly prepared Kerkering for the situation. The players can do all the PFPs in the world, but nothing will recreate the pressure of needing to recover after a ball eluded your grasp inside a packed Dodger Stadium with the season on the line.
“Me, or nobody else,” Thomson said, “can simulate that situation: bobble, bases loaded, 55,000 people, tie game, extra innings. We could hit them that ball 1,000 times and they’ll make the play, but I can’t simulate all the other things. So you just keep working at it and try to get better, but we did do PFP.”
Both Dombrowski and Thomson said they’ve spoken with Kerkering on multiple occasions since the error, and the Phillies will offer him “whatever assistance” and the “support system” that he needs to get past the tough finish to the season. Thomson said that Kerkering will have to put the play behind him and that he’s confident the 24-year-old will bounce back to have a “long” and “successful” career.
And if another dribbler comes his way in 2026?
“If he has the same play next year,” Thomson said, “he’ll make the right decision.”
Dave Dombrowski: ‘We’ll see what happens’ with Nick Castellanos in 2026 16 Oct 12:00 PM (5 days ago)
PHILADELPHIA — It was a tough year for Nick Castellanos.
The right fielder had the worst full season of his career and saw his playing time diminish down the stretch after being an everyday staple in the Phillies lineup in 2024. He was frustrated with his role and his manager, getting benched by Rob Thomson in June after arguing about being subbed out of a game and criticizing Thomson’s communication in September.
The veteran hitter has a season remaining on his five-year, $100 million contract. But can the Phillies and Castellanos continue on for another year?
“Well, we’ll see what happens,” team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday at an end-of-season news conference at Citizens Bank Park. “I don’t know. I mean, I’m not going to get into specific players that are on our roster under contract, but the things that you talked about are accurate. But we’ll see what happens.”
Let the trade speculation commence.
Castellanos signed on board in the spring of 2022 as the Phillies went into the luxury tax to sign a big right-handed batter who had 34 home runs and a .939 OPS with the Reds the year prior. But his first year in Philadelphia was a struggle, and he did not perform like the middle-of-the-order contributor he was expected to be.
The outfielder responded with a more productive, All-Star campaign in 2023, and he had a .742 OPS in 2024 while playing all 162 games. However, the numbers fell off this season. Castellanos had a .694 OPS in 147 games overall and a .582 OPS in the second half. Coupled with his poor defense in right field, he eventually lost at-bats to Max Kepler as the addition of Harrison Bader in center field allowed the Phillies to run platoons in the corners.
The 33-year-old Castellanos told reporters in Arizona late in the season that he doesn’t “really talk to Rob all that often” about the manager’s plan for the outfield and that Thomson’s “communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience.”
Dombrowski said Thursday that the dynamic was certainly not a new development in his lengthy career as an executive, but he did mention that he prefers that these types of issues be settled in private. He also said that he got involved in the handling of the situation.
“Usually, my take on those things are behind closed doors, really is what it comes down to,” Dombrowski said. “I’ve said this in the past: This is by no means the first incident I’ve ever had with players like this. Usually you have almost one every year, sometimes more than that. It usually doesn’t come quite as public as that. But I usually, in my situation, settle it behind the scenes when I get involved, and I think that’s the most appropriate fashion for me to handle that.”
It’s worth noting that Dombrowski has a history with Castellanos that dates back to the start of the player’s professional career. Dombrowski was the general manager of the Tigers when they drafted Castellanos in the first round in 2010 and when he made his major-league debut with Detroit in 2013. And of course, Dombrowski signed Castellanos to the large contract with the Phillies.
But at this point, it’s hard to imagine the Phillies giving Castellanos regular playing time again unless he can seriously bounce back from his rough 2025. And it’s equally hard to imagine Castellanos being happy with a full season in a limited role.
After the Phillies fell to the Dodgers in the National League Division Series, Castellanos — who hit .133 in the four games but did have two clutch doubles after finding himself with more opportunities due to an injury to Bader — was asked if he’d be willing to accept a similar role next year or if he’d rather have a change of scenery. He responded that he’d want to get some imaging done on the left knee that had been bothering him throughout the second half and “go from there.” Dombrowski said there was no further update on Castellanos’ knee.
With $20 million owed to Castellanos next year, the Phillies may have to retain some money if they do decide to trade him and search for some better solutions in the outfield. But that sounds like it could be more palatable for the club now that there’s only one season left on the deal.
Thomson, who will return to the Phillies in 2026, said his relationship with Castellanos is “good” in his perspective. He’d have no issue managing Castellanos moving forward. But depending on how this winter goes for Philadelphia, he may not have the chance to do so.
“I never hold any grudges,” Thomson said, “or if I have a problem with a player or another coach, it doesn’t linger. I’m always the guy that’s going to turn the page on that type of thing.”
Phillies to hire new bench coach under manager Rob Thomson, retain all coaches on big-league staff 16 Oct 10:11 AM (5 days ago)
PHILADELPHIA — In the aftermath of yet another early postseason exit, the Phillies will retain all members of their major-league coaching staff, with one extra wrinkle: A new bench coach will be hired to serve under manager Rob Thomson next season.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced at an end-of-season news conference on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park that the club will have Mike Calitri transition from bench coach to major-league field coordinator, opening an additional coaching spot in 2026. The team will search for an external candidate to fill the role.
“We’ll look outside the organization to add a major-league bench coach to assist us and assist Topper in a different fashion of different things,” Dombrowski said. “But everybody else is coming back.”
Calitri had served as Thomson’s bench coach since the Phillies fired Joe Girardi and elevated Thomson to manager during the 2022 season. Calitri will continue to have many of the same responsibilities despite the different title, including the organization of spring training and the planning of advance meetings. The Phillies hope that bringing in one more coach can only provide more insight.
“What we’re really doing is adding a guy, another set of eyes, maybe new perspective, different perspective on our club, new ideas,” Thomson said. “But I’m still going to be utilizing everyone on that bench, including Mike, for information during the game. So I just think it adds, hopefully, an experienced guy that is just a different perspective, and it makes us a little bit better.”
Adding a coach was Dombrowski’s suggestion, and the veteran executive first broached the subject with Thomson last offseason. The manager said he did not believe the decision was made in response to Philadelphia’s loss to the Dodgers in the National League Division Series or any moves he made in the playoffs. The Phillies will try to identify an ideal fit to pair with Thomson this winter.
“Managers use bench coaches in different fashions during a game, but I think it would be ideal to have somebody that maybe has had some managerial experience or that type of role,” Dombrowski said. “But we’ll see when we get down to it.”
Thomson said he will be “very involved” in the process of determining who will take over as bench coach. The manager is currently under contract through 2026, but Dombrowski said that the Phillies will pursue an extension with him for another year. Dombrowski said last October that he prefers to not enter a season with a lame-duck manager.
The executive also noted that he didn’t feel it was appropriate to pin the NLDS failures on any member of the coaching staff. Dombrowski felt that Philadelphia’s offense made strides under hitting coach Kevin Long and his assistants this year and that the club just faced up against elite Dodgers pitching. Phillies pitchers largely had a successful season under pitching coach Caleb Cotham and his assistants.
So instead of firing any coaches, the team will aim to supplement the group.
“The staff is so good,” Thomson said. “We’re just trying to add one more guy to make it even a little bit better.”
Phillies looking to add another year to Rob Thomson’s contract 16 Oct 9:11 AM (5 days ago)
PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies will look to add another year to manager Rob Thomson’s contract, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said at the Phillies’ end-of-year press conference on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park.
Thomson’s current deal expires at the end of 2026. The club announced a one-year extension for Thomson at last season’s end-of-year press conference.
“There’s been so many other things that we’ve had to tackle in the meantime,” Dombrowski said. “That hasn’t been the highest priority for him nor us, but we will hopefully do that some time in the winter time.”
Thomson will return for a fifth season as Phillies manager. The entirety of the major league coaching staff will be back for next season. They are making one notable change. Bench coach Mike Calitri will become the team’s major league field coordinator, a new role the club has added for the 2026 season. They will look outside the organization for a new bench coach.
“Mangers use bench coaches in different fashions during the game,” Dombrowski said. “But I think it would be ideal to have somebody that has had some managerial experience or that type of role.”
Thomson is interested in signing another extension with the Phillies.
“Oh, absolutely,” Thomson said. “I mean, you know, I don’t know how long I’m going to manage. You’ve got to have somebody that wants you first. I’ve said it many times that the last four years have been the most fun in my career. And it has to do with the people in the organization: players, staff, front office, the fanbase.”
Five pending Phillies free agents speak on time in Philadelphia, future 15 Oct 11:22 AM (6 days ago)
The Phillies have some decisions to make on a handful of key free agents.
Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, catcher J.T. Realmuto and left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez are the big three. Arguably the best hitter available on the market, Schwarber could command a contract of more than $100 million. The Phillies have made it clear that they have strong interest in re-signing him.
2025 was the final year of Realmuto’s five-year, $115.5 contract signed prior to the 2021 season. He’ll enter the free agent market at age 34 with 132 games started behind the plate in 2025. He took a big step back offensively last season, posting a career-low 91 OPS+. Phillies pitchers have consistently praised him over the years for his preparation and game-calling abilities. It will be interesting to see how much the Phillies and other teams value his intangibles.
Of the big three, Suárez is the most likely to sign elsewhere. The Scott Boras client will enter the market at age 30 as one of the best starting pitchers available. He threw a career-high 157 1/3 innings and posted a 3.20 ERA in his walk year. Never say never, however, when it comes to a Phillies reunion. Zack Wheeler is figured to miss at least some of the regular season next year after undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery in late September. Andrew Painter should be up at some point. There is a world where Boras overplays his hand with Suárez and the lefty pitcher has to sign a high AAV, short-term deal with opt outs after every year. The Phillies should have some interest in that.
Harrison Bader has a $10 million mutual option for 2026 that includes a $3 million buyout that he will almost certainly decline. Max Kepler, David Robertson, Jordan Romano and Walker Buehler are also free agents. José Alvarado has a $9 million 2026 club option with a $500,000 buyout.
After the Game 4 loss in Los Angeles last week, five Phillies pending free agents spoke in the clubhouse about their time in Philadelphia and what the future could hold for them.
Kyle Schwarber
Q: You guys have had some disappointing losses to end the season over the last couple years, but how does this one feel knowing that you’re in the last year of your contract and could become a free agent?
Schwarber: Yeah, I mean, it doesn’t feel good, you know. You just make a lot of different relationships in the clubhouse. You never know how it’s going to work out, right? You just make so many personal relationships with guys. You spend (a lot) of time with these guys over the course of the year. They become family. You just never know how it’s going to go, but these guys all know how I feel about them. I got a lot of respect for the guys in here, our organization, the coaching staff, top to bottom, everyone. This is a premier organization. A lot of people should feel very lucky that one, that you’re playing for a team that’s trying to win every single year and you have a fanbase that cares and you have ownership that cares. You have coaches that care, you have everyone in the room that cares. There is no other reason, we’re all about winning. It’s a great thing, and I think that’s why it hurts just as much as any other year.
Q: Would you like to be back? Are you confident you’ll be back? Are there any thoughts about that going into the offseason?
Schwarber: I’ve always said there is going to be mutual interest between both of us. We’ll see where that takes off, but like I’ve said, I’ve seen a lot of different things in the game, but I’m looking forward to seeing when a conversation will be had and going from there.
J.T. Realmuto
Q: Do you want to be back? Do you expect to be back?
Realmuto: I’m not here to talk about free agency, dude. Don’t ask that question right now.
Q: Does it affect the way you feel with these guys right now? (Inaudible) It may be different for you.
Realmuto: I’m thinking about losing a baseball game. That’s what it feels like right now. The last thing I’m thinking about is next year. If you want to ask me about this series or my teammates, I understand that. But I haven’t thought about next year yet.
Ranger Suárez
Q: It seemed like you were one of the last guys left in the dugout looking out on the field. What was going through your head at that point? Especially not just knowing that the season was over, but maybe your time with the Phillies too.
Suárez (via team interpreter): Obviously, we didn’t want this to happen today. I mean, it’s baseball. Things happen like that. About the team, I don’t want it to be the last year with the team. It’s not up to me right now. It’s more about, you know, the team itself and my agent right now.
Q: You’ve been with the Phillies since you were 16. That’s half your life. What’s going through your mind right now knowing that there is some uncertainty about where you’ll be next year?
Suárez: Yeah, I mean, a lot of time with this team. Got to know everyone around the team. You know, obviously all the love that I shared with a lot of my teammates, a lot of the coaching staff. The team staff as well. Yeah, it’s a little tough and it’s a little hard right now to not know where to next, right?
Q: What did you love most about being a part of this core?
Suárez: I mean again, it’s the love for everyone here: the staff, the team (staff), the teammates. The good moments that we had from the 2022 playoffs and onward and for that, all the preparation that came that led us to this run of going to the playoffs. Had a lot of great things with the team happen to me and a couple bad things happen to me too during these years. You know, that’s what I take from it.
Max Kepler
Q: I know the devastation is still pretty fresh, but can you talk about how fulfilling it has been to be around this group for the last six months or so?
Kepler: Yeah, I mean, I’ve been trying to hold it together saying bye to everyone here, you know. Obviously, the baseball part is super important. This is our job, and I gave it my all in that aspect, but what, you know, got me through this year was the people in this room. And I just looked forward to hanging out with them day in, day out. Yeah, they made things easier on the whole project that we attacked together this year, and it sucks kind of thinking ahead towards the unknown because this may be the last day I spend together with this group. It’s hard to process.
Q: What do you think the future might hold for you? Do you want to be back here? Do you think about that at all right now?
Kepler: Yeah I’d love to be back, you know. It’s for (the front office to decide). I really didn’t know what free agency would entail going into this year or signing up with the Phils. But having experienced this whole year with this group of guys has probably been at the very top of my career. Just from the memories that I created with them. I have so many to break down and process. But yeah, just a great group of guys. Such a variety of characters that really moved me in a lot of different ways. So if it were up to me, I’d be back.
Harrison Bader
Q: What did you make of your time with the Phillies and the way it ended (with you) being limited, how much did that sting as you guys fall here?
Bader: Well yeah, you know, first off, obviously, it really was just an absolute pleasure getting dealt here. Just getting an opportunity to not only play alongside so many players I’ve respected for a long time, but also just in front of an incredible fanbase that really gave us a lot of support down the stretch. Something that I, you know, miss very much playing. So it really was just an absolute pleasure. And obviously, down the stretch, it’s funny. You play 162 games and you’re healthy for every single one. You know, a tiny little thing, kind of, I wouldn’t say derails that, but makes it a bit more challenging. So, you know, not the most favorable outcome. But you know, with that said, I think even with an unfavorable outcome like we had, just coming to work every single day and getting a chance to play a game I love to play alongside just a truly professional group top to bottom. Whether it’s, you know, front office personnel, coaching staff, players, it’s really hard to have a bad day when you get to go to work with those types of human beings. So I’m just extremely grateful for the opportunity, and I’m looking forward to seeing whatever is for me and my family in the future.
Q: It seemed like you fit in with this group. They kind of embraced your sayings. They said you provided a lot of energy. Could you see yourself coming back in the future?
Bader: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I’ve said this a lot, you know. I think winning baseball and winning culture and wanting to win, I think, is a universal language, and I don’t think the uniform really kind of defines that. I think being dealt into a clubhouse where a lot of guys, if you will, speak that same language, I think it’s very easy for me to fit it. So I’m just really grateful for everybody. I was just really really excited to play here. Obviously, not what we wanted, but, you know, as always, there’s always a next opportunity. So I’m just focused on that.
Phillies Nation’s Ty Daubert contributed to this report.
Phillies’ Bryce Harper named finalist for Gold Glove Award 15 Oct 7:32 AM (7 days ago)
In his second full season as a first baseman, Phillies star Bryce Harper was named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award at the position for the second year in a row.
Harper, Atlanta’s Matt Olson and Cincinnati’s Spencer Steer are the three National League finalists for the Gold Glove Award at first base, as announced by Rawlings on Wednesday morning. All 2025 Gold Glove Award winners will be revealed on Sunday, Nov. 2, on ESPN.
An outfielder for the first 11 years of his career, Harper moved to first base later in the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery for an elbow injury he suffered in 2022. His ability to adapt to the new position has allowed the Phillies to keep slugger Kyle Schwarber entrenched in the designated hitter spot and mostly out of the field.
Last year, Harper was a finalist after putting up five defensive runs saved and eight outs above average, but Christian Walker ultimately won the NL Gold Glove at first base in 2024. Harper was named to the top three again this year despite worse defensive metrics than last season. He had -3 DRS and one OAA.
While shortstop Trea Turner and second baseman Bryson Stott had impressive defensive seasons, Harper was the only Philadelphia player to be named a Gold Glove finalist. He has never won a Gold Glove Award at any position. The last Phillie to win a Gold Glove Award was pitcher Zack Wheeler in 2023. Bill White was the only Phillies first baseman to ever win a Gold Glove, doing so in 1966.
Postseason riser Ranger Suárez is set to become a free agent after latest October effort with Phillies 14 Oct 3:04 PM (7 days ago)
LOS ANGELES — As the tiny visitors’ clubhouse began to clear out and Phillies players started to leave Dodger Stadium last Thursday night, Ranger Suárez and team interpreter Diego D’Aniello were ushered into a nearby hallway to speak to the handful of reporters that remained following the devastating end to the National League Division Series for Philadelphia.
Suárez, a hero in Game 3 and one of the best postseason performers in major-league history, has been with the Phillies organization since signing as a 16-year-old in 2012. But the left-hander is destined for free agency for the first time this winter after the season finished much earlier than Suárez and his teammates expected.
A ballpark employee briefly turned out the corridor lights as Suárez reflected during what might have been his final interview as a Phillie.
“Obviously, we didn’t want this to happen today,” Suárez said in Spanish after Philadelphia’s 2-1, 11-inning loss in Game 4. “I mean, it’s baseball. Things happen like that. I don’t want it to be the last year with the team, but it’s not up to me right now. It’s more about the team itself and my agent right now.”
Suárez and agent Scott Boras chatted for a while on Thursday afternoon by the first-base dugout in Los Angeles. The night prior, the 30-year-old pitcher threw five crucial innings in relief to help keep the Phillies alive in the NLDS. He lowered his playoff ERA to 1.48 in 42 2/3 innings, the seventh-best mark of any pitcher to throw at least that many innings in the postseason. That type of October production should be attractive to teams in need of rotation help this offseason.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson made a surprising move to start veteran Aaron Nola in Game 3 and use Suárez out of the bullpen. The plan was executed to perfection as Nola tossed two scoreless and Suárez took the ball through the seventh while allowing just one run in an 8-2 Phillies win.
It was impressive stuff from Suárez, who exited his last start of the regular season early after taking a comebacker off the thigh. He didn’t pitch in the team’s intrasquad scrimmage before the NLDS, then did not enter Game 1 or Game 2 of the series despite being available to pitch out of the bullpen. Suárez navigated his uncertain schedule and delivered with yet another gem.
“I think everybody knows Ranger,” Thomson said before Game 3. “There’s not too much that bothers him. I have full confidence he’s ready to go.”
With a 3.20 ERA in 26 starts, Suárez will hit free agency coming off a strong year. He did get a late start to the season due to a back issue, and durability will be a bit of a concern about the starter. But the soft-tossing, slick-fielding lefty can stifle hitters with pinpoint control when he’s on, and he’s shown to be a big-game pitcher in a variety of roles.
The Phillies have a talented starting staff, which could lead to them letting Suárez walk away this winter as they fill other holes. Maybe some questions about ace Zack Wheeler’s status in the aftermath of his surgery to correct his thoracic outlet syndrome and whether or not top prospect Andrew Painter will be ready after a disappointing season would make a reunion a bit more likely than previously thought. But there seems to be a good chance Suárez will be wearing a different uniform in 2026.
“A lot of time with this team,” Suárez said of the Phillies. “I got to know everyone around the team, and, obviously, all the love that I shared with my teammates. I love the coaching staff and the team staff as well. So it’s a little tough and it’s a little hard right now to not know where to next, right?”
If his time is up in Philadelphia, Suárez will have a lot of accomplishments to take with him. He debuted in 2018, established himself as a contributor in 2021 and emerged as a true postseason weapon in 2022. The Phillies won all five games Suárez pitched in that October, and he delivered the pitch that sent the team to the World Series as he closed out the clinching Game 5 of the NL Championship Series.
Suárez will remember the times like that — and the people he shared them with — in the event that he signs with another club.
“It’s the love for everyone here: the staff, the team members, the teammates and the good moments that we had from the 2022 playoffs and onward,” Suárez said. “And before that, all the preparation that came and that led us to this run of going to the playoffs. A lot of great things with the team happened to me, and a couple bad things happened to me, too, during these years. But that’s what I take from them.”