2025 season: 96-66, first in NL East, eliminated in NLDS
With the Phillies eliminated by the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLDS, let’s take a look at the season spent in Philadelphia, the questions the team must address this winter, and early outlooks for next year.
Advertisement
Read more: 2025 MLB offseason previews: What’s next for the White Sox, Pirates, Twins and more?
Things that went well
After going 12 years without winning the National League East, the Phillies won a division title for the second consecutive year. They also recorded their highest win total since 2011, winning 96 games as a balanced, veteran-laden roster that made them one of the most consistent teams in baseball.
The rotation was the team’s strength and one of the best starting units in baseball. Cristopher Sánchez emerged as the team’s best pitcher and will attract heavy consideration for the National League Cy Young Award. By increasing his strikeout rate while continuing to limit walks and inducing plenty of ground balls, Sánchez became as consistent as any starter in the National League. Zack Wheeler pitched as well as Sánchez for most of the season, before a blood clot in his right shoulder ended his season in mid-August. Ranger Suárez continued to provide reliable results, and while “reliable” would be the wrong word to describe Jesús Luzardo, he had many dazzling outings mixed in with the occasional explosion.
Advertisement
Philadelphia’s offense was led by a memorable season from Kyle Schwarber. The veteran was already one of the most consistent sluggers in baseball, but this year he took his game to another level, leading the National League with 56 home runs and leading the majors with 132 RBIs. He is expected to have a tight finish with Shohei Ohtani for league MVP honors.
And while Schwarber stole the show, Bryce Harper continued to be the lineup’s metronome, with his consistency reaching the bases and providing power. Trea Turner was another important asset, as he continued to be one of baseball’s most reliable setup men. Before missing most of September due to injury, Turner hit for average (.304), provided some pop (15 home runs) and gave pitchers fits while Schwarber and Harper were at the plate, posting his highest steal total (36) since 2018.
Things that went wrong
For the second year in a row, the Phillies failed to advance past the NLDS. Worse yet, they lost their first two playoff games at home, prompting a chorus of boos from Philadelphia fans, before rallying for a resounding victory in Game 3 that appeared to threaten the Dodgers’ lead. But then the Phillies’ season ended in heartbreaking fashion in Game 4, with a critical error allowing the winning run to score for Los Angeles in the bottom of the 11th inning of what had been a 1-1 battle up to that point. Just like that, a Phillies team that looked like serious World Series contenders on paper was left out of the postseason.
Advertisement
In the regular season, the relief corps stood out as the most disappointing part of the team. Jordan Romano was signed in the offseason with expectations that he would assume the closer role or at least be part of a ninth inning committee. Instead, he had a 6.81 ERA at the trade deadline, when management relented and traded key prospects for Jhoan Durán. Romano’s struggles were even more notable when the team was without José Alvarado for 80 games due to a banned substance suspension. Alvarado returned in time to cover some key innings down the stretch, but was ineligible to pitch in the postseason.
Although the top of the lineup was especially dangerous, there were some disappointments in the bottom half of the order that made this offense good instead of great. Nick Castellanos was disappointing. Not only did he continue a long-term trend of being one of the worst defensive right fielders in baseball (-12 fielding run value, per Statcast), but he also posted an unimpressive .694 OPS. Things were no better in left field, where offseason signing Max Kepler struggled all season and finished with a .691 OPS. Fortunately, Harrison Bader arrived at the trade deadline to help the outfield and posted an .824 OPS during his time with the Phillies.
While the rotation was successful overall, Aaron Nola stands out as the only arm who had a miserable season. Nola had been inconsistent in recent years, but entered 2025 with great optimism after going 14-8 with a 3.57 ERA the year before. He then spent three months on the disabled list due to a sprained ankle and finished the regular season with a 5-10 record and a 6.01 ERA.
Advertisement
(Get more Philadelphia news: Phillies team feed)
Low season plans
Although most of the Phillies’ key players are under contract through 2026, there are some holes left to fill. One of them is behind the plate, as JT Realmuto will head to free agency after a successful seven-year career with the organization. That being said, management could bring Realmuto back, as the Phillies have no obvious replacement in the organization. The rest of the infield is much more stable, with Harper at first base, Bryson Stott at second, Turner at shortstop and Alec Bohm manning the hot corner. Stott is the most vulnerable member of the group, coming off two consecutive disappointing seasons. But he probably played well enough to convince management to turn their attention elsewhere.
There is talk of two outfield spots, which might not be a good thing. Castellanos has one more season on a lucrative contract, which is reason enough to make him the right fielder, although the organization could try to trade him in the offseason. Brandon Marsh is still cheap and has played well enough to start against righties. He can play center or left field. Kepler was in town on a one-year contract, so the front office will likely go in another direction with his position.
Advertisement
The most important task for the front office will be to retain or replace Schwarber, who is headed to free agency. Schwarber will undoubtedly receive massive contract offers, and the Phillies should be among the bidders. The designated hitter is widely recognized as a difference-maker both in the clubhouse and at the plate, but there is an obvious downside to signing a long-term contract with a player who rarely plays the field and who will turn 33 on Opening Day.
The Phillies might be in a better place with their rotation than any other team in baseball. Wheeler, Nola, Luzardo, Sánchez and Taijuan Walker are all under contract for next season, with Suárez the only member of the rotation heading to free agency. If Nola can get his career back on track, the team can open 2026 with five veterans in the rotation and talented prospect Andrew Painter waiting in the wings. That said, it’s worth noting that Wheeler faces a six- to eight-month recovery from September surgery, which could result in him opening 2026 on the injured list.
Acquiring Durán not only solved a pressing problem for 2025, but also gave the Phillies an elite closer for the next two seasons. With Duran as anchor and Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm as setup men, the club is off to a good start in building an effective relief corps. Romano was on a one-year deal and certainly won’t return, and the front office could abandon a $9 million club option on Alvarado. Ideally, the front office will find one more pitcher for the prep team and at least one depth arm to cover the lower leverage frames.
Perspectives on the horizon
Phillies fans have been patiently waiting for Painter, Philadelphia’s 2021 first-round pick, to make his major league debut. The right-hander missed the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was expected to reach the majors midway through this season. Instead, he posted mixed results in Triple-A, delaying his debut until 2026. Painter is still considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and has ace potential once he finishes shaking off the rust.
Advertisement
Outfielder Justin Crawford is the other notable prospect about to debut. Crawford, a first-round pick in 2022, is one of the fastest players in the minors and knows how to get on base. He lacks power, but can bring an exciting skill set to the bottom half of the Phillies’ lineup. Promoting Crawford, who spent all of 2025 in Triple-A, would be a cheap way to plug a hole in the outfield, which could allow the front office to spend its money on bringing back Schwarber.
Finally, Aidan Miller, a first-round pick in 2023, could debut in the second half of 2026. Miller, a full-time shortstop in the minors, is blocked by Turner, but could emerge as an option at second base. He spent 2025 in Double-A.
Goals for 2026
For the Phillies, the goal of every season is to win the World Series, and the stakes only increase after their surprising elimination in October of this year. But the good news is that they have one of the most complete and balanced rosters in baseball, and Turner, Harper and Wheeler, among others, are under contract for multiple seasons. To finally get ahead next year, the organization needs to get Nola back on track, but that should be possible given that his 2025 injury was not related to his arm. It will also be essential for Wheeler to overcome the blood clot issue in his shoulder and return to being a force in the rotation.
Advertisement
The front office also needs to re-sign Schwarber, that or add a superstar replacement, like Kyle Tucker. There will undoubtedly be concerns about how well Schwarber will do in the final seasons of a four- or five-year deal, but for now, he’s an essential part of an effective lineup in Philadelphia. With Schwarber back, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will then be able to tinker with the bench and bullpen, knowing the heavy lifting is done.
fantasy approach
Many Phillies will be called up in the early rounds of the 2026 drafts. Turner, Wheeler and Harper will be selected in the second or third round. The same can be said for Schwarber, whether he remains in Philadelphia or not. Sánchez will be selected as an ace at the Round 4 range. Durán will also be quite attractive and will be rated as a top 10 reliever.
The rest of the Phillies will be selected in the middle or late rounds of the draft. Luzardo’s strikeout abilities will make him one of the more attractive options in the Round 10 range. Castellanos will be selected in the second half of drafts, as will Nola, as managers are counting on bounce-back seasons from both players.