Three questions facing the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason

The Philadelphia Phillies won the NL East for the second consecutive year. And for the second consecutive year, they were eliminated in the NLDS in four games.

The Phillies were content to run almost the same group back in 2025 as they tinkered around the edges of the roster. That will not be the case this offseason as several key players, highlighted by designated hitter/outfielder Kyle Schwarber, catcher J.T. Realmuto and pitcher Ranger Suarez, are slated to become free agents. 

While the Phillies' season ended in disappointment, they did win 96 games in 2025. It is not unreasonable to expect Philadelphia to be in the thick of another playoff push in 2026. Ownership has been willing to spend, and the Phillies have a strong core, putting the franchise in a good spot heading into the offseason.

Three questions facing the Philadelphia Phillies heading into the offseason

1. Is it worth bringing Schwarber back to Philadelphia?

Schwarber has been a key part of the Phillies lineup since he signed during the 2021-22 offseason. He has posted a .226/.349/.507 batting line over 2805 plate appearances during his four years in Philadelphia, hitting 187 homers. Schwarber will enter free agency on the heels of what may have been the best season of his career, as he produced a .240/.365/.563 batting line with a league-leading 56 homers and 132 RBI over 724 plate appearances.

The problem is that the Phillies have several players whose best defensive position is the designated hitter role. Phillies outfielders ranked 26th in the majors, costing the team 16 runs defensively. Unless the Phillies can trade outfielders Nick Castellanos and/or Brandon Marsh, the Phillies may not be able to afford to bring Schwarber back without drastically hurting their defense.

2. What to do with Castellanos?

Castellanos' time in Philadelphia may be coming to an end one way or another. Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported that the Phillies are expected to part ways with the 33-year-old outfielder or, if unable to do so, will consider releasing Castellanos.

Any trade would likely involve the Phillies taking on a significant portion of the $20 million he is due in 2026. Castellanos' production cratered in 2025 as he posted a .250/.294/.400 batting line with 17 homers and 27 doubles over 589 plate appearances. He has also become a malcontent, with players and coaches reportedly "disgusted" with Castellanos' comments to manager Rob Thomson after being removed from a game in June for defensive purposes, leading to the outfield being benched. The Phillies may be better off getting rid of Castellanos, regardless of what type of return they can get.

3. How valuable is Realmuto?

The 34-year-old Realmuto is starting to show some cracks in his armor. After being one of the more reliable catchers over the past decade, he began to slip in 2025, posting a .257/.315/.384 batting line with 12 homers and 26 doubles over 550 plate appearances. 

Although Realmuto is starting to wear down, he is still the best catcher available in free agency. He may be the only starting-caliber free agent catcher as well. The Phillies do not have many alternatives in their farm system - catching prospect Caleb Ricketts is considered to be a likely backup at the major league level. Realmuto may be the most important of the Phillies' free agents and the one they most need to retain.