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 that was in Philadelphia, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.
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Things that went right
After going 12 years without winning the NL East, the Phillies secured a division title for a second straight year. They also recorded their highest win total since 2011, winning 96 games as a balanced, veteran-laden roster made them one of the most consistent teams in baseball.
The rotation was the strength of the team and one of the best starting units in baseball. Cristopher Sánchez emerged as the teamâ€s best pitcher and will draw strong consideration for the NL 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 NL. Zack Wheeler pitched every bit as well as Sánchez for most of the season, before a blood clot in his right shoulder ended his season in the middle of 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 that were mixed with the occasional blowup.
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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, topping the NL with 56 homers and leading the majors with 132 RBI. He figures to have a tight finish with Shohei Ohtani for league MVP honors.
And while Schwarber was stealing the show, Bryce Harper continued to be the metronome of the lineup, with his consistency reaching base and providing power. Trea Turner was another major asset, as he remained one of baseballâ€s most reliable table-setters. Prior to missing most of September due to injury, Turner hit for average (.304), provided a bit of pop (15 homers) and gave pitchers fits while Schwarber and Harper were at the plate, posting his highest steals total (36) since 2018.
Things that went wrong
For a second straight year, the Phillies failed to get past the NLDS. Even worse, they lost their first two playoff games at home — leading to a chorus of boos from the Philly fans — before rallying for a resounding victory in Game 3 that seemed to threaten the Dodgers’ upper hand. But then the Phillies’ season ended in gut-wrenching fashion in Game 4, with a critical error allowing the winning run to score for L.A. in the bottom of the 11th inning of what had been a 1-1 battle to that point. Just like that, a Phillies team that looked like serious World Series contenders on paper was out of the postseason.
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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 either take over the closerâ€s role or at least be part of a ninth-inning committee. Instead, he owned a 6.81 ERA at the trade deadline, when management relented and traded key prospects for Jhoan Duran. The struggles of Romano were even more noticeable when the team was without José Alvarado for 80 games due to a PED suspension. Alvarado returned in time to cover some key innings down the stretch but was not eligible to pitch in the postseason.
Although the top of the lineup was especially dangerous, there were some letdowns in the bottom half of the order that made this offense good rather than great. Nick Castellanos was disappointing. Not only did he continue a long-term trend of being one of baseballâ€s worst defensive right fielders (-12 Fielding Run Value, per Statcast), but he also logged an unimpressive .694 OPS. Things werenâ€t any better in left field, where offseason signee Max Kepler scuffled throughout the season and finished with a .691 OPS. Thankfully, 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 one arm who had a miserable season. Nola had been inconsistent in recent years, but he entered 2025 with great optimism after going 14-8 with a 3.57 ERA the previous year. Then he spent three months on the IL due to a sprained ankle and finished the regular season at 5-10 with a 6.01 ERA.
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Offseason plans
Although most of the key Phillies are under contract for 2026, there are some holes to fill. One of those is behind the plate, as J.T. Realmuto will head to free agency after a successful seven-year run with the organization. That said, the front office could bring Realmuto back, as the Phillies donâ€t have an 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, as heâ€s coming off two consecutive underwhelming seasons. But he has likely played well enough to convince management to direct attention elsewhere.
Two outfield spots are spoken for, which might not be a good thing. Castellanos has one more season on a lucrative contract, which is enough reason to make him the right fielder, though the organization could try to trade him in the offseason. Brandon Marsh is still inexpensive and has played well enough to start against right-handers. He can play center or left field. Kepler was in town on a one-year deal, so the front office will likely go in another direction with his spot.
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The biggest job for the front office will be to retain or replace Schwarber, who is heading to free agency. Schwarber will undoubtedly receive massive contract offers, and the Phillies should be among the bidders. The DH is widely recognized as a difference-maker in the clubhouse as well as at the plate, but there is an obvious downside to signing a long-term deal with a player who rarely plays the field and will be 33 years old 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 lone rotation member who is 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 should be noted that Wheeler is facing a six-to-eight-month recovery from September surgery, which could cause him to open 2026 on the IL.
Acquiring Duran not only solved a pressing issue for 2025 but also gave the Phillies an elite closer for the next two seasons. With Duran the anchor and Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm as the 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 wonâ€t be back, and the front office might walk away from a $9 million club option with Alvarado. Ideally, the front office will find one more hurler for the setup crew and at least one depth arm to cover lower-leverage frames.
Prospects on the horizon
Phillies fans have been patiently waiting for Painter, Philly’s 2021 first-round pick, to make his major-league debut. The right-hander missed all of the 2023 and ‘24 seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was expected to reach the majors by the middle of this season. Instead, he posted uneven results in Triple-A, delaying his debut until 2026. Painter is still regarded as one of baseballâ€s best pitching prospects and has ace potential once he finishes shaking the rust off.
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Outfielder Justin Crawford is the other notable prospect on the verge of his debut. A first-round pick in 2022, Crawford 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 an inexpensive way to plug a hole in the outfield, which might allow the front office to spend its money on bringing Schwarber back.
Lastly, Aidan Miller, a first-round pick in 2023, could debut in the second half of 2026. A full-time shortstop in the minors, Miller 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 every season is to win the World Series, and the stakes only get higher after their stunning October exit this year. But the good news is they have one of the deepest, most balanced rosters in baseball, and Turner, Harper and Wheeler, among others, are under contract for multiple seasons. To finally break through next year, the organization needs Nola to get back on track, but that should be attainable given that his 2025 injury was not related to his arm. It will also be essential that Wheeler moves past the blood clot issue in his shoulder and returns to being a force in the rotation.
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The front office also needs to re-sign Schwarber — that or add a superstar replacement, such as Kyle Tucker. There will undoubtedly be concerns about how well Schwarber will fare in the final seasons of a four- or five-year deal, but for now, he is an essential part of an effective lineup in Philadelphia. With Schwarber back, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski can then tinker with the bench and bullpen, knowing that the heavy lifting is done.
Fantasy focus
Plenty of Phillies will have their names called in the early rounds of 2026 drafts. Turner, Wheeler and Harper will all be selected in the second or third rounds. The same can be said of Schwarber, whether or not he remains in Philadelphia. Sánchez will be drafted as an ace in the range of Round 4. Duran will also be quite appealing and will be valued as a top-10 reliever.
The rest of the Phillies will be selected in the middle or late rounds of drafts. Luzardoâ€s strikeout skills will make him one of the most appealing options in the range of Round 10. Castellanos will be selected in the second half of drafts, as will Nola, as managers bank on bounce-back seasons from both players.
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