The Philadelphia Phillies entered the MLB offseason with expectations of making bold moves after another painful postseason exit. However, the team’s winter activity has drawn criticism and raised concerns about their outlook for the 2026 season.
Although Philadelphia secured a major deal by re-signing power hitter Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract, the organization made few other headline-grabbing additions. The Phillies also managed to retain star catcher J.T. Realmuto, but only after missing out on one of their biggest offseason targets, former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette. Reports indicated that Philadelphia was close to signing Bichette, but the New York Mets ultimately stepped in late and finalized a deal, dealing a major blow to Phillies fans who expected him to be the team’s marquee acquisition.
As the offseason came to a close, analyst Jim Bowden of The Athletic offered a discouraging projection for the Phillies’ upcoming campaign. Bowden predicted that Philadelphia would finish third in the highly competitive National League East division. He also raised several concerns about the roster, including whether the team has relied on the same core players for too long, whether ace Zack Wheeler and promising rookie Andrew Painter can remain healthy and meet expectations, and whether veteran pitcher Aaron Nola can regain his previous dominant form.
Bowden further reflected his skepticism by awarding the Phillies a C+ grade for their offseason performance, suggesting that the organization failed to make enough impactful improvements.
Beyond Schwarber and Realmuto, Philadelphia’s roster moves were relatively modest. The team signed reliever Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million contract, added outfielder Adolis GarcÃa on a one-year, $10 million deal, and brought in right-handed pitcher Zach Pop on a one-year contract worth $900,000. The Phillies also completed trades for pitchers Yoniel Curet, Jonathan Bowlan, and Kyle Backhus, though none are currently expected to play major roles during the 2026 season.
Concerns about the Phillies’ competitiveness have grown, especially as division rival New York Mets significantly strengthened their roster. Despite the criticism and uncertainty, Philadelphia still possesses a talented lineup. If key players remain healthy and perform at a high level, the team could still position itself as a serious contender for a postseason spot.
Yo, mi88bet is where it’s at! Had a killer session last night. Good selection of games and the interface is clean. Get your bets in at mi88bet