3 bold offseason moves the Phillies need to win the 2025 World Series
How can the Phillies front office put the team in the best position to win the World Series beginning this winter?
After being eliminated from the 2024 playoffs in the NLDS by the New York Mets, the Philadelphia Phillies will go back to the drawing board to improve the team this offseason. Philadelphia's season had been unsteady since July. Their elimination early on in the postseason may have left fans gutted, but it was hardly surprising.
Will president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and new general manager Preston Mattingly be more active in free agency and the trade market this winter than last year? The Phillies believed they already possessed a roster capable of returning to the World Series for the second time in three years in 2024, following losing in seven games to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 NLCS.
There are more doubts and concerns than last winter about whether the Phillies can win a World Series. After all, the only player on the 2024 roster who had a good postseason was starting pitcher Zack Wheeler. His outing during Game 1 of the NLDS kept Philly in the lead until his exit late in the contest. The remainder of their core, in addition to the secondary players, underachieved throughout the four games.
During his press conference on Oct. 15, Dombrowski commented that: "[the Phillies] just have to be open-minded to exploring what’s out there for us, talk to some clubs and see what ends up happening. That process hasn’t started. Sometimes you trade good players for good players.”
He believes the roster is talented enough to win a championship but just needs to play well at the right time.
There is some merit to Dombrowski's mentioning a club playing well at the right time to make a deep playoff run. The Mets had success during the second half of the 2024 season, which led to their first appearance in the NLCS since 2015.
The Diamondbacks had momentum late in 2023, which propelled the franchise to defeat the Phillies and culminated in their first World Series appearance since 2001. In 2024, Arizona played inconsistently and narrowly missed the postseason.
Philadelphia played well in the second half of the regular season in 2022, and that momentum carried over to the postseason as they won their first National League pennant since 2009. So, a lot of luck is needed.
Based on one of Dombrowski's comments about "trading good players for good players," could the Phillies be more active on the trade market this offseason? It certainly seems possible as some players who are not locked up long-term did not pull their weight for the club during the second half of the season and in the playoffs.
Here are three bold offseason moves the Phillies need to make to win the 2025 World Series.
1. Add another full-time outfielder
The Phillies entered the 2024 regular season with an outfield position group that only included one outfielder, Nick Castellanos, who was used as a starter. Manager Rob Thomson elected to use Johan Rojas, Brandon Marsh, Cristian Pache, Whit Merrifield, Austin Hays, Cal Stevenson, and Weston Wilson in center and left. Kyle Schwarber saw minimal time in left field as he transitioned to the team's full-time designated hitter.
Pache and Merrifield finished the season with other teams. During the trade deadline, the Phillies traded the former, along with reliever Seranthony Domínguez, to the Baltimore Orioles for Hays. Philadelphia did not receive much of an upgrade at the position following the deal.
Hays missed time during the second half of the season for the Phillies with a hamstring strain and a kidney infection. He is due an estimated $6.4 million in arbitration for 2025 before becoming a free agent next winter. Will the franchise be willing to pay that, or will they consider trading the outfielder?
Could the front office trade one or more of their outfielders this winter? It remains to be seen what the future holds for Rojas with an organization aiming to win a championship now. Dombrowski could trade the young outfielder to a club that is rebuilding and in a position to be more patient with the 24-year-old's continued development due to their position of not being a playoff contender.
After a decent first few months in 2024, Marsh struggled beginning in July. He posted a .229/.307/.411 line from the start of July to the end of September. The outfielder demonstrated his tendency to strike out with 154 in 418 plate appearances over 135 contests. He may be used full-time by Thomson but lacks the consistency to be effective for a six-month regular season schedule.
It is unknown if the Phillies will consider offering free agent outfielder Juan Soto a deal this winter. The outfielder will likely receive an offer for over 10 years worth up to $600 million. Dombrowski mentioned previously he thinks the organization: "[does not] need to have more star players. Would you be open to it? Yes, but I think you have to be careful because sometimes it's not only the star players, it's also sometimes the supporting cast."
Despite rumors to the contrary, the fanbase should not get its hopes up regarding the team pursuing Soto. Some notable free agent outfielders include Teoscar Hernández, Jurickson Profar, Harrison Bader, Tyler O'Neill, Alex Verdugo and Anthony Santander.
Hernández and Santander have received qualifying offers from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles, respectively. It appears the Phillies will aim to bolster their supporting cast in the offseason, and acquiring a few outfielders this winter via trade or free agency is one way they can do that.
2. Add another starter to the rotation
The Phillies need to enter spring training with an improved solution to the end of their starting rotation. Taijuan Walker missed the start of the regular season due to an injury and was not reliable when he was on the mound.
Walker compiled a 6.50 ERA in 14 starts before Thomson moved him to the bullpen. He allowed six earned runs in two starts during late August. He received one more start in September, in which he surrendered eight earned runs and a whopping four home runs in only 3 1/3 innings pitched.
Walker may have an opportunity to earn a starting opportunity in spring training, but the club may trade him this winter. Philadelphia would have to absorb some of his remaining salary as he is owed $18 million in 2025 and 2026.
Prospect Andrew Painter is participating in the Arizona Fall League after missing all of 2024, recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old may be ready to debut in the majors next year, but the Phillies should not rush or count on him to open 2025 in the starting rotation. He may be ready to debut during the summer or in the fall of next season. The right-hander has a better chance of competing for a rotation spot in 2026.
Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Cristopher Sánchez are the top three starters in the Phillies rotation. Ranger Suárez had a mixed season in 2024, as he looked like a Cy Young candidate during the early portion of the regular season. Beginning in his last start at the end of June, he did not look like the same pitcher. The left-hander went on the IL toward the end of July with a back injury and did not return until near the end of August.
Suárez totaled an outstanding 1.83 ERA in his first 16 starts over the first three months of the regular season. He went 10-2 and allowed 20 earned runs, six home runs, and 19 walks. Beginning in July until the end of September, he had a 6.04 ERA. The 29-year-old allowed 32 earned runs, seven home runs, and 20 walks in 10 starts. Overall, he is considered to be nothing more than a number three starter in the rotation.
If the Phillies decide to trade Walker this offseason, they may sign a free agent to enter next year as a starter. They could also acquire a starter in a trade to compete for the number five spot in their rotation.
The Phillies were interested in previously acquiring Chicago White Sox starter Garrett Crotchet at July's trade deadline. However, Philly did not want to part with Painter in a deal. Could they renew their interest in trading for the left-hander this winter? Despite Chicago's terrible season, the 25-year-old starter had a 3.58 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and 209 strikeouts. He will have his share of teams interested in trading for him this offseason.
If the Phillies do not want to pay a hefty price in a deal for Crotchet, another starter they could show interest in acquiring via trade is St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray. The veteran had a 3.84 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 203 strikeouts in 28 starts in 2024. He could be a good starter for Philly at the back of their rotation.
Some notable starting pitchers available in free agency include Jack Flaherty, Nathan Eovaldi, Corbin Burnes, and Max Fried. The issue needs to be resolved before the start of the 2025 regular season, as it is one of the glaring concerns on Philadelphia's roster.
3. Sign a top closer
Having a closer-by-committee approach may have worked to an extent for Thomson and the Phillies, but it was not the best solution. Dombrowski acquired a proven closer in Carlos Estévez at the deadline.
José Alvarado, who entered the regular season as the team's best option to close games, became erratic during July. Thomson stuck with him longer than he should have by continuing to use him in late-inning situations.
Estévez and setup pitcher Jeff Hoffman are two free agent relievers who each have good chances of being with other clubs in 2025. If that is the case, the Phillies will be in the market to trade for or add a free agent reliever this winter.
Tanner Scott is one of the top relievers available. He is coming off a season in which he saved a career-high 22 games in 72 contests. The left-hander finished with a 1.75 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 72 innings pitched.
Clay Holmes lost the closer job for the Yankees in 2024. He finished with 30 saves in 43 opportunities. In 2023, he saved 24 games out of 27 chances. The reliever totaled 20 saves out of 25 opportunities in 2022. He may have just had a down season, considering that relievers can demonstrate tendencies to be erratic from year to year. The right-hander will have his share of suitors in free agency this winter.
If the Phillies do not sign or trade for a reliever with previous closing experience this offseason, Thomson should consider Orion Kerkering to fill the role. The 23-year-old impressed in the team's minor league system during 2023, spent mainly in High-A with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws and in Double-A with the Reading Fightin' Phils. He saved 14 out of 15 games successfully in the Minors before his promotion to Philly at the end of the regular season.
Kerkering finished the 2024 regular season with a 2.29 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 64 games. He was the only reliever to appear in all four contests during the NLDS. The Huntington Beach, California native did decent for the Phillies aside from allowing one home run in Game 2 versus the Mets. He totaled a 2.45 ERA and a 1.64 ERA in 3 2/3 innings.
The Phillies have work to do this winter to improve their roster. Their season began with promise, but they ultimately underachieved. The NL East may be more challenging in 2025. The Atlanta Braves may have better luck with health next year, and the Mets are more competitive sooner than anticipated.
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