The 2026 season is do-or-die for the Philadelphia Phillies, as a team that has consistently disappointed in the postseason is only getting older. If the club plans on winning an elusive World Series trophy this time around, they’ll need to take things seriously from the jump. That means no screwing around early trying to figure out who should stick on the roster. With that in mind, let’s dive into a few players who could find themselves first up on the chopping block.
When the Phillies need to open up roster spots, these four guys may be the first to go
Zach Pop
It came as a surprise when Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski signed right-hander Zach Pop to a major league deal, as the journeyman had worked to a cumulative 6.68 ERA over his last three seasons in the big leagues. In fact, Pop only got into five games between the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners last year, where he posted an atrocious 14.85 mark. The Phils are a bit short on right-handed depth at the moment with Orion Kerkering on the shelf, but don’t be surprised if they cut bait on Pop as soon as they’re back to full strength.
Dylan Moore
Former Gold Glove Award winner Dylan Moore earned the last spot on the bench not due to his bat, but for his ability to suit up all over the diamond. The 33-year-old isn’t likely to get many starts, and seeing as he put up a rough .201/.267/.374 slash line last season, he shouldn’t be expected to do much when he does play. We’ve all seen this movie before where Dombrowski gets a bit too cute on the fringes of the roster. Like his predecessors Whit Merrifield and Josh Harrison, Dylan Moore probably won’t make it through the entirety of the season as a Philadelphia Phillie.
Kyle Backhus
Southpaw Kyle Backhus was brought in the same day the Phillies shipped out relief ace Matt Strahm, drawing obvious comparisons in the process. As a similarly funky lefty, Backhus seemed like a ready-made replacement for the former All-Star, and could form a three-headed monster of lefty relievers alongside Tanner Banks and José Alvarado. That may still come to pass, but the big hurdle facing the 28-year-old Backhus is one of roster construction.
The Phillies have a rather inflexible bullpen mix, and considering the fact that Backhus has minor league options remaining, he may end up being sent down in order to bring up a fresh arm whether he deserves it or not. Plus, he had a brutal Phillies debut on Opening Day.
Tim Mayza
Local guy Tim Mayza got a brief look with the Phillies late last season, and was brought back this winter to compete for a bullpen spot. He did enough in spring training to make the Opening Day roster, but is relegated to low-leverage situations. At 34 years old, there isn’t much room for upside for the Allentown product, and with exciting young arms like Alex McFarlane and Gage Wood barreling towards the big leagues, Mayza may find himself the casualty of a roster crunch at some point.