The Philadelphia Phillies are just about set to reach their fifth straight postseason, barring an epic collapse. Every fan will be waiting with bated breath to see if the club can finally win a long-awaited World Series, and for good reason. However, just because the current season is about to become exciting, there’s no reason to not keep an eye towards tomorrow as well. Let’s break down a few Phillies who could be playing their way off of next year’s roster.
The Phillies shouldn't be afraid to jettison underperforming pieces ahead of 2027
Rafael Marchán & Garrett Stubbs
The Phillies do not have a blessed catching situation. Longtime backstop J.T. Realmuto is now 35 years old and looks to be firmly entrenched in over-the-hill territory, while his backup tandem has done practically nothing of note. Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs have switched back and forth between being this year’s primary reserve, with both players inhabiting the roster in September.
Marchán has been the weaker link, posting a ghastly .302 OPS over 34 contests, while Stubbs hasn’t been much better with a .361 mark in the same amount of games. Stubbs has made a solid case for having the upper hand moving forward with his key role in Aaron Nola’s second half resurgence, but neither catcher is getting the job done. Considering Realmuto’s age and diminishing production, the Phils should look to bring in a reliable part-timer next year.
Orion Kerkering
What a fall from grace it’s been for Orion Kerkering. The dynamite right-hander made a meteoric rise through the Phillies’ system back in 2023 and has shown truly elite stuff when he’s at the top of his game. Unfortunately, he’s been underwater more often than not down the stretch this season and it seems like he just doesn’t have the mentality to handle pressure-packed situations.
Nothing sums up the Kerkering experience better than the 2025 NLDS, in which he literally and figuratively threw away his team’s entire season. Kerkering may yet become a lockdown arm, but it doesn’t appear likely that it’ll be in red pinstripes. He still possesses enough upside that the Phils shouldn’t simply cut bait on him, but if another team offers something decent in a trade, it might be best for all sides to part ways.
Tanner Banks & José Alvarado
Just six months ago, the Phillies seemed to be suffering from an overabundance of left-handed relievers. Between José Alvarado, Tanner Banks, Kyle Backhus and Tim Mayza, it looked like the club was ready to handle any lefty slugger that came their way. Boy, how times have changed.
Mayza has been the only member of that group worth his salt. Backhus was quickly shuffled off the major league roster, while Banks got a longer leash before being given his own ticket to Triple-A. Alvarado has stayed in the majors, but due less to his performance and more to the club’s sudden lack of options.
Banks is now back with the parent club and things haven’t gone any better. His 7.26 season-long ERA is almost three runs higher than any other year of his career. The 34-year-old still has multiple years of team control remaining, but if he can’t get back on track, there will be little reason for the Phils to keep him around next year.
Alvarado is in a different, but equally frustrating situation. The hefty lefty was once a dominant late-inning arm, but those days are long gone. The slumping southpaw contingent has led to interim manager Don Mattingly continually calling upon Alvarado, and he’s disappointed more often than not. Over 63 appearances, the 31-year-old has put up a woeful 5.20 ERA with 26 walks in just 55 ⅓ innings of work. Considering the fact that he let his teammates down last year and he’s slated to reach free agency, it’s all but certain he won’t be back next year.
Brandon Marsh
Things just keep getting worse for Brandon Marsh. The charismatic outfielder’s scorching-hot first half led to him being named an All-Star game starter, but he’s fallen directly off a cliff since then. In 53 post-All-Star break games, the 28-year-old has slashed just .179/.239/.241 with six extra-base hits and three stolen bases. Marsh has started ceding playing time to Bryan De La Cruz, but that’s done nothing to stop the bleeding.
2027 will be the Phillies’ last year of control over the fan favorite, and if he doesn’t show signs of life over the next few weeks, left field will be a clear area for improvement. If the Phils decide to make a free agent splash for a right-handed hitting outfielder like Seiya Suzuki or Randy Arozarena, it wouldn’t be a complete shock to see Marsh shipped off to another team to bring in depth at another position.
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