The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to return a seasoned lineup in 2027 featuring Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski needs to find a way to fix the back of the rotation and bullpen issues that plagued his team last summer in order to return the franchise to potential World Series-contending status. Here are three bold predictions in the uncertainty of the 2026 MLB offseason:
Bryce Harper returns to outfield full-time after Phillies re-sign Luis Arraez
The Phillies reorganized their entire defensive alignment to add Luis Arraez, the National League’s batting average leader at the trade deadline last season. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, Arraez regressed at the plate during his time on Pattison Ave, finishing with a .278 batting average in 46 contests (after a .324 batting average with San Francisco through the season’s opening 105 games).
Still, the veteran second baseman provided a reliable option in the Phillies lineup to protect Bryce Harper. Despite lingering trade rumors surrounding the nine-time All-Star, if the Phillies decide to stick with Harper into 2027 and beyond, then the very next move is to ensure he has protection in the lineup with Alec Bohm gone to free agency. While Arraez might not be the picture-perfect option, he brings a hitter's mentality to a slugging lineup. If the 29-year-old utility infielder can return to his career .316 batting average, it would be a big lift to the Phillies' offense.
After settling for a one-year, $12 million contract last offseason, Arraez is expected to land a multi-year deal this time around. I could see the Phillies stepping up around the 3-year, $50 million mark. His skill set would be a nearly irreplaceable loss to the Phillies lineup. Even if Arraez didn’t showcase his best work on Broad Street after arriving last summer, it should’ve been enough to prove his value to the club.
Dombrowski needs to make this moves to turn the Phillies into a World Series contender again
Dombrowski turns to trade market for bullpen help ... Again.
Despite mixed results from trades consummated during the 2025-26 offseason, Dave Dombrowski will return to the trade market to bolster Philly’s bullpen. Last winter, the veteran front-office decision-maker made three trades in an attempt to help the bullpen.
He acquired Kyle Backhus (1-2, 4.95 ERA in 20 innings) from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jonathan Bowlan (0-2, 3.35 ERA across 56.1 innings) from the Kansas City Royals, and Chase Shugart (0-2, 4.03 ERA in 53.2 innings) from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Still, the Phillies bullpen was a topic of conversation all season long, as Jhoan Duran and Alex McFarlane were the only relievers to finish with a sub-3.00 ERA. Bowlan and Shugart finished as the third- and-fifth-best relievers on the staff last summer.
Miami’s Pete Fairbanks and Boston’s Aroldis Chapman are the top two trade options, per Spotrac. If the Phillies don’t shop at the top end of the market, perhaps a reunion with Gregory Soto is in the cards? He pitched 95.2 rather uninspiring innings for the Phillies across 2023 and '24. The 31-year-old reliever finished with a 6-5 record and a 3.63 ERA across 67 innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season.
Phillies add MULTIPLE starting pitchers this offseason
After enduring the black hole that was the fifth starter spot for most of the summer, the Phillies will double down on starting pitching depth. Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesús Luzardo should feel comfortable in their roles in 2027. Andrew Painter should get another opportunity to lock down a starter’s role after a strong finish to the 2026 season. Aaron Nola should have the fifth starter’s spot, but given his struggles (7-12 record, 4.67 ERA), there's a universe where he starts the season as a long-relief option for Don Mattingly.
Philadelphia could fortify the starting staff with a lefty like Kris Bubic to create a southpaw-heavy lineup alongside Sanchez and Luzardo. Casey Mize, the first overall pick in 2018, would be another excellent option under 30 years old who would help prepare for the (potential) departure of Wheeler in the near future. Look for the Phillies to add one middle-tier starter, like Bubic or Mize, before adding another starter to join Alan Rangel as a back-of-the-rotation option.
With Dombrowski focused on the trade market to rebuild the bullpen, he turns to the free agent market to secure a couple of arms to help the Phillies weather the taxing summer gauntlet.
The Phillies' roster has the potential to be a World Series contender if the squad can recapture the form that led to their magical 2022 World Series run. It has been a slow descent into madness with increasingly early postseason exits after the Phillies watched the Astros celebrate Dusty Baker’s long-awaited Championship. With Don Mattingly able to put his own stamp on the squad in 2027, the best thing Dombrowski can do is give his skipper a few more options to work with once the players step between the white lines once again.
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