It was another disappointing Red October for the Philadelphia Phillies, so fans could be forgiven for putting any enthusiasm for 2026 on the back burner for now. But former MLB general manager and league insider Jim Bowden might be offering some reason for excitement during his rundown of the top 50 free agents this offseason (subscription required).
In his piece, Bowden offers a comprehensive look at what each player has to offer, proposes a realistic contract offer, and most importantly mentions which clubs would be the best fit for each player. Notably, the Phillies figure prominently here, with Bowden including them on his short list for each of his top five available free agent hitters.
MLB insider thinks the Phillies will be players for multiple free agent bats this offseason
Kyle Tucker, OF
Kyle Tucker heads the list, with Bowden expecting an annual salary of over $40 million per season for the five-tool outfielder. He’s a player that any team would love to have, but only the most affluent can realistically afford.
Enter the Phillies. Bowden thinks that they will be competing with the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants to land Tucker. He has a recent history of injuries, so there is a chance that would-be interested parties get skittish, altering the market.
This is a move that would surely ignite the fanbase, but there really has to be a perfect match between team and player at this price point.
Kyle Schwarber, DH
Kyle Schwarber comes in at Bowden’s second slot, and you’d have to believe that he’ll leave Philadelphia if the Phillies land Tucker. After all, could the Phils actually afford to pay $75 million per year to a pair of left-handed hitting Kyles? It certainly seems like one precludes the other.
Still, Bowden has the Phillies as strongly likely to retain Schwarber, while also mentioning the Detroit Tigers and Mets, which would be unimaginable. Bowden notably does not mention the Cincinnati Reds, Schwarber’s hometown team. Keep in mind that Bowden was once the GM in Cincinnati, so you’d think that he would be attuned to any real interest on their part.
As it stands, it looks like the Phillies may not have much competition from other clubs willing and able to spend a large chunk on a full-time DH.
Pete Alonso, 1B
Pete Alonso is next on the list, and the Phillies are right there again with the Mets. This time they are joined by the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.
Might this be a situation where Alonso either rejoins the Mets or signs with the Phillies, and then the other club ends up with Schwarber? It’s an interesting potential dynamic. Or, perhaps Alonso finds himself wanting out of the NL East entirely and takes his bat over to the AL for a fresh start.
As the best right-handed bat on the market, he can dictate how the offseason will play out for several teams.
Bo Bichette, SS
Pitcher Framber Valdez comes in at No. 4, but we then arrive at Bo Bichette as the next hitter at No. 5. His adaptability to play either short, third or second has created a huge market for his services, with perhaps a third of MLB having a legitimate shot at him.
For the Phillies, a Bichette signing would almost certainly be with third base in mind to upgrade over Alec Bohm. Bichette’s World Series performance shouldn’t do much to impact his market or contract either way, since he’s a known commodity and will probably command close to $30 million per year from any team. All of the usual suspects (Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, etc.) will be in on this bidding, and it could get out of control.
Alex Bregman, 3B
Rounding out Bowden’s top five hitters is Alex Bregman, who was decently productive with Boston in 2025 but battled injuries all season. He’s 31 years old with a lot of mileage on him, but he’s also a two-time champion who could be the missing piece on a club looking to take the final step.
He would also represent an upgrade over Bohm in holding down the hot corner in Philadelphia. As an already aging team, however, would the Phillies be willing to pay a free agent like Bregman until he’s 36 or 37?
When the carousel stops, the Phillies or any team would be fortunate to land two of these five free agents, and the likely scenario is that they find five different homes. The Phillies, however, may be trying to position themselves to land a pair of "big fish" by offloading bottom-line items such as Bohm’s contract, parting ways somehow with Nick Castellanos, and unfortunately losing Ranger Suárez to free agency.
Additionally, what does this all mean for J.T. Realmuto (No. 23 on Bowden’s list)? Would he be a salary casualty, or does he exist in a bubble where he’s not impacted by the club bringing in high-dollar players elsewhere?
The free agent craziness will begin just a few days after the World Series ends, so hold onto your hats and hope that the Phillies not only open their wallets but also spend wisely.