The qualifying offer deadline has come and gone, and we now know who will have draft pick compensation attached and who won't. Eight players received the qualifying offer, and these decisions could have major ramifications for the Philadelphia Phillies' offseason plans.
There are times when it makes sense for a team to part with draft capital in order to sign a certain player, but typically only when said player is a superstar. In a thin class without many truly elite talents, we can safely assume that Dave Dombrowski and company will be pivoting away from the players on this list who could've been solutions for Philadelphia's needs.
Fortunately, in most cases, fallback options exist, and in some instances, those Plan B's could actually provide more value than the higher-end candidates.
Instead of Seiya Suzuki or Randy Arozarena, the Phillies could pursue Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki looked like the picture-perfect solution to both Philadelphia's outfield question and its need for right-handed balance in the lineup. Not far behind him, 20-20 machine Randy Arozarena was an intriguing power-speed solution who reportedly wants to play on the East Coast. Unfortunately, the QO likely kills both dreams.
The good news is there is another decent option. Suzuki's teammate Ian Happ is also a free agent, and while he's not quite as exciting, he brings some answers to the table. Happ has four straight Gold Glove seasons and is a finalist again this year. He has never posted a wRC+ below 105 in his career. He is also a switch-hitter. He'll be significantly cheaper than either top-tier outfielder, won't cost a draft pick, and his production won't lag far behind the bigger names.
Instead of Brandon Lowe the Phillies could target Jazz Chisholm Jr.
The infield is a fascinating situation for the Phillies. There are several options the club could pursue. The bottom line, though, is that the second base class is significantly deeper than the pool of free-agent third basemen. The multi-talented Bryson Stott proved that he can handle the hot corner in addition to the keystone, and that versatility could be the key to unlocking the puzzle.
If we accept that upgrading at second base is the best path forward, then Brandon Lowe would be the top target. However, as a QO recipient, he's likely off the table. While the easy answer is to simply bring back Luis Arraez, his slap-hitting ways didn't look like a great fit in Citizens Bank Park, and his surprisingly good defense fell off.
The Phillies need more athleticism on the team, and the best available athlete at second is Jazz Chisholm Jr. He came well short of delivering on his 50-50 promise in 2026, but he's just one year removed from a 30-30 campaign and stole 41 bases and clubbed 19 dingers despite missing most of September with an injury. He also has the tools to be a slick fielder. Still, his down year will lock in a discount, making him a solid choice for Philadelphia.
Alex Vesia is the Adrian Morejón alternative that the Phillies need
Trea Turner-aided playoff unraveling notwithstanding, Jhoan Duran remains one of the most dominant closers in baseball. However, Philadelphia's bridge to the flame-throwing sinkerballer is rickety at best. Adrian Morejón is one of the hottest names on the entire free-agent market and would look lovely in a Phillies uniform, but the fact that he's in line for a massive contract and has a qualifying offer attached creates a legitimate roadblock.
There's another left-handed setup man on the market who is almost just as good in former Los Angeles Dodgers relief ace Alex Vesia. The 30-year-old is postseason battle-tested and, in some ways, is even better than Morejon.
Vesia posted a 2.64 ERA with a 31.5% strikeout rate in 2026, which compares well to Morejon's 2.83 and 30.4% marks. Vesia also edges Morejon in career ERA (2.87 versus 3.26) and career strikeout rate (32.4% versus 26%). To be fair, command can be an issue for Vesia, but the overall package is enticing, and once again, he'll be a good bit cheaper and will save the Phillies a draft pick. Sign us up.
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