There will be baseball played this month, and fans are itching to get the season underway. The Philadelphia Phillies will be heading to spring training next week, even as questions surround the 2026 roster.
Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic responded to numerous fan-submitted questions recently, and one had to do with the Phillies' supposed plans, or lack thereof, for the money they were going to spend on shortstop Bo Bichette (subscription required). The Phillies were ready to make a long-term commitment, but they didn't end up having that choice, as Bichette instead signed with the New York Mets.
Don't expect Phillies to add to their payroll anymore this offseason
An anonymous fan wanted to know if that money would be used to upgrade the roster now that the Phillies have shown their hand:
“The Phillies were prepared to add an additional $13 million and change over today’s payroll to sign Bichette. Do you see any sign that they might be willing to spend that money now to add the depth they still need in the rotation, bullpen and outfield?”
Varnes responded with a simple "no." She clarified that the bullpen and outfield are mostly set from a financial situation. It looks like it will be Adolis García in right field, while Justin Crawford is expected to man center field, and a combination of Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp in left field. Varnes also believes the Phillies won't adjust the bullpen any further, as that has been upgraded already and will be one of the club's strengths in 2026.
The belief will be that the Phillies will add starting pitching depth, if anything. There isn't expected to be any big splash, so minor-league deals and Triple A call-ups will be the go-to heading into spring training. The Phillies do have some young talent making their way up, but it's still a hard pill to swallow after they proved they had the big money to spend on a free agent.
It's not the type of news that excites fans, but it's unrealistic to believe that the Phillies can keep building their roster through free agency without a whole philosophy change. Phillies ownership doesn't have the seemingly unlimited money of the Mets or the Los Angeles Dodgers, so they will have to lean on the developing farm system to keep the championship window open.
The Phillies have still spent a lot of money while the team has aspired to their new normal of winning the division and making the playoffs every year. They've set a standard with their projected $325 million payroll in 2026, but if things don't work out in their favor, fans will have something to point back to, wondering why they didn't try to get better late in the offseason.