The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to rebound after a disappointing end to the 2024 season. The team finished with the second-best record in baseball but got cold down the stretch and into the playoffs.
The Phillies notably lost two high-leverage bullpen arms in Carlos Estévez and All-Star Jeff Hoffman during free agency. The ball club feels confident with the core in place and the offseason additions to compete for a World Series championship in 2025.
Phillies’ Nick Castellanos a big fan of offseason additions
The Phillies made three notable offseason additions. The organization signed former Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano and Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler to one-year deals and acquired left-handed starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo in an intra-division trade with the Miami Marlins.
Some Phillies fans and people around the baseball world believe the team didn’t do enough this offseason, especially when it comes to keeping up with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Phillies' veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos likes what the team did to improve the roster after an early exit in the NLDS a season ago.
“Good, good offseason additions,” Castellanos told On Pattison’s Tim Kelly about the Phillies’ offseason additions. “Romano, obviously, when he’s pitched well, he’s given all of us trouble. Luzardo, the same thing. Kep, I mean, he’s a veteran player that has done it time and time again. I think he’s another person that is grateful of the opportunity to have a chance to win. You mix those things together, I think the Phillies got better.”
Romano made consecutive All-Star appearances with the Blue Jays in 2022 and 2023. The right-hander suffered a right elbow injury in 2024 and only pitched in 13 2/3 innings. The Phillies are taking a chance on the soon-to-be 32-year-old to return to his All-Star form and soften the blow of losing Hoffman and Estévez in the back end of the bullpen.
Luzardo also dealt with an injury-filled 2024 season. The 27-year-old missed significant time with a back injury and made just 12 starts. He’ll look to bounce back to his 2023 form when he posted a 3.58 ERA with 208 strikeouts in 32 starts with the Marlins.
Kepler has had an up-and-down career throughout his 10 years with the Twins. He has hit 17 or more home runs six times, including 36 home runs in 2019. He doesn’t necessarily hit for average, but he has some pop in his bat and projects to be the Phillies’ everyday left fielder in 2025.
The Phillies’ championship window with the current core group may be closing, but the team feels confident in their odds to win it all this season.