All Major League Baseball clubs dream of the day they can hoist the Commissioner’s trophy in triumph over the rest of the league. That elusive title chase is driven by players’ performance and a fan base that is chomping at the bit for postseason magic. That intoxicating feeling is seemingly inevitable in baseball.
Citizens Bank Park can charge up a fan base unlike any other and look for their own taste of glory. The Philadelphia Phillies now look at 2025 as their next opportunity, but a recent prediction by MLB.com's Will Leitch has him take a stab at the next 10 World Series winners. For the Phillies, he doesn’t have them winning it all until 2027, and, weirdly, it's against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Phillies predicted to win the World Series in 2027 against the Rays of all teams
Predictions aren’t meant to be taken at their word but do leave questions regarding current team trajectories. The Phillies not potentially winning until 2027 can feel like a wet blanket on this current team, while teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are considered good enough to win the next two World Series. Phillies ace Zack Wheeler is signed through 2027, and Bryce Harper will be playing in his age-34 season, so a last-ditch effort is what we could be facing.
And how do YOU see the next ten years playing out? 🔮 pic.twitter.com/zTUQRFnKr4
— MLB (@MLB) January 7, 2025
The other, more puzzling part of the predicted 2027 World Series, is the matchup against the Rays. The Rays are in no shape to be making a deep postseason run. They did have 99 wins in 2023, but only lost or traded away talent since then, resulting in their 80-82 record last year.
The Phillies still have their All-Star core intact and are still performing in the prime of their careers. For the Rays, outside of first baseman Yandy Diaz, their offensive threat is minimal. They have also unloaded a ton of talent like outfielders José Siri, Randy Arozarena and stud pitcher Tyler Glasnow. - not the types of moves that push a ball club into World Series contention.
The potential rematch of the 2008 World Series seems highly unlikely for now, but anything can happen in the beautiful game of baseball. The Rays have proven in the past they can bounce back and replenish their roster with talented, younger players while holding another top farm system, per MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo.
The Phillies have top prospects of their own who could make their way into the major leagues by then. If it takes another few seasons for the Phillies to parade down Broad Street, it’ll be fine. Fans would just like the opportunity to get it out of the way in 2025.