The Philadelphia Phillies have a roster that puts them in World Series conversations, and the team's expectations are that high after back-to-back NLCS appearances and a trip to the World Series just two years ago. Philadelphia is poised to get back this year with an upgraded roster, but not without tough competition along the way, as many National League teams improved this offseason.
So far, the Phillies' offseason has been mild compared to other NL teams. The biggest moves were re-signing Aaron Nola and extending Zack Wheeler, two ace starting pitchers that the team absolutely needs. They also added veteran utility man Whit Merrifield on a one-year deal.
On the other side of things, the Phillies lost slugger Rhys Hoskins and missed out on multiple big names this offseason, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Cody Bellinger, all of whom signed with other NL teams. For the Phillies, getting to the World Series will be harder this year due to the roster upgrades of multiple powerhouse NL teams.
The big dogs are obvious, but there are a few sleepers who could make a decent pursuit for a spot in the playoffs. The Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants are two teams predicted to be middle of the road this season, but their rosters still need to be taken seriously. The NL Central is up for grabs for the Brewers, and they have a roster capable of taking the top spot. The Giants are in a tougher division, so they will have their sights set on a Wild Card. The San Diego Padres are projected to come in fourth in the NL West but have a very talented roster that could easily surprise everyone.
It feels like the Phillies are in great shape with all of the recent success, but we can't forget there are teams trying to steal the Wild Card. Let's take a look at who in the National League the Phillies need to watch out for most this season.