Ranking Dave Dombrowski's best Phillies free agent contracts since taking over

Free agency is just days away for the Philadelphia Phillies along with the rest of MLB. It's a time to jump on free agents to bring in outside help to round out the roster for 2026 and beyond. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is the head of that search party, as he has been since December 2020. He's changed the Phillies approach in the offseason, and it's been for the better.

With the Phillies exiting another disappointing playoff run, Dombrowski and the Phillies will look to capitalize and hit on some of the best players the 2025 free agent class has to offer. The Phillies have set a new standard with the investment made in the roster and this time, it appears to be no different.

The Phillies have been an attractive destination for players who are hungry for a championship, and Dombrowski hasn't been shy about bringing in additional stars. Before kicking off free agency this time around, let's look back on Dombrowski's best free agent contracts he's handed out.

Ranking Dave Dombrowski's best free agent contracts since taking over the Phillies

No. 5: Trea Turner (2023, 11 years, $300 million)

Trea Turner was signed to be the everyday shortstop in 2023, moving Bryson Stott to second base following the Phillies' 2022 World Series run. Turner had a rough start to his Phillies tenure but dug his way out of that hole and ended up winning the batting title in 2025. Turner finished the year hitting .304 with an .812 OPS and will most certainly receive National League MVP votes. He also gave the Phillies consistency out of the leadoff spot.

Turner will be 33 next season, which will be something to keep an eye on as his career progresses, but his turnaround has made the $300 million more digestible over time. His speed is still a major factor, along with his bat at the top of the lineup, so there's some expectation it'll stay that way.

Turner's contract is the second-largest on the team, only to Bryce Harper ($330 million) so there are real nerves about him fulfilling the deal. Dombrowski took a chance on the exciting shortstop, and Turner has only gotten better since then.

No. 4: Spencer Turnbull (2024, 1 year, $2 million)

Spencer Turnbull was signed as a free agent before the 2024 season after being non-tendered by the Detroit Tigers. Turnbull had the makings of a good pitcher but just couldn't stay healthy enough. He signed with the Phillies and, undoubtedly, gave them his best year of his career.

Turnbull eventually landed on the 60-day injured list with a lat strain, cutting his season short, but still gave the Phillies some much-needed help in the rotation. He pitched in 17 games, including seven starts, and put up a 3-0 record, a 2.65 ERA and 58 strikeouts across 54 1/3 innings. He gave the rotation some relief and put up career numbers while only costing the Phillies $2 million.

No. 3: Matt Strahm (2023, 2 years, $15 million)

Left-handed reliever Matt Strahm was signed as a free agent heading into the 2023 season. Relievers can be hard to hit on when it comes to free agent spending, but Dombrowski nailed this signing. The Phillies were looking to add another solid lefty to the bullpen, and that's exactly what Strahm has turned into.

Strahm pitched to a 3.29 ERA in his first season but then became one of the best relievers in the sport in 2024 with a 1.87 ERA. He joined former teammate Jeff Hoffman as the two Phillies middle relievers to be selected to the All-Star game.

Strahm has become one of the most trusted left-handed arms out of the bullpen since his signing, and 2025 remained the same, posting a 2.74 ERA.

No. 2: J.T. Realmuto (2021, 5 years, $115.5 million)

J.T. Realmuto was regarded as the best catcher in baseball when he joined the club. Phillies fans had some idea of who he was when he was with the Miami Marlins, but he immediately turned into an elite backstop with the Phillies. Realmuto was traded to the Phillies before the 2019 season but didn't re-sign until he hit free agency in 2021.

Realmuto has played seven seasons with the Phillies and has been one of the most effective catchers in franchise history. Over his seven seasons in Philadelphia, he's hit .265 with a .778 OPS and has been a middle-of-the-order bat.

He's also a three-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner, two of each as a member of the Phillies. Realmuto has also maintained elite defense through his age-34 season, winning two Gold Glove Awards since 2019. Possibly the most impressive part is that even 12 seasons later, Realmuto still leads all MLB catchers in pop time at 1.86 seconds.

No. 1: Kyle Schwarber (2022, 4 years, $79 million)

What else is there to say about Kyle Schwarber's arrival in Philadelphia? He signed with the Phillies after six years with the Chicago Cubs and quick stints with the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox.

Immediately after Schwarber signed the four-year deal, he became the home run-hitting machine. He hit his first home run as a member of the Phillies on Opening Day in 2022 and then went on to hit 187 overall over the next four seasons, including an NL-leading 56 in 2025. His 187 homers are also tied for second-most with Shohei Ohtani during that span, trailing only Aaron Judge at 210.

Schwarber was more than just a fire starter at the top of the lineup. It has felt more like a match lighting a stick of dynamite. Schwarber felt inevitable for the Phillies, a genuine power threat that opposing pitchers had to take into account every single night.

The 2025 season was the epitome of that feeling as he challenged Ohtani for the NL MVP. Now, he'll be one of the most sought-after free agents this winter, and the Phillies will have to spend a lot more to bring him back.

Outside the numbers he put up on the field, Schwarber has been one of the best clubhouse leaders the franchise has ever seen. He never likes to discuss his accomplishments, instead propping up his teammates around him. The Phillies not only got Schwarber the player at a great price but also got something you can never put a price tag on: a personality perfectly suited for Philadelphia.