Fans of the Philadelphia Phillies still have reasons to believe in the team for 2026. It may not seem like it following a second consecutive year of losing in the NLDS. However, the organization is not entering a full rebuild this offseason or anytime soon. Therefore, there are reasons for fans to still have optimism that this team can win a championship next year.
The Phillies' roster will look different when spring training begins (subscription required). How it will change is yet to be determined. The expectation of both fans and the organization is another championship-or-bust season next year.
Here are some of the reasons why fans can remain optimistic going into 2026.
Phillies will enter the 2026 season as a playoff contender again
No matter the roster changes this offseason, the Phillies are poised to remain a playoff contender in 2026. As long as they have a good year and secure a postseason spot, they have a chance to win the World Series.
The Phillies still have a talented roster headlined by Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez. If Kyle Schwarber and/or J.T. Realmuto re-sign with the team, that is possibly two more players who will strengthen their core.
The organization will be eager for more playoff success after another disappointing October this year.
Young prospects could contribute to a Phillies club stacked with experience
While the young prospects will need time to adjust to playing at the major league level, Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter are expected to make an impact for the Phillies next year. They could provide the team with a boost due to their youthful energy.
Crawford is expected to be the team's future left fielder for many years. He is on track to make the Opening Day roster with a strong spring training. There isn't anything more the 21-year-old can do to improve his game in the minors following the year he had in Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
If Crawford has adjusted to the major leagues by the end of the regular season, he could surprise in the playoffs. However, fans should not expect him to carry the team in his first MLB postseason.
Painter will compete for a spot in the starting rotation in spring training, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. The right-hander may begin next year in Triple-A, considering his up-and-down first season after Tommy John surgery. If he begins 2026 in Lehigh Valley, he will be promoted sometime during the regular season.
Aidan Miller and Gabriel Rincones Jr. are two other top prospects who could appear with the team at some point next season.
Miller elevated fans and the club's high expectations with an excellent final month. After spending most of the year in Double-A Reading, he concluded the year in Triple-A. If Miller continues to excel next year like he did during the final two months of 2025, the infielder could appear with the Phillies by the end of next season.
Rincones Jr. displayed power-hitting potential in spring training. He could receive a promotion to the majors if he impresses for a second straight spring, continues to make improvements with Lehigh Valley, and the Phillies have a roster spot open up during the season.
Another year presents an opportunity for luck to be on the Phillies' side
As frustrating as it is for fans to hear, a lot has to go right for a team to win the World Series. Most of all, the majority of the roster has to play well at the right time, and there has to be luck involved with certain calls and scenarios going a team's way.
That's what happened for the Phillies in the 2022 postseason as they unexpectedly made the World Series as the sixth seed in the National League under MLB's new playoff format.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski had a point in his end-of-season press conference. He mentioned how the Atlanta Braves teams of the 1990s and the modern Los Angeles Dodgers under manager Dave Roberts did not win many championships despite consecutive years of making the playoffs.
The Phillies only managed to win one championship after making the postseason each year from 2007 to 2011. After winning 96 games in the 2025 regular season, expectations will remain high in 2026 for the team to win its first World Series since 2008.