There has been a lot of talk about “dominos” lately and on Thursday, the first one fell in the position player market.
With the Phillies bringing back slugger Kyle Schwarber on a five-year, $150 million deal, clubs around the league now have a clearer picture of the free agent landscape.
That begs the question: for Dave Dombrowski and the Phils, what do they prioritize next? What are the biggest remaining needs?
Building up the middle
Building up the middle still matters most. Trea Turner and Bryson Stott are the likely middle-infield duo heading into 2026, but catcher and center field carry real questions.
J.T. Realmuto – who donned the red pinstripes for seven seasons – is the most likely answer behind the plate. The 34-year-old is reportedly seeking a two-year deal and will be worth the investment based on his familiarity with the Phillies’ staff.
An annual value in the $16–18 million range seems realistic, which would amount to roughly a $5 million increase on the payroll from last season between him and Schwarber.
The Phillies Talk podcast crew takes a closer look at what a potential contract could look like for J.T. Realmuto.
A reunion with Realmuto is the likeliest outcome, but a pivot would create an interesting scenario. Whether it’s former Rangers catcher Jonah Heim in free agency or a trade target, there isn’t another available catcher who impacts the Phils the way Realmuto does.
“We want J.T. back,” Phillies skipper Rob Thomson told MLB Network Radio on Thursday.
Realmuto is clearly the next major priority.
Center field is a different question. While Dombrowski has expressed confidence in Justin Crawford’s ability to handle the position, the organization still has Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas as options. That depth gives them flexibility.
If and when the Phillies move on from Nick Castellanos, and if they prefer Crawford and Marsh in the corners, that would open the door for bringing back Harrison Bader – who would serve multiple purposes: a right-handed bat who plays Gold Glove-caliber defense. His market is one of the tougher ones to read this offseason.
Harrison Bader – Credit: Bill Streicher (Imagn Images)
The 31-year-old is coming off a career year in 2025, slashing .277/.347/.449 and posting an .824 OPS with the Phillies after the trade.
Right-handed hitting outfielders are tough to come by this winter, which points toward a buy-high scenario with Bader. Since his official rookie season in 2018, he has finished with an OPS under .700 in four of his eight seasons and has topped 110 games just four times in that span — excluding 2020.
It would be understandable if the Phillies hesitate to commit more than two years based on his track record and the number of in-house options they have.
Protecting Bryce
For much of the early offseason, Bryce Harper’s lineup protection has been a central talking point. Right-handed hitting was made a clear priority for the Phillies from the jump.
So after adding Schwarber’s left-handed power, where could they turn for a right-handed, middle-of-the-order bat?
Alec Bohm at third base is a steady option, but his profile may not be exactly what they need as he enters his final year of arbitration. In 2025, the 28-year-old hit just 11 homers in 120 games.
Alec Bohm – Credit: Bill Streicher (Imagn Images)
His .331 on-base percentage, paired with a .287 batting average, created a lopsided line. His run-producing numbers dipped as well: 59 RBIs after back-to-back 97-RBI seasons.
Kazuma Okamoto – who carries an .856 career OPS in NPB – and Eugenio Suárez – who slugged 49 homers this past season – are two third-base free agent options who would slot cleanly into the middle of the lineup. Switch-hitting Jorge Polanco is another name who would bring similar value at either second or third.
Signing a third baseman and trading Bohm could also be a direct path to adding a reliever — a recently reported priority.
The rotation
It might be a stretch to label the rotation a “priority,” but there are enough variables to keep it on the radar: whether the Phillies re-sign Ranger Suárez, Zack Wheeler’s availability early in the year, Taijuan Walker’s future and Andrew Painter’s progression after a down 2025.
The volume of starting pitchers available who profile as back-end options sets up a possible wait-and-see approach.
This would resemble a tactic the Phils took two offseasons ago. In 2024, the club signed Spencer Turnbull to a one-year, $2 million deal in mid-February. At that point, he owned a 4.55 ERA through 60 career starts. He was effective for the Phillies before an injury, posting a 2.65 ERA as a swingman between the rotation and bullpen.
On Super Bowl Sunday, the Phillies signed RHP Spencer Turnbull to a $2M deal.
A similar type of deal — at a higher salary — could make sense for Walker Buehler or veteran lefties Jordan Montgomery or Martín Pérez.
For a team coming off a 96-win season and a second straight division title, bringing Schwarber back is the first step toward putting another championship contender on the field. Their corresponding moves will dictate how high that ceiling goes.