As the Phillies head into a critical offseason, former Phils outfielder, general manager and current NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst Ruben Amaro Jr. broke down where the club stands — and what needs to change to finally get them over the hump.
Ruben’s evaluation: Contending again, but short of the finish line
When Amaro looks at the 2025 Phillies, he sees an elite team that simply ran out of steam.
“Well, I mean, clearly, their biggest strength was their starting pitching,” he said. “Having lost Zack Wheeler towards the end of the season was a crusher for them on a number of levels … you wanted to have as much depth with your arms.”
Despite another early October exit, Amaro believes the Phillies were right there.
“They were the best team in the National League East,” he said. “They were arguably one of the best teams, if not the best team, in the National League … It was just a couple of base hits and a couple of pitches away from being back in the World Series.”
Now the Phils enter the winter with several key players — Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suárez and J.T. Realmuto — hitting free agency and major decisions ahead.
Ruben’s priorities: Bullpen depth and lineup protection
Amaro was blunt: the Phillies can’t keep running it back.
“You sort of can’t run back the same lineup that they’ve had,” he said. “That lineup has not gotten it done.”
He sees two clear priorities this winter — improving the bullpen and adding a right-handed bat to protect Bryce Harper and, if re-signed, Schwarber.
“I’d like to see the bullpen get a little bit more shored up,” Amaro said. “We’ll see if Orion Kerkering will bounce back, how Matt Strahm will continue to pitch. You’re not sure whether or not Alvarado will be back. I personally would pick up the option on him… just because I think you need more arm depth.”
On the lineup front, Amaro pointed to Harper’s lack of protection.
“I think that that is a pretty key element,” he said. “You gotta pitch to guys like Bryce Harper… you want to have that as much as you possibly can for your big boys.”
According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Harper saw pitches in the strike zone just 43% the time this season — the lowest rate among 532 hitters who saw at least 200 pitches. A legitimate bat behind him could change that and open the door for an even bigger 2026 campaign.
Ruben’s take on youth infusion: What it means for the roster
Amaro expects Philadelphia’s top prospects to make an impact soon.
“I would be very surprised if two of those three guys were not on the ballclub,” he said of Justin Crawford, Aidan Miller, and Andrew Painter. “I would think that Crawford would get the opportunity to be either the left fielder or center fielder.”
Still, he acknowledged the need for veteran depth, especially in center.
“You’re looking at somebody to play center field for you that can not only impact you defensively, but also impact you a little bit bat-wise,” he said. “Is it possible that a guy like Harrison Bader comes back? Yes … maybe someone like that to give you some quality in center field.”
Sep 25, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader (2) reacts as he runs off the field after a victory against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Bader, traded to Philadelphia at the deadline, hit .277 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs in 2025. After joining the Phils, he slashed .305/.361/.463 with 17 extra-base hits in 50 games. His defense and energy gave the club a spark, though durability concerns and a career .714 OPS could play into contract talks.
Amaro was less confident in Johan Rojas — an in-house option with a career .634 — as an everyday player. “I just don’t know that he fits that bill,” he said. “I see him more as a fourth or fifth outfielder.”
Ruben’s trade chip: Alec Bohm’s uncertain future
When asked which players could realistically be moved, Amaro didn’t hesitate.
“Alec Bohm is a name that I think has surfaced a few times,” he said. “I think Alec improved on a bunch of levels, particularly defensively. The fact that he’s come where he is now — Bobby Dickerson and he, with the work that they put in — has made himself a solid everyday third baseman.”
Oct 9, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) celebrates with Philadelphia Phillies first base coach Paco Figueroa (38) after a single in the sixth inning during game four of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Despite Bohm’s improvement, Amaro views third base as an area that could be upgraded. “Do I think he can be a championship-caliber third baseman? Yes,” he said. “But that is also an area that maybe you want to mix it up a little bit.”
Ruben’s free-agent fits: Big names on the horizon
Speaking of corner infielders, Amaro floated a few high-profile names who could reshape the lineup.
“I keep thinking about a guy like Alex Bregman and how nicely he would fit in this lineup — to maybe hit behind Harper, to probably play third base,” he said. “He offers a lot in his ability and pedigree… But the payroll can’t be $400 million. You can’t expect John Middleton to continue to pay over and over again. It’s gonna take some razzling-dazzling to bring a bat like that, or a [Pete] Alonso, or someone of that ilk.”
Sep 25, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (2) throws out Toronto Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman (not pictured) at first base during the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Bregman, 31, opted out of his second year with Boston after hitting .273 with 46 extra-base hits in 114 games. A proven run producer and steady defender (3 OAA in 2025, per Statcast), he’s been one of the game’s most dependable corner bats — and one of its most seasoned postseason performers, appearing in 102 playoff games with 19 homers since Houston’s 2017 title run.
Aug 12, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) hits a two run home run to become the all time Mets franchise home run leader in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Phillies fans already know Pete Alonso well. The Mets slugger mashed 38 homers and drove in 126 runs this year — good for second-most in the bigs. He ranked among the league’s elite in barrel rate, average exit velocity, and hard-hit percentage. Though limited defensively, Alonso’s right-handed power and his ability to hit the ball to all fields would add a dimension the Phillies have lacked.
Ruben’s trade targets: Under-the-radar options
Offseason swaps do happen and Amaro hinted that some of the most interesting additions might come via trade.
“There’s also some under-the-radar type of guys that may be available by virtue of their salaries on other teams,” he said. “There’s a right-handed bat or two that you might be able to grab from a [small market team] who’s willing to move because that arbitration number becomes too high.”
Aug 24, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) singles against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
One player who fits that mold is Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox. Coming off a 60-win season, Chicago could finally explore moving its All-Star center fielder. Robert, 28, has two club options remaining at $20 million per year — making him an affordable, controllable trade piece. From 2020-23, on a 162-game basis, he averaged 33 homers and 93 RBIs with an .827 OPS. Despite struggling over the past two seasons, Robert’s pairing of athleticism and power would instantly elevate Philadelphia’s outfield.
Amaro believes President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski and his staff will explore every path.
“You want to see every possibility,” he said. “If you want to upgrade in a certain area, particularly a right-handed bat, there’s going to be a few of them out there that may surprise folks that are available… I know that Dave Dombrowski won’t leave any stones unturned.”
Ruben’s roster philosophy: How much of the core returns?
After four straight postseason runs without a championship, it’s fair to question whether bringing back a similar club makes sense for 2026. To Amaro, balancing continuity with change will define the offseason.
“I think it’s incumbent upon the general manager and the front office to try to explore all possibilities,” Amaro said. “Even when we had teams in the 2007 to 2011 range, you wanted to churn through and add different pieces… maybe 25 to 30 percent of your team would be a little different.”
While he called it “possible” but “probably not” that stars like Harper or Trea Turner could be moved, he hinted at other shake-ups.
“I’d be surprised if certain [other] guys are still here by Opening Day,” he said.
Ruben’s final message to the fans: “We’re not going backwards”
Despite the uncertainty, Amaro’s message to fans was optimistic heading into the offseason.
“One, I’d be very proud of the fact that they’ve been a contender,” he said. “Basically one of the best teams in baseball… The other thing I would say is thank you for all the support, because the fans have been phenomenal.”
But he also made it clear: change is coming.
“We’re not going backwards here. We’re going forward,” Amaro said. “It may be a little odd what we do — you may say, ‘hmm, what are they doing?’ But there’ll be a method to the madness. I do think you’re going to see some fairly significant changes.”