Entering the MLB offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies were a team expected to be aggressive after another heartbreaking loss in the playoffs.
Unfortunately for the fans, the team was unable to accomplish much during the offseason.
While the Phillies were able to re-sign star slugger Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract early on in free agency, there weren’t many other big moves made. J.T. Realmuto was re-signed as well, but that move came after Philadelphia missed out on former Toronto Blue Jays star shortstop Bo Bichette.
It seemed like the Phillies were closing in on a deal with Bichette. Everyone excited him to be the big addition fans were waiting on. At the last second, however, the NL East rival New York Mets swooped in and stole him away.
With the offseason winding down, Philadelphia has received a devastating prediction for the 2026 MLB season.
Philadelphia Phillies Fans Won’t Like This New Prediction
Jim Bowden of The Athletic clearly was not inspired by the offseason the Phillies put together. When it came to predicting what’s coming for the team in 2026, he predicted a third place finish in the National League East division race.
In addition, Bowden offered a long list of questions that Philadelphia will need to answer.
“Have they kept this team together too long? Can Zack Wheeler and rookie Andrew Painter stay healthy and live up to expectations? Can Aaron Nola return to form?”
Bowden also provided his grade for what the Phillies did this offseason. That grade was a brutal C+, showcasing just how bad things really were for Philadelphia.
Hopefully, the Phillies are able to surprise Bowden with their play on the diamond this season. They’re facing an uphill battle and no one can argue against the fact that the offseason was disappointing, but the games still must be played.
What Did the Phillies Do During the MLB Offseason?
Looking back at the offseason, Philadelphia simply didn’t make many impact moves.
Schwarber was the big ticket item this offseason and re-signing Realmuto was a solid decision. Outside of those two moves, the Phillies have signed relief pitcher Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal, outfielder Adolis Garcia to a one-year, $10 million deal, and right-hander Zach Pop to a one-year, $900,000 contract.
Philadelphia also traded for right-hander Yoniel Curet, right-hander Jonathan Bowlan, and left-hander Kyle Backhus, none of whom are expected to be top-tier pieces in 2026.
Obviously, there are reasons to be concerned about the Phillies heading into this season. Add in the fact that the Mets improved immensely and the offseason hurts even more.
Despite the frustration and disappointment, Philadelphia has a lot of talent on its roster. If players can step up and play to their full potential, the Phillies will still have a chance of being a playoff caliber team.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
More Heavy on Phillies
Loading more stories