The Philadelphia Phillies are coming off back-to-back National League East titles, but have failed to make a deep playoff run despite boasting one of the best records in baseball.

In free agency, Philadelphia lost star hurler Ranger Suárez to the Boston Red Sox and Harrison Bader to the San Francisco Giants, and is running it back next season with a very similar squad after bringing back Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto. One new addition the Phillies made was signing 32-year-old slugger Adolis García.

García is a two-time All-Star, but struggled last season with the Texas Rangers, slashing .227/.271/.394 with 19 home runs and 75 RBIs, the lowest totals in his career. If the Phillies want to outperform expectations and make a deep playoff run next season, MLB.com’s Theo DeRosa believes García needs to have a bounce back year.

“The Phillies signed García for $10 million in the hopes that he will rebound after he was non-tendered by the Rangers following a disappointing 2025 at the plate,” DeRosa wrote Wednesday. “With the Phillies likely set to move on from Nick Castellanos via trade or release, García was Philadelphia’s choice to take over in right field in 2026. To prove Dombrowski and Co. right, he’ll have to turn back the clock a bit.

“Just two years ago, García was a postseason hero as the Rangers won the first World Series in franchise history. It was a strong conclusion to a season in which García hit 39 homers, drove in 107 runs and posted an .836 OPS, numbers he hasn’t even come close to in the two seasons since. Regardless of his offensive production in Philly, García will be a defensive upgrade: He was a 2023 AL Gold Glover and a 2025 Gold Glove finalist, finishing ’25 with +16 Defensive Runs Saved (tops among right fielders).”

García struggled last season, but hopefully will bounce back and add more power to the Phillies lineup. The veteran slugger mashed 25 or more home runs in every full season he’s played aside from last year, and Philadelphia has lacked that level of production from its outfielders. García’s mix of power and defense could be exactly what the Phillies need to get over the hump and make a deep postseason run.

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