The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a crushing loss to end their postseason run at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, Oct. 9. Already trailing 2–1 in the series, the Phillies had clawed out a victory on Oct. 8, giving the City of Brotherly Love a small spark of hope. Even so, many fans had already turned their attention to what the front office might do during the long offseason ahead.
As the holiday season arrives, teams across the league are evaluating their next steps, and the Phillies have several significant decisions in front of them. They must determine whether to bring back starter Ranger Suárez, catcher J.T. Realmuto or designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. They could also explore a major trade involving one of their so-called “untouchable” prospects: outfielder Justin Crawford, pitcher Andrew Painter and shortstop/third baseman Aidan Miller.
Miller could realistically make the Opening Day roster if the club finds a way to move third baseman Alec Bohm, who is entering his final year of arbitration before free agency.
Eastern University graduate student and Phillies fan Luca Marinucci offers this advice. “Figure out a way to move off Bohm and most likely [Bryson] Stott. I’d prefer [Otto] Kemp and [Edmundo] Sosa at third and second until Miller can take third. If Bohm can become a better defender, so can Kemp at third,” Marinucci said.
From 2021 to 2025, Bohm worked extensively to improve his defense at third base, and he has made considerable progress. Bohm could become a legitimate trade target if the Phillies aim to upgrade their outfield.
Another issue facing the team is the situation in right field. Nick Castellanos is owed roughly $20 million next season, yet the Phillies need stronger production and improved defense from the position. Castellanos hired a new agent shortly after the season ended, prompting speculation about whether he will remain with the team in 2026. At his age, and given the defensive concerns, the Phillies may look to move on—but doing so would likely require them to pay most, if not all, of his remaining salary.
Another weakness in the outfield is at the centerfield position. The club must decide whether to bring back center fielder Harrison Bader, who declined his club option in early November. If they choose not to, additional roster options emerge. One possibility is shifting top prospect Justin Crawford to right field. Crawford was rumored to be nearing a call-up this past summer, but the move never materialized. There is, however, a strong chance he makes the Opening Day roster this year. According to Baseball Reference, Crawford hit .334 in Triple-A in 2025, which is certainly production that should translate well to the major leagues.
The Phillies could also pursue free agency and target third baseman Alex Bregman, a former LSU teammate of Aaron Nola. Signing Bregman would likely prompt the team to move Bohm in a trade package for a high-level center fielder, assuming they do not re-sign Bader.
The Japanese market presents another potential avenue. Third baseman Munetaka Murakami was recently posted by Nippon Professional Baseball, making him eligible to sign with any major league club through January. Pursuing Murakami would again require the Phillies to move Bohm, given his final arbitration year and upcoming free agency.
Ultimately, fans may need to be patient as Dave Dombrowski evaluates the organization’s options ahead of the 2026 campaign.
