The Phillies are already staring at a roster full of questions, and that makes them a natural team to watch as the offseason unfolds. Dave Dombrowski has never been afraid to swing big, and with an aging core in place, this winter feels like another chance to push hard while this group still has time.
At the same time, Philadelphia has to think beyond the immediate window. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, J.T.
Realmuto and Zack Wheeler aren’t going to anchor the club forever, so the front office is also trying to line up what comes next. One possible answer is Shoki Oda, the 18-year-old Japanese pitching prospect who is drawing attention from multiple MLB teams.
Insider Francys Romero reported that the Phillies are among the clubs in the mix for Oda, who is weighing a move to MLB rather than starting his career in Japan. Romero wrote on X, “Shoki Oda is expected to meet with several MLB clubs in the coming hours, including the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, among others.
Oda would presumably be eligible to sign starting January 15, 2027, when the new international signing period begins, if it is not postponed,” Romero wrote on X.
The Rangers are also in the picture, and Romero said they brought an eight-person group to meet with the right-hander. That visit apparently made a strong impression. Romero reported that the Rangers were “extremely well-prepared” and “left a great impression on Oda.”
Oda announced on Oct. 15 that he intended to come to the United States, with the goal of reaching MLB at a younger age than if he had begun his career in his home country. But there’s still some uncertainty around the path ahead. College baseball remains an option if he does not sign, and labor unrest could affect whether there even is an international signing period in January.
For now, under the current rules, he would be subject to the usual international bonus pool system, with teams limited to the allotted money they can offer. That makes the next stretch especially important, because the market for a talent like Oda could get crowded fast.
Philadelphia’s interest fits the bigger picture, too. The Phillies have never signed a player to a free agent deal directly from Japan, one of only three teams without one, along with the Rockies and Marlins. And with pitching depth in the minors still thin, adding a young arm like Oda would line up with both need and timing.
The big-league rotation is solid right now, but the long view matters. Wheeler has thought about retirement when his current contract ends, and Aaron Nola is 33. If the Phillies want to keep building for what comes next, a high-upside pitcher like Oda makes plenty of sense.
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