As Major League Baseball's Spring Training kicks off, the Philadelphia Phillies find themselves under the microscope, with critics pointing to the age of their roster. The whispers around the league are growing louder, with one rival executive noting, “They’re getting older.
They’ve run these guys out there. They’ve spent the money.
And now it’s showtime.”
This season, the Phillies' lineup boasts seasoned stars like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and J.T. Realmuto, all hitting the age of 33 at some point. On the mound, Aaron Nola will join the 33 club in June, while Zack Wheeler is set to turn 36 in May.
Despite the chatter, the Phillies are still expected to be a formidable force in the NL East. Under the guidance of Dave Dombrowski, the team’s president of baseball operations, there's a wealth of experience in handling veteran squads. Dombrowski’s tenure with the Detroit Tigers saw him managing the twilight years of players like Torii Hunter, Victor Martinez, and Joe Nathan.
A rival executive hinted at a potential parallel, saying, “You hate to say they’re trending like the Tigers in Dave’s last year there, but it feels more and more like it.”
The Phillies are on a mission to capture that elusive World Series title, something that narrowly slipped through their fingers in 2022 against the Houston Astros. With a roster rich in experience and talent, the quest for glory continues.