The Phillies have a few different holes to patch this winter, but the bullpen is shaping up as one of the cleaner priorities. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Philadelphia is expected to shop for a left-handed setup reliever who can help connect the middle innings to Jhoan Duran at the back end.
That search makes plenty of sense. Duran, 28, is one of the best relievers in baseball, and the Phillies already have some dependable right-handed help in high-leverage spots.
Last offseason’s move that sent veteran lefty Matt Strahm to the Royals for Jonathan Bowlan looks like a steal in hindsight. Bowlan gave Philadelphia 56 1/3 innings of 3.36 ERA ball, with a 31.9% strikeout rate, a 6.6% walk rate and a 47.8% ground-ball rate.
He’s also under control for five more years. Alex McFarlane added another encouraging right-handed arm, logging a 1.83 ERA in the minors before debuting with 19 innings of 2.84 ERA ball, along with a 25.3% strikeout rate, 8.9% walk rate and 45.3% grounder rate.
So the late-inning right-handed picture looks strong. The left side, not so much.
Tim Mayza is back on a one-year, $2.75MM deal, but he was mostly used in middle relief. Tanner Banks could be a non-tender candidate after a rough 6.19 ERA in 36 1/3 innings.
He did have a strong 2025, but he’s 35 and posted career-worst walk, ground-ball and home-run rates in 2026. Kyle Backhus showed some promise in Triple-A, yet he barely kept his ERA under 5.00 in 20 big league innings and owns a 4.76 ERA across 45 1/3 major league frames.
The free-agent market isn’t loaded, but there are left-handed relievers worth chasing. Adrian Morejon sits near the top of the class and would be a major addition for just about any bullpen.
He’s expected to turn down a qualifying offer from the Padres and land a hefty multi-year contract. The catch for Philadelphia is obvious: Dave Dombrowski has not gone beyond two years for a free-agent reliever, and Morejon figures to command four or even five years because of his age and performance.
He turns 28 in February.
If that price gets too rich, the Phillies still have other paths. Alex Vesia brings a different look from the left side and has been a steady presence in the Dodgers’ bullpen, helped by an extreme over-the-top arm angle that creates elite induced vertical break on his fastball.
Steven Okert, A.J. Minter, Sean Newcomb and Brock Burke also fit in the next tier after strong 2026 seasons.
JoJo Romero and Gregory Soto are available as familiar names if Philadelphia wants to revisit either one. A.J.
Puk is another intriguing possibility, though his recent history - including UCL surgery and a shoulder capsule sprain - makes him more of a gamble than a sure thing.
Gelb also pointed to catching as another area the Phillies could address. The idea would be to ease the burden on J.T.
Realmuto, who is 35 and will turn 36 in March after posting a career-worst .205/.283/.331 line, good for a 68 wRC+. It doesn’t have to be a splashy move, but the lack of offense behind the plate was an issue all season.
Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchan both hit even worse than Realmuto, and the three of them combined for all of Philadelphia’s work at catcher in 2026.
In Other News...
Phillies Third Base Search Just Took A Fascinating International Turn
With Alec Bohm now in free agency, the Phillies are looking at a third-base picture that could take them in a few different directions, and one of the more intriguing names on the board is Si-hwan Roh. Posted by the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO, Roh has emerged as a possible fit as Philadelphia weighs both the on-field need and the broader appeal of adding a player with international recognition.
Rohs profile gives the Phillies something a little different to consider at a position that suddenly needs attention, and his availability has also put a spotlight on the clubs interest in expanding its reach in the Korean baseball market. For a team that is always balancing immediate roster needs with longer-term upside, the third-base search now has a layer of intrigue that goes well beyond the usual winter shopping list. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Free Agent Dream Could Force A Tough Offseason Debate
After a frustrating 2026 season and an early playoff exit, the Phillies are already staring at a familiar winter question: how aggressive should they be when the market opens? ESPN analyst Kiley McDaniels projection of a five-year, $115 million deal for Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato only sharpens that discussion, especially with Philadelphia among the clubs tied to him as a possible free-agent fit.
Satos appeal is obvious for a team looking to add impact offense, but the fit is not as simple as dropping a big bat into the lineup and moving on. The Phillies have to weigh how his defense would mesh with their current roster while also protecting the payroll flexibility they may need for other moves, which is exactly the kind of debate that can define an offseason before it really begins. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Fans Just Lost A Piece Of This Teams Identity
Garrett Stubbs is moving on after electing free agency following his designation for assignment by the Phillies, closing a run that made him one of the more recognizable role players in the clubhouse. His farewell message on Instagram was full of gratitude for the team, the fans and the city, a fitting end for a player who became part of the fabric of the group even when he was not in the everyday lineup.
For Philadelphia, the departure is about more than catching depth. Stubbs gave the roster energy, personality and a visible connection to the crowd, the kind of presence that can matter over a long season and into October. Even with the business side of the move settled, there is still a sense that the Phillies are losing a small but real piece of their identity. [Read more 🡒]