The Phillies have made a habit of being in the playoff mix since Dave Dombrowski took over the front office, and that streak is exactly why this winter matters so much. After 10 straight years without a postseason berth, Philadelphia has now reached October baseball five seasons in a row. But the way 2026 played out made one thing clear: if the Phillies want to extend that run to six, the roster needs real work.
The problems that kept showing up during the regular season - except for a strong August stretch - returned at the worst possible time in the Wild Card Round against the Atlanta Braves. The offense never found a steady rhythm, with Alec Bohm standing out as the club’s most consistent hitter. The defense also missed chances in key spots, and the pitching staff, especially the bullpen, didn’t hold up when it needed to.
That last part is the biggest issue. If the Phillies are going to get back to the postseason in 2027, the bullpen has to be the priority.
Philadelphia has leaned on a strong starting rotation for years, and that group has often carried the team. But that edge has disappeared when the games get tight in October, when bullpen breakdowns have undercut everything the starters built. This year, interim manager Don Mattingly went into the postseason trusting only two relievers: rookie flamethrower Alex McFarlane and closer Jhoan Duran.
McFarlane’s path to the majors wasn’t straightforward. The Phillies were cautious about calling him up, wanting him to clear certain milestones in the minors first.
Injuries eventually pushed their hand, and he delivered. Duran, meanwhile, did what elite closers do at the back end of games.
The problem was getting him the ball in the first place. The bridge in front of him was shaky, and that has to be fixed this winter.
Jonathan Bowlan is another arm who deserves a look after several strong months before fading late. McFarlane, Duran and Bowlan give the Phillies a starting point, but it’s not enough by itself. At least one or two outside additions with a track record would help the group come together quickly.
The need for a reliable left-hander is especially urgent. Jose Alvarado’s time with the team is likely finished, and Brooks Raley never settled in after coming over from the New York Mets before the deadline.
The other area that needs attention is the outfield, though there are internal ways to address that. Moving Trea Turner from shortstop to the outfield is one possible route, and adding a right-handed bat would help even things out. A new everyday outfielder would be the cleanest fix, but the Phillies could also patch things together with a group that starts with Turner, Derek Hill, Brandon Marsh and Justin Crawford.
Still, no matter what else changes, the bullpen remains the piece that can’t be ignored. If the Phillies are serious about getting back to October, that’s where the winter has to begin.
In Other News...
Justin Crawford Could Become A Phillies Fixture Sooner Than Expected
The Phillies are heading into an offseason that could bring meaningful roster turnover, and part of the attraction is how much help they may already have coming from within. Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford both got chances in 2026, giving the club a look at two young pieces who could matter a lot as the roster is reshaped and the push for improvement continues.
Crawford, in particular, looks positioned to become more than a future name on a prospect list. His ability to put the bat on the ball and hold down a regular role last season gave Philadelphia a reason to believe he can fit into the picture sooner rather than later, with the organization viewing him as a key part of the 2027 roster as he keeps gaining experience. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Prospect Aidan Miller Is Forcing His Way Into A Bigger Conversation
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For a club that is always trying to balance the present with the next wave, Millers health matters as much as his production. His path to Philadelphia is still very much a projection, with an MLB debut not expected until around 2027, but the early signs in Arizona have him pushing himself into a bigger conversation than he had before the injury. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Are Counting On Andrew Painter To Answer A Bigger 2027 Question
Andrew Painters 2026 season ended up looking like a useful reminder of how quickly a young pitchers year can change. He was knocked off course early, sent to the minors for a reset, then came back to the majors in midseason and settled in enough to help the Phillies stabilize down the stretch. For a club that expects him to matter far beyond one good stretch, the encouraging part was not just that he survived the detour, but that he reemerged as a real factor when the games started to carry more weight.
Painters role matters because the Phillies are already looking ahead to 2027 and beyond, where his development is tied to the shape of the rotation. He was part of the push that kept the team moving and gave it a foothold in October, and his presence only sharpened the sense that Philadelphia needs him to become more than a promising arm. The bigger question now is how much of that late-season progress can carry over when the expectation shifts from recovery mode to frontline responsibility. [Read more 🡒]