The Phillies’ infield picture is already starting to come into focus for the 2026-2027 offseason, and it could push them toward a familiar kind of move: add a second baseman and shift Bryson Stott to third base full-time.
That path would make plenty of sense if Alec Bohm and Luis Arraez both hit free agency, especially with Bryce Harper potentially back at first base. Philadelphia has already used that basic blueprint before with Arraez, so it would not be a surprise to see the front office revisit it.
Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report believes the Phillies could take that route again, but with a bigger-name target this time. Instead of bringing Arraez back, Miller is predicting Philadelphia would sign New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to a six-year, $126 million deal.
"However, the Phillies arguably make the most sense here," Miller writes on Chisholm's free agency. "Prediction: 6 years, $126M with the Philadelphia Phillies."
Miller’s logic is tied to the roster churn ahead. Bohm and Arraez are both on track for free agency, and the Phillies could decide they want a more dangerous power bat than Arraez. Bohm also does not look like a long-term answer for the club based on his 2026 struggles.
Chisholm’s 2025 season with the Yankees showed exactly why he would be such an intriguing fit. He posted an .813 OPS, hit .242 with 31 home runs and 80 RBIs, and added 15 doubles, one triple, 75 runs scored and 4.1 bWAR in 130 games.
This year, though, the production has backed up. In 108 games, Chisholm has a .689 OPS, a .215 batting average and 1.0 bWR. That kind of dip naturally raises questions about what kind of free-agent value he would really bring.
Still, if the Phillies believed they were getting the version of Chisholm who flashed in 2025, he could give their lineup a much stronger ceiling heading into the start of the 2026 season.
Arraez remains the other obvious name in the mix, and Phillies fans would have every reason to want him back. He has been a popular addition in Philadelphia. But there is also some reason for caution, since his 2026 defensive rebound could turn out to be a one-year outlier after poor defensive seasons in 2024 and 2025.
If the Phillies trust that defensive improvement, Arraez would be the cleaner fit and a player worth locking up long term after the 2026 MLB season. If not, Chisholm stands as a strong alternative - and at $126 million over six years, he would not exactly come cheap, but he also would not break the bank for a player with his upside.
In Other News...
Chase Utley Honor Reignites A Phillies Wall Of Fame Debate
Chase Utleys place in Phillies history will get another formal nod on Aug. 7, when the former second baseman is inducted into the Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Utley spent 13 seasons in Philadelphia, made six All-Star teams and was a key part of the 2008 World Series club, which gives the ceremony a pretty easy sell for a fan base that still measures its best era by the players who helped define it.
The larger conversation, though, is bigger than one night at Citizens Bank Park. Any time the Wall of Fame gets fresh attention, it naturally turns into a debate over who should be next, and this honor has reopened the familiar discussion about which former Phillies have earned that kind of permanent recognition. The game itself will be carried on the broadcast schedule, but for many fans the more interesting part is what this induction says about the names still waiting to be considered. [Read more 🡒]
Bryson Stott Could Decide The Phillies Next Infield Dilemma
The Phillies infield shuffle took another turn with the addition of Luis Arraez, and Bryson Stott is now at the center of it. Stott has been shifted from his familiar second-base spot to third, giving Philadelphia a new look on the left side and creating a fresh evaluation for a player whose value has long been tied to his steady work in the middle of the diamond.
Stotts new assignment matters because the Phillies are trying to sort out a longer-term setup, and third base is the hinge point. Arraezs presence gives the club a clear option at second, but the whole arrangement depends on whether Stott can make the transition look natural enough for the team to trust it going forward. [Read more 🡒]