The Phillies are headed into an offseason that figures to get moving in early November, and the path to improvement is anything but simple. After another year that fell short of their standards, Philadelphia looks ready for some kind of shakeup, even if the veteran core is probably staying put.
That doesn’t mean the front office will sit still. The Phillies have never been shy about spending or swinging big, but a few of those recent moves have already come back to sting them. So the real question is whether they keep leaning on the checkbook or try to find help another way.
One route could be the trade market, and that’s where a surprising name popped up. Dayn Perry of CBS Sports recently listed the top 25 potential trade candidates for the offseason, and among them was Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. Even more surprising, the Phillies were mentioned as a possible fit.
A deal between division rivals would be a long shot, but the baseball logic is easy to see. Trea Turner is coming off a rough 2026 season on both sides of the ball, and Philadelphia is giving him another chance to hold down shortstop. Still, a move to the outfield is very much on the table.
Lindor’s own season wasn’t exactly a banner year either. The Mets shortstop hit .225/.309/.423 with 21 home runs and 49 RBI in 105 games, and the time he missed clearly played a role. Before 2026, he had posted an OPS above .800 in three straight seasons.
When he’s right, Lindor remains one of the best offensive shortstops in the game. That’s why his name could linger in trade chatter this winter, even if a Phillies-Mets swap feels unlikely.
And with New York having missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, the Mets may be open to more changes as they try to reset things.
In Other News...
Phillies Rumor Could Be About More Than Adding Another Starter
Free agency opens Nov. 2, and the Phillies are already being linked to one of the more intriguing arms on the market in right-hander Freddy Peralta. His name makes sense on the surface for a club trying to sort through payroll questions and the uncertainty that comes with the next round of CBA talks, but the fit may go beyond simply plugging another starter into the rotation. Peraltas rise after being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays only adds to the appeal, especially for a team that values flexibility.
For Philadelphia, a move like this could ripple beyond the mound. A starter of Peraltas caliber would not only deepen the rotation, it could also give the front office more room to maneuver if it decides to reshuffle the roster elsewhere. In a winter where every financial decision may carry extra weight, the Phillies appear to be looking at ways to strengthen the club without boxing themselves into one path. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Shortstop Pressure Just Put A Massive Name In Play
The Phillies head into the offseason with an uncomfortable question at shortstop, and it is one they cannot really ignore after the way Trea Turner finished. His defensive struggles and offensive decline have put his hold on the everyday job under real scrutiny, which is why the front office is expected to at least look outside the organization before settling on a plan for next year.
One of the names that naturally comes up in that kind of search is Corey Seager, a player with the kind of offensive and defensive track record that would immediately change the conversation in Philadelphia. The fit is not simple, though, because any pursuit would have to account for his injury history and the size of his contract, making this less about a clean upgrade and more about whether the Phillies are willing to chase a big swing at a premium position. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Just Created A Quiet Infield Twist For The Offseason
The Phillies spent a quiet stretch of the roster calendar adding some infield depth, claiming Brett Harris and Shay Whitcomb off waivers from the Giants. It is the kind of move that can look minor on paper but matters in the margins, especially for a club trying to keep options open as the offseason takes shape. At the same time, catcher Garrett Stubbs and infielder Alec Bohm elected free agency, a reminder that the roster churn around this point of the year can move quickly.
Philadelphia also reinstated several players from the 60-day injured list to the 40-man roster, including Flix Reyes, Brad Keller, Caleb Kilian and Johan Rojas. Those transactions do not settle the bigger questions facing the club, but they do sharpen the picture of how the Phillies are managing depth and flexibility heading into the winter. The infield, in particular, now has a slightly different look than it did a day ago, and there may be more movement still to come. [Read more 🡒]