The Phillies are in line to have money to spend this winter, and that could put Dave Dombrowski in attack mode. With some salary coming off the books, Philadelphia has a chance to be aggressive as it looks to reshape the roster around what manager Don Mattingly wants: hitters who work counts, take pitches and keep the line moving.
That’s part of why the outfield feels like an obvious spot for help. It’s also why the situations involving Alec Bohm and Luis Arraez matter, with both set to hit free agency. But the most eyebrow-raising twist in the discussion came from MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, who named the Phillies as a possible suitor for the biggest prize on the market: Tarik Skubal.
Feinsand floated a scenario in which Philadelphia could use its starting-pitching depth as trade currency to free up room elsewhere and then make a run at the top of the rotation with Skubal. “Dave Dombrowski has never been shy about spending in free agency, so the Phillies are at least a dark horse candidate to make a play for Skubal. Zack Wheeler has one year remaining on his contract, and given the depth of Philadelphia’s rotation, the club could trade either Cristopher Sánchez or Jesús Luzardo to fill other holes if it added Skubal to the top of the rotation,” Feinsand wrote.
It’s an idea that makes some sense on paper. The rotation is the clearest strength on the roster, so moving from that area to patch other holes is at least a logical thought exercise. Free-agent bats are thin, and the farm system doesn’t offer much help if Philadelphia wants to dip into it for a trade.
But the move would also come with a lot of baggage. To chase Skubal, the Phillies would be tying up what could be a record amount of money in a pitcher, while also potentially sending out one of Cristopher Sánchez or Jesús Luzardo. With the future of a potential salary cap unclear, that kind of bet would be a huge one.
Skubal, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, would improve any team. That said, Philadelphia already has Wheeler, Sánchez and Luzardo at the front of its rotation, and Andrew Painter showed promise after being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
That’s why the more practical move may be to use resources elsewhere. The Phillies do not appear to be one Skubal-caliber arm away from being complete, and their biggest needs are still in the lineup. Even with the appeal of adding an elite starter, the combination of his age - he turns 30 in a few weeks - and his history of three procedures on his left arm makes the risk harder to justify.
For Philadelphia, the case for spending is real. The case for spending that heavily on Skubal, though, is much tougher to make.
In Other News...
Alec Bohm Buzz Could Force A Phillies Infield Decision
Alec Bohms name is already surfacing as one of the more interesting possibilities of the offseason, and it is the kind of chatter that can quickly turn into a real infield decision for the Phillies. The pending free-agent third baseman and former All-Star has been linked in speculation to a possible short-term deal with the Cardinals, who are said to be open to a stopgap answer at third base.
For Philadelphia, the noise matters because Bohm has been part of the clubs infield picture and his market could shape how the Phillies plan for the hot corner moving forward. Nothing is official and nothing is close to settled, but the buzz around a potential Cardinals fit is enough to keep this situation on the radar as the offseason gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Offseason Plans Come With One Expensive Problem
The Phillies are heading into another winter with a familiar mix of success and unfinished business. They made the postseason for the fifth straight year, but the roster is also carrying the weight that comes with an aging core and a payroll built around major commitments, including Aaron Nola and Trea Turner.
Philadelphias front office now has to balance the need to stay competitive with a budget that is only getting tighter. Arbitration raises for players such as Jhoan Duran, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh, along with Jesus Luzardos contract extension, are expected to shape the 2027 payroll, which leaves the club with a costly question hanging over its offseason plans. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Outfield Search May Come Down To One Winter Trade Dilemma
As the Phillies look ahead to the offseason, the outfield remains one of the clearest places for improvement, and Alex Call has surfaced as a name worth watching. The Dodgers outfielder checks two boxes Philadelphia tends to value in this spot: hes under contract, and he brings a track record that plays well against left-handed pitching.
For a front office working within payroll limits, that kind of fit can be attractive, especially if the goal is to patch together a more workable platoon rather than chase a bigger splash. The question now is whether the Phillies decide Call is the right budget-friendly answer, or whether they keep searching for an outfield move that better fits the rest of their winter plans. [Read more 🡒]