The Phillies’ offseason work begins with a simple aim that will be difficult to carry through the grind of a 162-game schedule: keep the club’s veterans from wearing down. Dave Dombrowski wants more days off spread across the roster in 2027, a plan centered on Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner.
“The idea is to keep those players fresher as they get older,” Dombrowski said.
That can sound straightforward in November, but it becomes another matter once the standings start moving. Don Mattingly will be managing to win every night, and stars who feel healthy usually make a case to stay in the lineup. Philadelphia has confronted that tension before. Charlie Manuel was once encouraged to ease the workload on Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, but the competitive pull regularly put the regulars back on the field.
Dombrowski has discussed the issue with Mattingly, president of baseball operations Preston Mattingly and others in the organization. Roster versatility, he said, may be part of the answer.
Finding Harper and Realmuto some breathers
Harper is the clearest starting point after appearing in all 162 games this season. He is expected to remain Philadelphia’s main first baseman, though he has told Dombrowski he can handle right field occasionally if circumstances demand it. More designated-hitter assignments would be the cleaner route to reducing the physical toll.
Harper was the DH 12 times this year, after doing so twice in 2025 and three times in 2024. Those opportunities could increase if Kyle Schwarber takes more turns in the field. The Phillies have mapped out roughly 30 appearances for Schwarber at first base. He made six starts there this season and started twice in left field.
If Schwarber is used at DH at least 20 games fewer than he was this year, the club would gain room to rotate Harper, Turner and Realmuto through that spot. Dombrowski has already told Realmuto his goal is to trim his catching workload.
Realmuto still caught 123 games this season, second most in the majors behind Milwaukee’s William Contreras, who caught 128. Realmuto led MLB in games caught in 2022 and 2023 with 133 apiece, then again in 2025 with 132. But his .205 batting average and .614 OPS this season add another reason for Philadelphia to consider a more measured schedule behind the plate.
That approach requires a more capable reserve catcher. Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchan are both out of Minor League options and eligible for arbitration, leaving the Phillies with decisions to make. Ryan Jeffers headlines the free-agent catching market, though he could receive a qualifying offer and may not be interested in a reduced role alongside Realmuto, who has two years left on his three-year, $45 million contract. Carson Kelly, Tyler Stephenson, Austin Hedges, Kyle Higashioka, Gary Sánchez, Christian Vázquez and Jonah Heim are also among the expected available catchers.
Outfield work remains central to the winter
The larger roster need is in the outfield, particularly with Harper back at first base. Justin Crawford and Derek Hill could form a center-field platoon, but left and right field need reinforcement. There is no obvious immediate help on the way from the farm system, putting trades and free agency at the heart of the search. Turner could eventually be considered for an outfield move, too.
Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena are among the prominent free-agent options, although both are expected to seek multiyear contracts and could be attached to qualifying offers. Ian Happ, Taylor Ward, Trent Grisham and Daulton Varsho also stand out in the market.
Japanese free agent Terukai Sato brings power, but his defense at third base and in right field is viewed as below average. That evaluation matters for a club whose manager has made improved defense a stated priority.
Philadelphia could also need an infielder if Alec Bohm and Luis Arraez depart in free agency. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Brandon Lowe and Gleyber Torres are possible free-agent names at those positions. Aidan Miller, the organization’s No. 2 prospect, could force his way into the conversation with a promotion, which would be a welcome development for a system that has not consistently delivered Major League contributors.
The Phillies are not merely trying to find replacements or add depth. They are trying to build a roster that can let its best-known players sit without making every off day feel like a concession. “We need to complement those guys with some other players,” Dombrowski said. “That will be our goal.”
