The Philadelphia Phillies‘ offseason appears to be done.
Philadelphia didn’t make any splashy moves this offseason, as the Phillies brought back catcher J.T. Realmuto. However, the team did lose Ranger Suarez in free agency, as Philadelphia is running back a very similar team.
On Tuesday, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski spoke about Realmuto returning and said that the team’s offseason is likely over.
“I still feel great about our club,” Dombrowski said on Tuesday. … “We’re content where we are.”
The Phillies running back a very similar team is an intriguing move, considering Philadelphia lost in the NLDS.
However, Dombrowski has plenty of confidence that the Phillies will be much better in 2026, as he likes the way the team is built.
Philadelphia will replace Suarez with Andrew Painter, while the Phillies will rely on the core of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Realmuto to lead the team back to a World Series appearance.
The Phillies are tied for the fourth-best odds of winning the World Series at +1300.
Losing out on Bichette Was a ‘Gut Punch’
The Phillies re-signed Realmuto after failing to sign Bo Bichette.
Philadelphia was heavily linked to Bichette and thought they had a seven-year deal worth over $200 million agreed to. However, after Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets pivoted and offered Bichette a three-year, $126 million deal.
After losing out on Bichette, Dombrowski said it was a gut punch as they felt like a deal was close.
“I did think we were going to get a deal done,” Dombrowski said. “… We were close. … It was a gut punch. … But until you have a signed memo of understanding, you don’t have a deal.”
Bichette would have been a nice addition to the Phillies roster. But Philadelphia couldn’t beat out the Mets’ offer. However, by not signing Bichette, it allowed the Phillies to bring back Realmuto, who said he wanted to return to Philadelphia.
Reamuto inked a three-year, $45 million deal with the Phillies this offseason. He hit .257 with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs last season. He’s a three-time MLB All-Star.
Dombrowski Believes Phillies are Close
Despite losing in the NLDS, Dombrowski believes the Phillies are close to getting over the hump.
Dombrowski felt like the team didn’t need to do much this offseason, as he believes the Phillies are close to the Dodgers.
“We’re close to them,” Dombrowski said about the Dodgers, who beat the Phillies in four games. “We battled them, and I think we’re in the same neighborhood. But we didn’t beat them, and we have work in order to do that.”
Dombrowski also felt like the team doesn’t need to make many changes as they can build off last season.
“Needs to be more change?” Dombrowski said. “We won 96 games. You’re always looking to get better, so we will be open-minded to that. There’s some built-in situations for us that are going to have to be addressed. So, where you go as a club is very much dictated on some of those moves that end up happening. We also have some young players that are going to mesh into our club.”
Philadelphia opens its 2026 MLB season on March 26 against the Texas Rangers.
Phillies Make Feelings Clear On Making Another Move After Re-Signing Realmuto