A Crossing Broad column, written tongue-in-cheek, says the Brewers' dominant World Series run offers Phillies lessons: small ball, player development over big free-agent spending, and a strong culture. It jokes the Phillies should also smoke cigarettes together. 🚬
Adolis García officially elected free agency on October 29, ending a rough first year in Philadelphia. The right fielder hit .195 with seven homers and 21 RBIs in 67 games, and a right lat tear sent him to the 60-day IL in June. 🧾
Orion Kerkering got an F in his 2026 report card. He had a 2.61 ERA on July 28, then allowed 23 runs over his next 16 2/3 innings and finished at 4.97. The stuff and low hard-contact rates remain, but the strikes vanished. 📉
Alec Bohm, the Phillies' 30-year-old former All-Star, hit free agency for the first time after a down 2026: -0.5 bWAR, .249 average, 87 OPS+. His ~$10M arbitration salary could make a reunion pricey, and catcher Garrett Stubbs was also cut loose. 🔍
Steven Kwan could be a left field upgrade over Brandon Marsh, per a trade idea. Cleveland would reportedly want more than Marsh, so Orion Kerkering could be a sweetener. Nothing is agreed; this is speculation. 🤔
Garrett Stubbs will reportedly be DFA'd, and the Phillies are said to need rotation depth heading into the offseason. They'll also try to play every month of next season like it's August 26. Baseball's return is still a long way off. ⏳
Dave Dombrowski has penciled in Kyle Schwarber for 30 games at first base in 2027, aiming to get Bryce Harper, who played all 162 games this year, more DH rest. Schwarber hit 3 HR in 8 games at first, so the glove shouldn't dull the bat. 🧤
Adolis García hits free agency after a one-year, $10M stint in Philadelphia that never took off. He slashed .195/.270/.329 with seven homers in 67 games before tearing his right latissimus dorsi in mid-June. Surgery ended his season. Right field returns to the drawing board. ⚾
Eighteen years ago today, the Phillies ended a 28-year World Series drought and brought a championship back to Philadelphia. The city's love for the team made it even sweeter. 🏆
Seven Phillies are now officially free agents after the Brewers beat the Rays in the World Series. Hitters Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa, Luis Arraez and Adolis Garcia lead the group, plus three lefty pitchers, so the offseason to-do list starts early. 📝
Aidan Miller is making his Arizona Fall League case: through 11 games, the 22-year-old Phillies prospect has a 1.064 OPS, an AFL-leading .564 OBP and 18 walks. He's also moving from shortstop to third base after a back injury cost him most of 2026. 🔥
José Alvarado earns a C in his 2026 report card: team-high 68 appearances and 58.1 IP, but a 4.78 BB/9 and 66% strand rate. Availability kept him in the mix; a thin bullpen did the rest. Serviceable coffee, not fine espresso. ☕
Phillies-relevant note: the offseason calendar is mostly CBA-driven, with the Dec. 1 expiration and a likely lockout looming. Brandon Marsh gets a pointed mention ahead of the Nov. 20 non-tender deadline. Little else moves until a deal gets done. 🗓️
A fan-poll question: which Phillies loss would you erase? The article floats Game 6 of the 1993 World Series (Mitch Williams, Joe Carter) and the 2023 NLCS, plus Kevin Ginkel's name, as prime candidates. Scar tissue, ranked. 🩹
Phillies coaching report cards: Rob Thomson gets an F after the 9-19 start and his firing, while interim-turned-extended Don Mattingly earns an A- (79-55 finish, playoff berth). Caleb Cotham's staff led MLB with 1,577 strikeouts, good for an A+. 📋
Zack Wheeler took home the Players Choice award for NL Comeback Player of the Year. Top prospect Aidan Miller is pain-free and rediscovering his love of baseball in the Arizona Fall League. 🏆 The Inquirer's 2027 outlook series has reached the infield.
Taylor Ward, coming off a disappointing second half, is pitched as a possible Phillies bounceback signing. The outfield has lacked an above-average player in recent years, and Ward's walk-heavy 2026 (.383 OBP with Baltimore) could be the fix. 🎯
Luis Arraez, a pending free agent who finished 2026 split between the Giants and Phillies, is pitched as a Blue Jays target. He posted a .310 average, .345 OBP and a 4.3% strikeout rate. It's an opinion piece, not a reported deal. 🎯
Kevin Long's post-Phillies job hunt hit a snag: the Mets reportedly are no longer considering the ex-hitting coach, per the NY Post. Philadelphia ate his deal through 2028 after a 2026 offense with a league-worst 89 OPS+, and hired Peter Fatse. 🧢
Phillies are 16-27 in 43 World Series games across eight trips, winning two titles. Still, an all-time Fall Classic roster emerges: Carlos Ruiz at catcher (.353/.488/.706), Ryan Howard at first and Chase Utley at second. 🏆
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