The Boston Red Sox are heavy on left-handed hitters and prefer to keep their DH spot open as a way to rotate regulars. But there is a strong bond between Boston manager Alex Cora and Schwarber that cannot be overlooked. The New York Mets could pivot to Schwarber if they want to move on from Pete Alonso. Maybe the Toronto Blue Jays make a play for Schwarber if Bo Bichette departs?<\/p>\n
This is why Schwarber\u2019s camp will want to keep every door open for as long as possible. The Phillies are willing to wait; they consider Schwarber essential to the entire operation.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an unusual offseason for them, given how many of their free agents they would like to retain. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has not hidden his public stance. This dance is a little different.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople understand that you\u2019re not showing all your cards all the time, right?\u201d Dombrowski said this week in Las Vegas. \u201cYou\u2019re at least being straightforward enough to know what we\u2019re trying to accomplish, but I don\u2019t know if we\u2019ll be able to accomplish that. And then if not, we\u2019re moving on to Plan B.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bullpen shuffle?![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2233858545-scaled.jpg\")
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\n With the Phillies fielding interest in their lefty relievers, Matt Strahm could be moved in the right deal. (Hunter Martin \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The Phillies have fielded steady interest in all three of their left-handed relievers since the offseason began, major-league sources said, and it could nudge them toward a trade. The free-agent market for lefty relievers is not robust; some of the best available arms are Gregory Soto, Drew Pomeranz, Danny Coulombe and Hoby Milner.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s why teams have targeted the Phillies. They have Jos\u00e9 Alvarado signed for $9 million<\/a> in 2026, Matt Strahm for $7.5 million, and Tanner Banks projected by MLB Trade Rumors<\/a> to make around $1 million in his first year of salary arbitration.<\/p>\n Strahm, in particular, could interest teams. But he\u2019s also been an integral piece of the Phillies\u2019 bullpen successes. His 2.46 ERA since 2023 ranks second among 53 left-handed relievers with 100 innings in that span. (Coulombe is first.) And, although Strahm\u2019s strikeout rate and fastball velocity dipped in 2025, he still logged 62 1\/3 innings of effective relief work.<\/p>\n What would be the motivation to move one of the lefties? The Phillies could acquire a mid-level prospect to help backfill a depleted farm system, then throw some darts with the payroll savings on a few middle relievers. Maybe it\u2019s a chance to refresh a familiar bullpen mix that has enjoyed highs and suffered lows.<\/p>\n Whatever the case, the Phillies must create better bullpen depth than they did last offseason; they entered 2025 with these righties in the bullpen: Orion Kerkering, Jordan Romano, Jos\u00e9 Ruiz and Carlos Hern\u00e1ndez. They\u2019ve already boosted it by adding Jhoan Duran. But securing a deeper righty pool might require creative maneuvers \u2014 like trading a lefty.<\/p>\n More trade talk \n A match with the Phillies? The Angels could trade either Taylor Ward or Jo Adell this offseason. (Edward M. Pio Roda \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n In a weaker free-agent market, especially for right-handed hitters, the Phillies will have to think outside the box. It\u2019s why the emergence of two potential trade targets \u2014 Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte (a switch-hitter) and Minnesota center fielder Byron Buxton (a righty) \u2014 seemed notable. Both the Diamondbacks and Twins have downplayed the likelihood of either being dealt; neither one may be. But if the Phillies were to enter the picture, any reasonable package would have to begin with Andrew Painter plus several other prospects.<\/p>\n Arizona is seeking young pitching. Minnesota wanted Painter from the Phillies last summer as the two sides worked toward a Duran trade.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a price the Phillies are probably not willing to pay at this point.<\/p>\n While Painter\u2019s stock took a hit in 2025, he is still one of the better pitching prospects in all of baseball. The Phillies essentially would be selling low, especially since they could have landed Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in 2024 with a package headlined by Painter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Only the San Diego Padres surrendered better prospects at last season\u2019s trade deadline than the Phillies, and the franchise has routinely flipped decent young talent every July since Dombrowski took control of the front office. Although the club has been protective of its best prospects, those consummated trades have weakened the farm system.<\/p>\n This is why, for now, the Phillies are signaling to rival clubs they would prefer to deal from their big-league roster. That could limit the types of teams that match with the Phillies; a rebuilding club, of course, would want prospects in return for an established player.<\/p>\n The St. Louis Cardinals, for example, have not been shy about their willingness to trade as they rebuild. Brendan Donovan, 28, has been a productive player and can play multiple positions. But he\u2019s a lefty hitter with extreme splits, and feels like a similar-type player to what the Phillies already have.<\/p>\n The trick will be finding a team that has an abundance at one position and a need the Phillies can fill. The Los Angeles Angels, who could fix an outfield logjam by dealing either Taylor Ward or Jo Adell, remain a team to monitor. They need a third baseman. But it might not be as simple as a one-for-one Ward for Alec Bohm trade. Ward will command considerable interest, even with only one year of club control, because the free-agent outfielder market is so light.<\/p>\n One name to file away: Astros center fielder Jake Meyers, a righty hitter, who might be squeezed out of Houston\u2019s outfield plan. Meyers, considered a strong defender, does not hit for power. But he could be a decent alternative to Harrison Bader \u2014 if he lands elsewhere. Houston is fielding calls on Meyers.<\/p>\n Good timing \n Harrison Bader could cash-in after the best offensive season of his career. (Emilee Chinn \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Bader could cash in on a well-timed season. Given the relative dearth in the outfield market, especially in center field, he should command widespread interest. He will seek a multi-year deal.<\/p>\n \u201cThey know we have interest,\u201d Dombrowski said of Bader\u2019s camp. \u201cThey know that we\u2019d like to bring him back. They also had expressed that they want to see what\u2019s out there because this was the best year he\u2019s had, I think, in quite a while. There are not a lot of outfielders out there.<\/p>\n \u201cDid he like it? I think yes. I did think he liked being here, part of the situation. It was good for him. But, as a free agent, dollars can speak.\u201d<\/p>\n Seeking rotation depth?<\/p>\n No one has said it aloud, but the Phillies have made it clear they do not expect to be bidding on Ranger Su\u00e1rez, who should score a nine-figure deal this winter. As of now, they are not in the rotation market.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s a good argument for them to acquire another back-end starter just to fortify the rotation. Zack Wheeler could begin playing catch sometime this month as he progresses in his recovery from surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome<\/a>. But they are not banking on him being ready for Opening Day.<\/p>\n That would leave the Phillies with an April rotation of Cristopher S\u00e1nchez, Jes\u00fas Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker and Painter. There is not much behind them in the upper levels of the farm system.<\/p>\n Could the Phillies be involved in the rotation market, even through a one-year deal for a modest reinforcement?<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t say we wouldn\u2019t,\u201d Dombrowski said. \u201cBut, again, it\u2019s not our highest priority. \u2026 You have to be careful. You always need to look for starting pitching depth. That doesn\u2019t necessarily mean top of the market, but where does that fit in? Because you never have enough starting pitching, and really for us, after you get past (the top six starters) \u2026 now you\u2019re talking about (minor leaguer Jean) Cabrera, he would be one of those guys. But we don\u2019t have a lot of starting pitching depth, so that\u2019s something we need to be cognizant of.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2222407920-scaled.jpg\")
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