Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and owner John Middleton have some difficult decisions to make this upcoming offseason.
The team’s window of opportunity is closed. The Dodgers slammed it shut last week by dealing the Phils yet another premature exit from the playoffs.
Los Angeles’ three-games-to-one victory in the National League Division Series marked the third straight season that the Phillies fell far short of meeting expectations.
As a result, they are swinging golf clubs this week instead of bats while the Dodgers take on the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.
Virtually everyone was to blame. Reliever Orion Kerkering caught the most flak for his errant throw at the end of Game 4, but he was not the only goat.
And I don’t mean GOAT.
A lineup filled with high-priced stars fell miserably short in the series. Aside from Game 3, the top of the batting order — Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper — generated breezes almost as strong as the Nor’Easter that hit the Jersey Shore earlier this week.
That trio, which makes a combined $709 million, went a combined 3-for-35 (.086 average) with 16 strikeouts in games one, two and four.
“It’s 100 percent on us,” Turner said after Game 4. “I think we all feel that. I know Kyle does. Like Bryce says, we all want to be ‘that guy.’ That’s on us.”
That wasted some outstanding outings by starting pitchers Cristopher Sanchez (twice) and Jesus Luzardo.
Manager Rob Thomson also was closer to the “bottomer” than the “Topper” with his decisions.
He opted to Bryson Stott lay down a bunt in game, a move that backfired when Nick Castellanos was thrown out at third on the play, thus sucking all the momentum out of a rally.
In game 4, clinging to a 1-0 lead, he ordered closer Jhoan Duran to intentionally walk Shohei Ohtani, who was 1-for-17 with eight strikeouts in the series at the time, to load the bases.
A few minutes later, a bases-loaded walk to Mookie Betts tied the game 1-1.
“That was Duran’s first career bases-loaded walk,” Thomson said. “You’re not expecting that. And his ability to throw strikes — really wasn’t expecting that. But it happened.”
Dombroski has evidently decided to retain Thomson for the 2026 season, though I’m not sure that’s the right move.
He’s been propping the window open for three seasons and has nothing to show for it except yet another disappointing end to the season.
That could mean some changes in the roster are upcoming.
Schwarber and catcher J.T. Realmuto are free agents, along with outfielders Max Kepler and Harrison Bader (mutual option), and pitchers Ranger Suarez, Jose Alvarado (club option), Walker Buehler, David Robertson and Jordan Romano.
In my view, Realmuto is the only one who absolutely must be retained. He didn’t have his best season, but he’s still an elite catcher and the Phils have no one in the farm system ready to take his place.
In an ideal world, Schwarber would also be re-signed, but he’s going to command a boffo contract after leading the National League in home runs (56) and topping the majors with 132 RBI.
Suarez had a very good season (12-8 record with a 3.20 earned run average), but might be the odd man out in a 2026 rotation that would feature Sanchez, Luzardo, possibly Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and highly touted Andrew Painter.
It’s also time for outfielder Justin Crawford to make the jump to the majors, which means Castellanos or Brandon Marsh would be on the trading block. Shortstop Aiden Miller is also on track to join the big club in the near future, though Turner, who won the N.L. batting title, isn’t going anywhere. Maybe that means moving Miller to third and trading Alec Bohm.
Regardless, the Phils need to do something to satisfy a loyal and passionate fan base that has been let down again and again.
The Phils essentially kept the same lineup for three straight seasons and still haven’t won a World Series since 2008.
Time to open a new window.
Eagles struggling
Fans also aren’t particularly enamored with the Eagles (4-2) at the moment. Last Thursday’s shocking loss to the New York Giants didn’t really damage their playoff status – they are tied with four other teams for the second-best record in the NFC behind Tampa Bay (5-1), but they no longer seem like the team that won the Super Bowl last season.
Injuries have hurt, as has an inconsistent pass rush and a surprisingly ineffective running game.
They have a chance to regain some confidence against the Minnesota Vikings (3-2) next Sunday. Another loss, however, could spell trouble.
Local NFL update
Jacksonville rookie running back LeQuint Allen (Millville) averaged 24.0 yards on four kickoff returns, caught a pass for 10 yards and had one carry for 2 yards in a 20-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) had two tackles in a 30-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Green Bay Packers cornerback/wide receiver Bo Melton (Cedar Creek) had a 36-yard kickoff return, had one carry for 3 yards and registered one tackle in a 27-18 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (Cedar Creek) had four tackles and a pass defense in a 31-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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