In the past two seasons, the Philadelphia Phillies have reached the World Series and the National League Championship Series. They haven’t come away with a world title yet, but they have a team that looks built to compete for the next few years.
Could the Phillies use a few more pieces? Sure. Do they hope to keep some of their free agents? Yes. Do they have the money? Absolutely.
For that reason, MLB.com believes the Phillies will be one of the defining teams of this offseason.
The Phillies have been no strangers to spending money of late. They’ve given big-money contracts to players like first baseman Bryce Harper, outfielder Nick Castellanos, and shortstop Trea Turner. The dividend has been deep postseason runs.

Of course, the Phillies have some to-do items. They may lose pitcher Aaron Nola, and if so, they must replace him. There are persistent rumors that they are interested in dealing with Castellanos. If the Phillies make that sort of deal for a fan favorite, it would likely be for pitching.
Plus, there’s the impending departure of Rhys Hoskins, who is unlikely to return after the Phillies told the free agent that his job is Harper’s now.
The Phillies have priorities, and it also appears they have a plan:
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has called re-signing Nola a “priority.” Should that fall through, as extension talks did, then the Phillies could pivot to one of the other top starters on the market. The bullpen will also need some help with closer Craig Kimbrel reaching free agency on the heels of his October blowups. And though (Shohei) Ohtani is an imperfect positional fit, the Phils will probably show him some love.
What do the Phillies need? Well, at least one veteran starter, and if they can keep Nola, that would be ideal. They could find a way to retain Michael Lorenzen or even make a play for San Diego’s Blake Snell. Relief is always a priority, and there are closers to be had, most notably San Diego’s Josh Hader.
The Phillies likely have the offense covered, even without Ohtani. But, yes, the Phillies have the purse strings to make such a move, even if Ohtani can only hit in 2024.
So, will the Phillies define the offseason? If so, it’s sure to cost them.