With spring training set to begin in just under a month, Phillies fans can expect a mix of familiar faces and new additions when camp opens in Clearwater. One longtime fan favorite, however, will not be in uniform this spring, having departed via free agency on a lucrative deal elsewhere.
With that in mind, here’s a look at everything you need to know from the Phillies’ offseason.
First, to their credit, the Phillies accomplished their top offseason priority, re-signing Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract. Schwarber served as the catalyst for the lineup last season, launching 56 home runs and driving in 132 runs. Beyond the production, he remains a fan favorite and a respected leader in the clubhouse.
On Friday afternoon, the Phillies checked off another major offseason objective, finalizing a three-year, $45 million contract with veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto. According to reports, the deal also includes up to $5 million annually in performance-based bonuses.
A three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, Realmuto hit .257 with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs across 134 games last season. He also tied for the major league lead with 132 games caught.
Many fans believed the Phillies had reached an impasse in negotiations and that a deal with Realmuto might never materialize. That changed after Philadelphia missed out on free-agent star Bo Bichette, who instead agreed to a three-year, $126 million deal with division rival New York Mets. In the aftermath, the Phillies moved quickly to ensure they locked up Realmuto, securing stability at catcher rather than allowing another cornerstone piece to reach the open market.
As for Bo Bichette, reports indicated Philadelphia had offered a seven-year, $200 million contract and believed the offer gave the club a strong chance to land him before the Mets closed the deal late.
Among the new faces added this offseason are outfielder Adolis GarcÃa and right-hander Brad Keller. GarcÃa signed a one-year, $10 million deal and is expected to step into right field following the club’s anticipated move on from Nick Castellanos.
While Castellanos remains on the roster, it appears increasingly unlikely he will be in a Phillies uniform when spring training begins.
GarcÃa hit .227 with 19 home runs and 75 RBIs last season with the Texas Rangers.
Keller, who signed a two-year, $22 million deal in December, went 4–2 with a 2.07 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and a .182 opponents’ batting average in 68 appearances (one start) with the Chicago Cubs last season. He struck out 75 batters while issuing 22 walks across 69⅔ innings, numbers that should help bolster the Phillies’ bullpen depth.
With that, the Phillies said goodbye to veteran left-hander Ranger Suárez, who agreed to a five-year, $130 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. A reunion between Suárez and Philadelphia was not widely expected, particularly with Zack Wheeler projected to return midseason, top prospect Andrew Painter set to make his debut next season, and the organization prioritizing extensions for Schwarber and Realmuto.
Even without Suárez, the Phillies still project to have one of the deeper rotations in baseball. Beyond Wheeler, the staff includes Cristopher Sánchez, the National League Cy Young runner-up last season, and Jesús Luzardo, who received down-ballot Cy Young consideration of his own. While veteran right-hander Aaron Nola is coming off a down season by his standards but remains a dependable rotation option. And although Painter has yet to make his major league debut, he enters the season ranked as MLB’s 16th-best prospect.
Suárez will be missed, but if Wheeler returns as expected, the Phillies’ rotation should remain a clear strength.
Last week marked the start of the 2026 international signing period, and the Phillies were among the teams making headlines by signing standout Venezuelan outfielder Francisco Renteria. The 17-year-old from Maracaibo agreed to a contract that included a $4 million signing bonus, a figure that ties the franchise’s highest ever for an international amateur signing. Renteria should soon appear on the Phillies’ top-prospect lists as he begins his professional development in the organization.
Harrison Bader remains a free agent and is a potential reunion candidate for the Phillies. After arriving in Philadelphia in early August following a stint with the Minnesota Twins, Bader hit .305 with a .463 slugging percentage.
With a few weeks remaining before spring training, President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski could still make additional moves to further bolster the club’s outlook for the 2026 season.
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