The Phillies have a handful of key free agents after this season. Who is due for a big pay day and how could that impact 2025?
The Phillies core is largely locked up for a few more years, but they have three key players who hit free agency after the 2025 season. There is always the talk of the “contract year” player. Guys going all out for that big payday and the Phillies will hopefully benefit from that. Ranger Suarez, Kyle Schwarber, and JT Realmuto are in that role for the Phillies this year. Players like Josė Alvarado and Matt Strahm who have club options for 2026 can be a conversation for another day and so can a guy like Alec Bohm who will soon be due an extension.
Honorary Mention – Jordan Romano
As the new guy on a one-year deal, if Romano fails, this conversation is easy, you move on. However, if the closer finds what made him great from 2020-2023 again, letting him walk might be a little more difficult. Romano was one of the 5 best closers in the sport during that time and finding stability in an often unstable bullpen environment might be worth heavy consideration. This also could be exacerbated by how good and/or bad the rest of the Phillies’ pen looks this year. Romano being an All-Star caliber reliever again would obviously be of great benefit to the 2025 Phillies, but also certainly makes an interesting dynamic this offseason.
Ranger Suarez
It certainly feels like Ranger’s time with the Phillies is winding down. The Phillies have made a habit of throwing money around, especially to their own guys, so Ranger never getting a deal feels intentional. It is only further highlighted by the rest of the Phillies starting pitching. Wheeler starts year one of a three-year mega extension this season and Nola is getting $24.5 million through 2030. Christopher Sanchez just signed a four-year extension too. Jesus Luzardo is under control through next season and the Phillies are about to launch superstar prospect Andrew Painter onto the main roster; and with that comes six seasons of team control. Heck, even Taijuan Walker, unfortunately, is locked up on a big deal through next year. The playoff superstar appears to be the odd man out of a largely dominant rotation. Why?
Well, Ranger has had moments of sheer brilliance on the mound and has an unflappable demeanor. However, he has struggled to carry that through 162 as injuries have ravaged his career. Over the last three seasons, of which Suarez has been a starter, he has never eclipsed 30 starts and has spent time on the IL each season. He also has struggled to bounce back from injuries once they happen. He is going to get a big deal and is worth it, but because of his injury history, he also is a financial risk for any team that signs him.
Ranger has an incredible opportunity to secure a life-altering contract this upcoming winter. Ranger will be a 31-year-old left-handed starter. This on its own would be a valuable commodity, but if Ranger can carry his first half of 24, through the entirety of 2025, he will land one of the bigger contracts of this free agent class. Another All Star season obviously benefits the Phillies as they get another ace who levels up even more when the playoffs start. Ranger having a career year would even more so bolster this super rotation, even if it means this will be his last season with the squad. If Ranger can have a fully healthy 2025, the Phillies will have a real chance at the World Series title, and Ranger the chance at his personal financial World Series.
Kyle Schwarber
As one of the few guys that has been discussed as a true leader for this group, losing Schwarber would have a pretty big impact. Including playoffs, the man is averaging 48 home runs and 115 walks a year in Philadelphia. Schwarber will have an intriguing market. He is largely unable to play the field and will be 34 in 2026, however, there is a clear trend of DHs aging gracefully so Schwarber could maintain production. This will probably be Schwarber’s last true chance at a pay day in the MLB. The last time he headed into a contract year was in 2021, where he belted 32 home runs with the Red Sox and Nationals on his way to a career high .928 OPS before signing with Philadelphia that winter. Dave Dombrowski speaks highly of him too, calling him the best leader he’s ever seen. Look for Schwarber to potentially have his best season as a Phillie as he is slotted lower in the lineup than leadoff. As long as the Phillies do not get too cute with him by having him play 1B and LF too much, expect Schwarber to tear the cover off the ball for a team hopeful for October glory.
JT Realmuto
Well, JT will be 35 in 2026, and has started to show clear signs of decline. However, if/when JT hits the free agent market this offseason he will still be the best catcher available by far. Even at his age, he may be the best athlete on the team, and his decline last year might have been more linked to a nagging knee injury than age. The Phillies also do not have an obvious answer past JT as they don’t appear to trust Rafael Marchán and even in a best case scenario Eduardo Tait is still years away from the big leagues. Similar to Schwarber, JT is probably staring down the barrel of his final big money MLB contract and the Phillies could really benefit from that with JT hoping to turn the clock back. With his age in mind, he’ll need to have a truly great season to land a multiyear deal and there’s no reason to believe he cannot do something like that. This might be the first year we finally see him attempt a different position too. Whether it be just DH or something more complex like 1B or LF to save his legs, which also will help his financial prospects in the years to come.
What do you want to see happen with our soon-to-be Free Agents? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, BlueSky, or TikTok. Email us at [email protected] and we’ll share the story on the show. Join our Discord for further discussion with the GENY community!