Nov 9, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski answers questions from the media during the MLB GM Meetings at The Conrad Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports Lucas Peltier
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Dave Dombrowski is tired of a phrase that has been getting a lot of use in Philadelphia over the past two years.
Asked how the Phillies are going to be much different than they were last year if they do, in fact, re-sign both Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, and if there was a fear in (gulp!) running it back for another year, Dombrowski started answering the question before it was even finished.
"I don't like that expression either, because I don't think we ever just run it ... We're not running our club back," Dombrowski said, emphatically.
But bringing back both Schwarber and Realmuto makes it hard to see otherwise. Dombrowski tried to explain.
"We're talking about (Justin) Crawford coming in. ... Max (Kepler) isn't going to be back with us. We're in a position where there's already some changes," he said.
"(Aidan) Miller's getting close to playing (too), and, you know, when I say that, I'm not sure when you win 96 games, that you should really look to have to do a lot of things differently, but you're always looking to get better."
It's a sure bet that fans aren't going to like that last part of the quote much at all, but it's what Dombrowski said next that is mostly going to ruffle fan feathers.
"I think (Alec) Bohm's going to have a much better year offensively," he said. "He was hurt last year for a time period. He was close to driving in 100 runs two years (ago). I think he's much closer to that type of hitter than he was last year. So, all of the sudden, you have that guy, and he's hitting somewhere (like) fourth or fifth in your lineup ... I think that's a pretty good addition in itself right there."
Ramping up the offseason with Alec Bohm and Jorge Polanco 📈#OneMore pic.twitter.com/khqIrqmxBJ
So, let's see. If they re-sign Schwarber and Realmuto, that's DH and catcher locked up with the same guys. We know Bryce Harper and Trea Turner aren't going anywhere, so there's first base and shortstop.
He talked about Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp in some sort of platoon situation, so that's one outfield spot.
Now, he's talking about Bohm returning to the player he was in 2024 - which, you'll recall, was a player on fire in the first half of the season, who tailed off in the second half of the season and was eventually benched in a playoff game.
Oh, and batting in the middle of the lineup, to boot.
So, where's the change?
Crawford, sure. That's one spot. Someone else will be playing right field because Nick Castellanos won't be back, and he'll be working on winning a $500,000 wager on his batting stance elsewhere.
The only position Dombrowski didn't discuss on Monday, but likely will on Tuesday, is second base, but it's mostly expected that Bryson Stott will be back, as well.
Now, I'm not buying the Alec Bohm redemption tour, and I still believe the Phillies could make a change at third base. But was Dombrowski preparing everyone, in case they do keep Bohm in place?
Also, I think there's a non-zero chance they would move on from either Stott or Marsh if the right situation arose.
When asked about adding prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. to the 40-man roster and if he fits into the outfield mix in any way, Dombrowski confirmed that he could be part of the big club in 2026.
"It's a great question. Some people think he's ready to play in the Big Leagues right now against right-handed pitching," Dombrowski said. "He doesn't hit left-handed pitching very well at all, so you'd have to have somebody else out there that hits right-handed, but he's close. And he's dangerous. He's got a chance to be a good player. so he also comes into play in that regard."
Another day, another dinger for Gabriel Rincones Jr.! pic.twitter.com/5zoNe3Z3yW
Could the Phillies choose to have Rincones as an outfield platoon and move Marsh for some other need? Possibly.
There are going to be at least three openings in the bullpen, and possibly a fourth if the Phillies choose to trade one of their three lefty relievers.
And while anything is possible, it's seeming more and more likely that Ranger Suarez will be elsewhere in 2026.
And while Dombrowski reported Monday that Zack Wheeler has started playing catch, his timeline remains in flux enough that the Phillies could add another starting pitcher somewhere to add depth to the organization.
So, it's likely that there will be approximately 10 different players on the Phillies Opening Day roster in 2026 than you saw with regularity in 2025.
It's just that a majority of the 16 or so who could/should be back are regulars. That's why fans think of it as running it back, even if Dombrowski views it a little differently.
Needless to say, whatever new players Dombrowski brings in this offseason, they have to be an upgrade over every one of the guys signed in free agency a year ago.
None of Kepler, Jordan Romano or Joe Ross were effective. The trade for Jesus Luzardo was a big win, but without it the Phillies would have had an absolutely dreadful offseason.
And here they are, one year later, in the same spot again. Will they "run it back," again?
By Dombrowski's definition, no. But that's a technicality.
By the fans' definition? Possibly.
If so, that would make 2026 an even juicier soap opera in Philadelphia.
