Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has built the team’s rosters for years, but postseason success has been hard to come by. This offseason has been especially frustrating for fans. Bo Bichette turned down the Phillies for the Mets, and the Dodgers, their main competition, got stronger.
After officially signing J.T. Realmuto, Dombrowski made a comment that’s likely to frustrate fans even more. When asked about the team’s chances of signing another top free agent, he said, “We’re content where we are,” according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
That comment suggests the Phillies aren’t planning any major moves this offseason. No infield upgrades, outfield help, or top pitching additions are coming. While smaller signings or trades could still happen, the big, franchise-changing moves are essentially off the table.
Realmuto’s signing, a three-year, $45 million deal, may have been the team’s final major move. Players like Cody Bellinger, Framber Valdez, or any other top free agents or trade options are likely out of reach. Alec Bohm is returning, and the roster looks mostly set.
This is frustrating for fans because the Phillies are entering the season with several challenges. Ranger Suarez is gone, Zach Wheeler is injured, and Matt Strahm was traded. While Kyle Schwarber’s return and additions like Adolis Garcia and Brad Keller help, the team is arguably in a weaker position than last year.
Many fans feel the team isn’t listening to their calls for more reinforcements. After losing out on Bichette, Dombrowski’s “content” comment makes it feel like the Phillies are simply running it back without addressing key needs.
For Phillies fans, it’s been a disappointing offseason. The team may still compete, but the lack of bold moves leaves a lot of unanswered questions heading into 2026.
