Dave Dombrowski outlines the Phillies’ offseason priorities after a late-season fade and early playoff exit

In his first public comments since the season ended Oct. 1, the Phillies president of baseball operations said the club’s plan starts with protecting starting pitching depth, stabilizing a struggling offense-and-bullpen profile, and making targeted roster decisions around its core.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Dave Dombrowski said the Phillies have “high expectations” to win a World Series, but acknowledged that the 2026 season did not meet them. He pointed to a slow start that dropped the team to 9-19, followed by a late run that still ended with the organization’s earliest postseason exit in five years.

Dombrowski said the Phillies are not planning to trade from their “strength,” which he identified as starting pitching. He also said he has no desire to deal key veterans including Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and J.T. Realmuto, noting that their salaries and no-trade rights would make movement difficult even if the club wanted it.

With payroll and roster flexibility limited, Dombrowski framed the offseason as a matter of managing spending rather than guaranteeing that every addition will be a blockbuster. He said the organization has not set final next-year payroll figures and expects there is still room to add players without necessarily signing only high-salary options.

On hitting, Dombrowski described the need for improvement across the everyday lineup and pointed to which players were able to deliver above league-average production. Harper (131 OPS+) and Schwarber (128 OPS+) were the only two everyday players to post better-than-average marks, while Turner (81 OPS+) and Realmuto (65 OPS+) struggled, and Brandon Marsh’s All-Star season did not carry through the entire year.

The Phillies plan to address changes in coaching and playing-time planning. Dombrowski said the club fired hitting coach Kevin Long on Wednesday and wants a new approach, including more rest for Harper, Schwarber, and Realmuto. He said Harper will play first base, that Harper has indicated willingness to play right field occasionally, and that the club hopes Schwarber can play 30 games at first base to support Harper’s work as a DH. Dombrowski also said the Phillies want an upgraded backup catcher and do not envision Realmuto starting 120-plus games in 2027.

On pitching, Dombrowski said the rotation is among baseball’s best but the organization needs more starting pitching depth. He also said fixing the bullpen remains a priority, citing the impact of injuries to Brad Keller and Caleb Kilian, trouble from Alvarado, and October usage changes that included Orion Kerkering being optioned in September. Dombrowski also discussed internal preferences, saying he likes right-handers Jonathan Bowlan and Alex McFarlane.

Finally, Dombrowski argued the analytics department is already strong, but said the club needs to do a better job of “using” the information internally. He also indicated he expects to keep running baseball operations for the long term, while acknowledging he cannot announce contract details.

Why It Matters

The comments frame 2027 as a roster-building and staffing recalibration after an early postseason exit and a season trend that did not sustain the early promise.
By stating the club is protecting starting pitching and trying not to trade its marquee core, the offseason emphasis shifts toward depth, bullpen upgrades, and lineup balance rather than a wholesale teardown.
The planned changes around catcher workload and backup catcher support indicate the Phillies are treating durability and role definition as central to offense and roster management.
With analytics described as already solid but not optimally applied, the offseason could bring organizational process changes that affect both player evaluation and in-game decisions.
Dombrowski’s focus on bullpen fixes suggests the team’s late-inning execution will be a specific target, not just an overall talent add.

Sources

Key Facts

Dave Dombrowski said the Phillies are aiming to win a World Series while admitting the 2026 results fell short of expectations.
He cited a 9-19 start as a key factor in the team “going backward” before the roster adjusted and finished strong under Don Mattingly.
Dombrowski said the club will not look to trade from its starting pitching strength and does not want to trade Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, or J.T. Realmuto.
He described hitting as an area for improvement, pointing to OPS+ production levels for Harper (131) and Schwarber (128) as the only everyday players above league average, while Turner (81) and Realmuto (65) were below.
The Phillies fired hitting coach Kevin Long and plan playing-time changes that include Harper at first base and an expectation that Schwarber can handle first base at least 30 games to support Harper’s DH role.
On pitching, Dombrowski said the rotation is strong but starting depth and bullpen stability are offseason priorities, including addressing the bullpen after Keller and Kilian were lost to injuries.