The Phillies won 95 regular-season games in 2024, the second-most in the MLB. They won their first division title since 2011. None of it mattered in the end. Philadelphia’s playoff run lasted four games. They were bounced by the Mets in the NLDS.

The offense was mostly quiet. The starting pitching was solid. The bullpen imploded. 

The organization doesn’t know what happened exactly. They do know it’s not easy to win. They also know a team has to be playing its best when everything is on the line – something the Phillies didn’t do this October.

“It’s hard to win,” said president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski at his end-of-year press conference on Oct. 15. “There’s a lot of good clubs out there. And so you just have to be the club playing the best at the right time.”

Fielding questions for 45 minutes, Dombrowski touched on multiple subjects. Some of his more important answers revolved around the Phillies’ offseason plans.

Dombrowski didn’t get too specific. He floated out some ideas. Some answers were generalized. Others were more distinct. Changes seem likely.

Dombrowski doesn’t think the Phillies need another star

Dombrowski was asked if there’s a necessity to add a star player this offseason. He doesn’t think so.

“I don’t think we need to add more star players,” Dombrowski said. “We have as many stars as about anybody in baseball. So I don’t think necessarily that you need to add more… would you be open to it? Yes. But I think you have to be careful because sometimes it’s not only the star players, it’s also sometimes the supporting cast [that’s important].”

Dombrowski left the option on the table, “I’m not saying we won’t get [a star player]. But I don’t think it’s a necessity by any means.”

There might only be one star that makes sense for the Phillies to pursue this winter: Juan Soto.

With the pitching staff mostly set, the lineup will probably be tweaked. Soto would help with that.

The Phillies are going to be linked to Soto this winter. It’s the nature of the business. Philadelphia has spent a lot of money in recent offseasons. Managing partner John Middleton has made it very clear he wants to win. The Phillies have become a desirable destination among major league players.

To some degree, the Phillies will be involved in the Soto sweepstakes. It wouldn’t make sense not to be. But adding a star isn’t necessary, per the man running the front office.

“Sometimes you trade good players for good players”

Before discussing the idea of adding another star, Dombrowski was asked about how he could go about upgrading the roster in general.

He didn’t go into much detail. He was never going to. But he gave some general ideas.

Dombrowski said the Phillies will have to be open-minded this winter. They’ll have to talk to some clubs.

“Sometimes you trade good players for good players,” he said.

What that means is unclear. It’s a general answer to a general question. But reading between the lines isn’t hard; improving the 2025 roster could happen by trading a player who has helped the Phillies win in recent years.

Maybe Brandon Marsh will get traded. It could be Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott. Maybe none of them get moved. The front office could put a prospect package together to acquire a hitter that better fits what they want to see out of the lineup moving forward. Dombrowski noted he’d like to see a more consistent all-fields approach from the lineup in 2025.

How Dombrowski will go about making the 2025 Phillies better is uncertain. There’s not a lot he can do. He’ll have to get creative. All options are on the table.

Other tidbits

Dombrowski said the Phillies could upgrade the No. 5 spot in their starting pitching rotation. There will be a competition for that spot in spring training. Taijuan Walker will be part of it.

Top pitching prospect Andrew Painter will be in the fifth-starter mix at some point next year. Painter is coming off Tommy John surgery; the 2025 plan for him is undecided.

The backup catcher will be a spot the Phillies analyze. They’d like J.T. Realmuto to catch less and rest more in 2025. That would mean a bigger role for their No. 2 catcher. The internal options are Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchan. Both come with cons. Stubbs’ offense isn’t good. Marchan, out of minor-league options, is injury-prone. Adding a catcher from the outside could happen.

Dombrowski doesn’t see the club re-signing both Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez. Bringing back just one of the relievers is more likely. Addressing the bullpen will be a priority.

The team’s 2025 outfield is less certain than their infield, per Dombrowski. Remaking the outfield – most likely in the left and center field – will also be prioritized.

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