The Philadelphia Phillies have been very active in the offseason. They secured 2025 National League MVP runner-up Kyle Schwarber with a five-year, $150 million deal, signed former Texas Rangers outfielder Adris Garcia for one year at $10 million, and added several relief pitchers including Brad Keller on a two-year, $22 million contract. Despite recent postseason appearances, including a World Series run and Division Series exits, the team continues to strengthen their roster.
Here are three free agents the Phillies should still pursue:
Pierce Johnson: Over his eight-year MLB career, Johnson has played for five teams. In 2025, he posted a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts over 59 innings. After joining the Atlanta Braves in 2023, he showed significant improvement, delivering a 3.36 ERA with a strong postseason showing including a 1.50 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in relief innings. Adding Johnson would bolster the Phillies’ bullpen, which ranked in the lower third of MLB in ERA, WHIP, and opponent batting average last season. Alongside pitchers like Joao Duran and Jose Alvarado, Johnson could help transform the bullpen into a major strength.
JT Realmuto: Realmuto, a three-time Silver Slugger and two-time Gold Glove winner, is an essential part of the Phillies’ lineup and defense despite a down year offensively. In 2025, he had a .257/.315/.384 slash line, 12 homers, and 52 RBIs. He excelled in the 2025 Division Series but was sidelined for a year due to injury. As one of the best all-around catchers, Realmuto’s return would maintain pitching staff stability and leadership behind the plate. Bringing him back alongside Schwarber remains a priority.
Framber Valdez: Valdez, a two-time All-Star known for his durability and effectiveness, posted a 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 187 strikeouts in 2025 over 192 innings. With a career 3.36 ERA, he’s been a cornerstone for the Houston Astros and an ace-level pitcher who uses a variety of pitches to get through innings. Given that Phillies’ lefty Ranger Suarez has faced injuries and that key starters Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola are recovering or coming off poor seasons, Valdez represents a safer long-term option to keep the rotation strong. His addition would help maintain Philadelphia’s identity as a team built around elite starting pitching.
Fan Take: The Phillies’ aggressive pursuit of these key players shows their commitment to remaining championship contenders, particularly by addressing bullpen and starting rotation vulnerabilities. For baseball fans, this means a more competitive MLB landscape with Philadelphia poised to challenge for titles, making upcoming seasons exciting to watch.
