The Philadelphia Phillies are entering an offseason filled with major roster decisions following yet another frustrating playoff disappointment.
Despite back-to-back National League East titles proving their regular-season strength, the Phillies have fallen short of their World Series goals for the second straight year — and significant changes appear to be on the horizon.
At the top of the list is determining the futures of designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and catcher J.T. Realmuto. Both are set to hit free agency, and depending on how negotiations unfold, Philadelphia could either bring back two of its cornerstone players or begin searching for replacements.
One move that seems all but certain, however, is the promotion of top prospect Justin Crawford to the major league roster. According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, team president Dave Dombrowski has “all but decided” that Crawford will be part of the Phillies’ Opening Day lineup. That decision also signals the likely end of Nick Castellanos’ tenure in Philadelphia, as the club is “actively shopping” the veteran slugger during the general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas.
If the Phillies are unable to find a trade partner for Castellanos, multiple reports suggest they may opt to release him rather than carry his contract into next season.
As for Crawford’s role, the team is still deciding where he fits best defensively. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber reports that the Phillies have discussed whether Crawford should patrol center field or shift to a corner spot — a decision that will depend heavily on how the rest of the outfield shapes up this winter.
With Crawford set to join the big-league roster and Castellanos likely on his way out, the Phillies are still expected to pursue at least one more outfielder this offseason. How the outfield ultimately takes shape will depend on what options emerge in free agency and on the trade market.
If the Phillies can land a true center fielder, Crawford could shift to a corner spot. But if they find a suitable right-field replacement for Castellanos, the rookie may take over in center and learn on the fly.
“Are we better off signing someone to play a corner spot?” team president Dave Dombrowski said, per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. “Are we better off going after a center fielder? What gives us the best team? We feel comfortable with (Crawford) in either role.”