With plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Phillies going into the 2025–26 offseason, Dave Dombrowski has several possible paths to consider. One of them is pursuing top star, who was recently non-tendered by the Texas Rangers.
García hasn’t resembled his peak form in recent years. Once one of baseball’s top postseason performers—crushing eight homers with a 1.108 OPS during Texas’ 2023 title run—he looked like a rising star. A two-time All-Star, ALCS MVP, and Gold Glove recipient, he still brings an intriguing résumé.
But his production has dipped sharply, posting a 93 OPS+ in 2025 and 98 OPS+ in 2024. Despite the decline, Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation thinks he could still be a worthwhile buy-low target.
Why García fits for Philadelphia
Lugardo notes that García’s lack of production since 2023 explains why Texas moved on. He’s posted just a .675 OPS over the past two seasons and his power numbers have dropped. Still, he’s a right-handed bat with All-Star pedigree and could be a low-risk addition.
His 2023 season—39 homers, an .836 OPS, and a dominant postseason run—may be in the past, but he still hits the ball hard and has a strong arm. Lugardo suggests that if the Phillies could land him on a one-year deal, it might be worth seeing whether he can recapture some of that previous form as their starting right fielder.
García likely won’t receive a major offer in free agency, especially as he’s now 32 and will turn 33 before next season. Still, if Philadelphia believes there’s something left in his bat, they could do much worse.