The Philadelphia Phillies remain one of the top teams in baseball and have already taken a major step this offseason by re-signing Kyle Schwarber to a massive contract during the winter meetings. With that move completed, the front office could now turn its attention to adding more pitching depth.
According to Just Baseball’s Ryan Finkelstein, Philadelphia is a potential landing spot for Texas Rangers veteran Tyler Mahle, who he projects to sign a one-year, $18 million deal. Finkelstein believes Mahle’s upside, which he showed during the 2025 season, will draw interest from several teams, but not at the level of a long-term commitment.
“Teams will be interested in Mahle because of the flashes he showed in 2025, but it’s unlikely he’ll land a deal that goes beyond 2026,” Finkelstein wrote. “A strong one-year contract makes sense, giving him the chance to re-enter free agency next offseason.”
The Phillies appear well positioned at the top of their rotation with Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, and hopes for a healthy return from Zack Wheeler. Aaron Nola will be aiming for a rebound season, and Taijuan Walker is still on hand to provide innings.
If Mahle can stay healthy, he would represent a clear upgrade over Walker. That could allow Philadelphia to shift Walker into a swingman role similar to how he was used last season. In that scenario, Mahle would rank among the better fifth starters in the league, offering high-end upside as a right-hander with strong swing-and-miss ability. Adding him could significantly strengthen the Phillies’ pitching staff.