The Philadelphia Phillies face mounting pressure as the rest of the season and playoffs unfold, especially with key figures under the microscope. President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has positioned the team for a postseason push after recent early exits, but the spotlight remains on manager and top star.
According to Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer, managers job could be in jeopardy if the team doesn’t make a deep playoff run. “It will take a deep playoff run to assure the future of manager Rob Thomson, who, after a trip to the World Series, has piloted consecutive playoff collapses,” Hayes wrote. Top star, a pending free agent, might also need a strong postseason to consider re-signing, regardless of the money offered.
Schwarber continues to boost his market value with strong performances, making it less likely the Phillies will get a team-friendly deal. Still, a poor playoff showing wouldn’t help his own negotiating power either.
Thomson leading the team to the playoffs for a third straight year is an achievement, but it’s something Dombrowski expects. The front office may consider changes to shake things up if the Phillies fall short again.
Hayes noted that the postseason outcome could influence the futures of not only Thomson and Schwarber, but also other players like Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, and members of the pitching staff. However, losing Thomson or Schwarber would likely have the biggest impact if things unravel.