The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a disappointing playoff exit in the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, forcing them to turn their attention to the offseason and identify areas to strengthen.
According to Fansided’s Wynston Wilcox, Philadelphia is expected to prioritize adding pitching talent, as Cristopher Sánchez currently stands as their only top-tier arm. Wilcox confirms that the Phillies have emerged as one of the prime destinations for AL Cy Young and Triple Crown winner Tarik Skubal.
“Philadelphia’s season ended much earlier than anticipated, and now they have to determine how much longer their championship window can stay open. I’m not sure if Skubal alone extends that window, but adding him would certainly give one of the league’s most explosive offenses some stability, with an ace anchoring the rotation,” Wilcox wrote.
Skubal wrapped up the season with a 2.21 ERA, a 13-6 record, 241 strikeouts, and a 0.841 WHIP across 195 innings. Pairing him with Sánchez — who has already proven himself as an All-Star-caliber starter — could give the Phillies one of the most dominant pitching duos in the National League.
However, Philadelphia might prioritize re-signing Kyle Schwarber this offseason, which could allow other contenders to pursue trade talks with the Detroit Tigers for Skubal. Ideally, the Phillies could manage both — retaining Schwarber while acquiring Skubal — and put themselves in position to dominate the NL.