Rosters need to be reconfigured and holes need to be filled if any top contender wants to think about spending the last month of their season chasing a title. No single signing guarantees a spot in the MLB playoffs, but can get a club one step closer to a complete team.
The Philadelphia Phillies had their worst nightmare play out in the 2024 NLDS with an abundance of zeros on the scoreboard, followed by an implosion of the bullpen. An offense that slugged the seventh-most home runs in 2024 faltered in the face of adversity. Things need to change in 2025, and that includes the position players. More specifically, the production from the corner outfield positions.
The numbers suggest that the Phillies outfield could be in trouble for the upcoming season. According to Eno Sarris of The Athletic, they rank dead last in worst team situation projections next season (subscription required), with their corner outfielders combining for a lackluster 1.1 fWAR.
Here are the top five worst situations among the best 15 teams:
| Team | Position | Projected fWAR |
|---|---|---|
| Phillies | Corner outfielder | 1.1 |
| Red Sox | Catcher | 1.2 |
| Red Sox | Shortstop | 1.4 |
| Cubs | Relief pitcher | 1.4 |
| Royals | Corner outfielder | 1.5 |
The Phillies possess a lineup that can pounce an opposing pitching staff, and when they start clicking, it is a sight to behold. When it’s not clicking, the fundamentals of the game look lost on them. The corner outfield positions have been guilty of this, and the issue continues to hinder the team. Since Bryce Harper moved from right field to first base after his Tommy John surgery, the Phillies have been unable to manufacture the same production in any way. In 2024, the corner outfield spots consisted mostly of Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh and Austin Hays.
The Phillies signed free-agent Max Kepler to be the team’s everyday left fielder, but he has only averaged 118 games for the last four seasons. Castellanos played all 162 games last year but only accumulated 0.4 fWAR over that stretch and has averaged a .744 OPS overall in his Phillies tenure. The defensive side has not been much better with Castellanos ranking as the worst defensive outfielder by defensive runs saved with (-28), per FanGraphs. Schwarber wasn’t much better in the field as his range was severely limited due to lack of speed which now has him as the designated hitter.
The team has major limitations to its game in the outfield and it needs to be addressed. Perhaps another signing of some kind might be possible. They could also trade for an outfielder since the payroll constraints have tightened the belt on the team’s options moving forward. Either way, the team is still a World Series contender, but if the corner outfield doesn’t improve, it could be the team’s inevitable downfall.
