The Philadelphia Phillies are heading toward the 2025 MLB season with their eyes set on building upon their successful performance from 2024. With key roster adjustments and one of the deep starting rotations in baseball, fans are holding onto hope for another thrilling ride.
After clinching the NL East title for the first time since 2011, the Phillies finished the 2024 season with a remarkable 95 wins. Despite this success, they faced disappointment when they were eliminated by the New York Mets in the NLDS, prompting discussions on how to improve for the upcoming season.
Among their efforts to strengthen the roster, the Phillies made headlines by acquiring left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins on December 22, 2024. Luzardo traded from Miami for prospects Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd, joins a formidable starting rotation along with right-handers Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, and left-handers Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez. This injection of talent enhances Philadelphia's rotation, which ESPN recently ranked as the second best in Major League Baseball.
According to ESPN, Luzardo's addition replaces what was previously a rotating crew of fifth starters, enhancing the overall depth of the Phillies’ pitching unit. This depth is highlighted by the potential debut of rookie Andrew Painter, who showed impressive performance with 18 strikeouts over 15.2 innings at the Arizona Fall League, posting a 2.30 ERA across six starts. Alongside them, the team also signed pitcher Joe Ross and is primed for what could be the league's most competitive pitching corps this season.
Despite their buzzworthy roster, early projections from FanGraphs indicate the Phillies face challenges as they are only expected to finish the 2025 season with approximately 87 wins. The Atlanta Braves, last year's traditional powerhouse, are projected to reclaim their status at the top of the division, especially with stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider returning from injuries. The Mets have aggressively bolstered their lineup and are expected to be formidable contenders as well.
Koening's insights also point to the Braves spending off-season buzzing about the tight race among top competitors. The lack of major acquisitions by the Phillies could hinder their performance. While the Mets landed superstar outfielder Juan Soto, the Phillies seem to have opted for supporting talents, including Luzardo, rather than top-tier signing splashes.
Philadelphia's president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, emphasized the team's pursuit of balance and financial prudence, indicating they will be cautious about significant free-agent signings due to the looming $300 million payroll threshold. "From an ownership perspective, if I’ve ever asked for something, John [Middleton] has been supportive, but you need to keep things in perspective," Dombrowski stated, acknowledging the financial risks with any player signings.
On the offensive side, the team is still evaluating its 2025 lineup. Against right-handed pitchers, the Phillies are expected to feature alignment including Kyle Schwarber as the designated hitter, followed by Trea Turner at shortstop, and slugger Bryce Harper at first base. Meanwhile, Max Kepler is set to add versatility to the outfield. This balance is expected to make it challenging for opposing teams, especially with the left-handed hitters deepening their lineup.
Yet facing left-handed pitching still poses difficulties. Last season, the club struggled against lefties, and with the lineup predominantly right-handed, they may need to improve their game against left-handers. This becomes pivotal when preparing for high-stakes matchups as the season progresses.
Prospects play significant roles this season, most noteworthy being Andrew Painter and Orion Kerkering. Dombrowski is depending on Kerkering to be part of the back-end bullpen power, alongside Romano, as important innings arise.
Looking back at previous seasons, it’s clear the Phillies have shown resilience capable of surprising outcomes. They’ve managed to increase their win total each year for the past seven seasons, aside from the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Many fans believe this progression indicates they're well-positioned for future success, even amid tough competition.
Expectations are running high as pitchers report for spring training on February 12. Lead pitching coaches will guide training sessions, setting the stage for what must be a successful 2025 campaign. Time and strategy will determine if the Phillies can replicate their championship aspirations, and roster-configurations may continue to shift amid seasons of uncertainty.
The season's opening games loom closely, and fans will eagerly await how Philadelphia juggles its talented roster and aspiring prospects. Through ups and downs, the resilience of the Phillies is on trial once again.