Phillies Eliminated by Braves, Offseason Questions Mount — SkimNews
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- Atlanta Braves eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-2 win in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series, marking Philadelphia's third straight postseason without winning a series since capturing the 2022 NL pennant.
- Dave Dombrowski fired manager Rob Thomson in late April after a 9-19 start, and Don Mattingly went 79-55 as interim manager, though Dombrowski has yet to commit to Mattingly permanently.
- Alex Cora is expected to be Dombrowski's top managerial target after passing on the Phillies earlier in 2026, with Albert Pujols, Rocco Baldelli, Brandon Hyde, and Joe Espada also possible candidates.
- Cristopher Sánchez led all MLB pitchers in WAR this season and is likely an NL Cy Young finalist, anchoring a Phillies rotation that ranked 7th in ERA and 3rd in FIP during the regular season.
- Phillies position players averaged 30.1 years old, second-oldest in MLB behind the Dodgers, with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner all turning 34 in 2027 and J.T. Realmuto entering his age-36 campaign.
- Phillies offense ranked 22nd in OPS and 19th in runs scored in 2026, though their 10th-ranked xwOBA offers some cause for optimism going forward.
- Alec Bohm and Luis Arraez head to free agency along with expiring contracts of Nick Castellanos, Taijuan Walker, and Adolis García, freeing payroll that could target a corner outfielder like Seiya Suzuki or Randy Arozarena.
Why it matters: Five of the Phillies' starting nine — Harper, Schwarber, Turner, and Realmuto — face significant decline years while the Mets, Nationals, and Marlins close in behind them. With Bohm and Arraez headed for free agency, Philadelphia must rely on top prospect Aidan Miller's first-half arrival and a manager upgrade to extend relevance beyond 2027.
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