Could the Phillies 'Run It Back' Again in 2025?

After blowing series leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in the 2023 NLCS to the Arizona Diamondbacks, it made sense for the Phillies to bring back basically the same team in 2024 to give them a shot at retribution. 

And while the first half of the season was historic, the second half was mediocre and the playoff ouster in the division series to the rival New York Mets was calamitous. 

Changes needed to be made. They couldn't run it back again, especially with the core of the team aging another year into their thirties. 

Except... it sounds like that's the plan, for now, at least. 

In his press availability to announce the signing of Max Kepler to a one-year contract, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski basically said the Phillies are happy with their team, with the exception of maybe a swingman who could both start and relieve. 

"I think we're as good (as last season)," Dombrowski said. "I do think that we have a very solid club. ... "When you look at the lineup and you start looking at the hitting at the bottom part of your lineup ... I think we are nine deep at this point. We have offensive production out of nine guys. We have four premium starting pitchers. We like our bullpen on the back side with those four guys."

To this point, the additions the Phillies have made were a couple of veteran guys on one-year contracts with something to prove after injury-plagued seasons. 

The hope is Jrdan Romano can replace Estevez at closer and that Orion Kerkering can move into that setup role that Made Jeff Hoffman an All-Star last season. 

Meanwhile, Kepler is expected to be the primary leftfielder in 2025 with Marsh as the primary guy in centerfield. Neither Kepler nor Marsh hit lefties very well, but Dombrowski is reluctant to say there will be two platoons in the outfield. 

@PhilsTailgate @Philly__Nation @2008Philz @Phillies @PhilliesNation There is no way the Phillies are allowing Max Kepler to wear 26 right? I know the organization is a little weird with retiring numbers and the “Has to be in the HOF” rule but this is crazy. @JackFritzWIP pic.twitter.com/BBcBKHfq4n

— Mike Tomasco (@MTomasco6) December 20, 2024

"If we went into spring training with the club that we have right now, we'd feel very comfortable in that regard," Dombrowski said.

"Kepler, (Brandon) Marsh, (Nick) Castellanos. I think that gives us a solid outfield in addition to the other players we have.  (Johan) Rojas, who's having a tremendous winter, we look at him and he keeps growing. We know what kind of defensive capabilities and a baserunner he is. He's hitting much better now. I realize it's wintertime, but if you start going around the club, it's hard to platoon everywhere."

Dombrowski then did some math.

"(We're) in a spot where you have the two catchers, you have four infielders, and you have (Edmundo) Sosa as a backup. (Kyle) Schwarber makes (eight), Castellanos (nine), Marsh (10), Kepler (11). Let's just say Rojas is (12). So, it's hard to platoon strictly in center and left. It'll depend on who the extra infielder is. We like guys on our roster - people like (Kody) Clemens. People like Buddy Kennedy and Wes Wilson too. We think all three of them have the capabilities to play at the Big League level this year. "

The Phillies president added that in past years, they tried to add to the bench with a veteran free agent signing - neither of which worked out in Josh Harrison and Whit Merrifeld, so this year, they are going to promote from within.

"We talked internally about it and we're going to give these guys an opportunity to do that. For example, against left-handed pitching we think Wes Wilson can hit it very well."

So that's it, eh? Romano and Kepler, and maybe another No. 5 starter type.

People mad at the phillies for not signing huge free agents. They already had a big payroll and could only add ancillary pieces. They need to make trades, but everyone has said no to Bohm and they dont want to give up painter or miller. This outcome was to be expected imo.

— Philly Sports BYU (@PhillySportsBYU) December 20, 2024

The Phillies seem reluctant to surpass that next tax penalty tier if they surpass the $301 million in salary, although Dombroski threw some cold water on that notion. 

"I don't want to say it's a tight payroll because I don't think I've ever gone to John on anything and have him say, 'No, don't do something.' But you still try to keep things in perspective. ... Everybody we sign is a major penalty at this point, so you are cognizant of that."

Being cognizant of that Dombrowski took it a step further and basically squashed any other rumor the Phillies have been tied to all off season as far as free agent hitters. 

"I have to be a little careful talking about free agency," he said. "I have to because of the rules. But I would be surprised if we got into impactful free agent type of signings from an offensive perspective."

That was a carefully worded answer, which means for the right pitcher, especially in the bullpen...

"I think you are open-minded," he said. "But we do have four guys that we feel comfortable pitching at the back end with (Matt) Strahm, (Jose) Alvarado, Kerkering and now Romano. ...

"There's a lot of relievers out there right now, so we're in a position (where we can keep) an open eye on a number of relievers out there, but we're not focusing on a big name-type of guy right now."

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