Apr 28, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado (right) and catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) celebrate on the field after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports Orlando Ramirez
The Phillies haven't stood pat this offseason, as they've acquired Jesús Luzardo, Max Kepler, Jordan Romano and Joe Ross. In terms of players with name value, they've actually been one of the more active teams this winter.
However, if you entered the offseason expecting that the Phillies would make a major signing of a star like Juan Soto or trade for Garrett Crochet, there hasn't been that type of earth-shattering move.
Again, the Phillies have hardly been inactive this offseason. But it's clear that part of the strategy from president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is banking on some internal improvements in 2025.
Here's a look at the five returning players that the Phillies need — and could realistically expect — some level of improvement from.
Over the first two years of his 11-year/$300 million contract, Turner has had some really impressive stretches. He's also underwhelmed at times. The jury is still out on how his signing will ultimately be viewed.
While Turner and the Phillies both believe better results are coming defensively at shortstop, it's fair to have some skepticism given that Turner has 40 errors and -26 defensive runs saved in two seasons since putting on red pinstripes.
However, there still should be some meat on the bone offensively when you consider the numbers Turner posted in the two seasons prior to free agency as opposed to his first couple with the Phillies.
2021-2022 (1,354 plate appearances): .312 batting average, .858 OPS, 241 strikeouts, 13.5 WAR (per FanGraphs)
2023-2024 (1,230 plate appearances): .279 batting average, .791 OPS, 248 strikeouts, 8.1 WAR
So Turner struck out more the last two seasons, despite playing in less games. His batting average has dipped 33 points. Maybe he'll never be quite as electric as he was in his late-20s, but if he can be a top-of-the-order player who utilizes his speed to set the Phillies up for success, that's probably bigger than any external addition they could have made outside of Soto.
During the MLB Winter Meetings, Dombrowski told Jim Salisbury of PHLY that Stott had dealt with elbow soreness that affected him for much of the 2024 campaign.
Why Stott never went on the injured list or was lowered to the bottom of the lineup if he was dealing with this injury is unclear, but it does help to explain why he hit .245 with a .671 OPS a year after hitting .280 with a .747 OPS and looking on the cusp of a breakout.
Whatever the reason, the Phillies need a better version of Stott at the plate this upcoming season. He stole 32 bases in 2024, while posting seven defensive runs saved at second base. If he hits close to .300, he's going to be an All-Star candidate.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said in his year-end press conference that the organization would consider whether Kyle Schwarber continuing to hit leadoff was the best arrangement for the team. If the Phillies want to move Schwarber to the middle of the order, Stott would be one internal candidate to lead off. That is, if he's hitting better than he did in 2024.
It doesn't seem the Phillies will bring back Jeff Hoffman. If Alvarado's $9 million salary wasn't on the books for 2025, the Phillies might have had the flexibility to do so, or to sign another veteran arm. Instead, they'll be left to bank on a rebound from Alvarado in 2025.
Alvarado was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball in 2023, but had two separate injured list stints with left elbow inflammation. He stayed healthy in 2024, but wasn't nearly as effective.
2023: 1.74 ERA, 2.41 FIP, 13.9 SO/9 over 42 games
2024: 4.09 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 9.2 SO/9 over 66 games
Alvarado, as only he could, acknowledged during Spring Training that he felt like he was carrying some extra weight:
"bro I feel like a fat boy. I'm fucking fat." -Jose Alvarado pic.twitter.com/w15DS5C7fw
It will be interesting to see if Alvarado, now 30, comes into camp a little thinner this year as he tries to rebound for a bullpen that definitely needs a better performance from him in 2025.
4. Johan Rojas
Rojas is a tremendous defender in center field. His instincts running the bases are still being refined, but there's little doubt that when he's on base, Rojas is a threat because of his speed. His biggest issue remains actually getting on base.
Across the first 527 plate appearances of his MLB career, Rojas has just a .298 on-base percentage. It's particularly problematic that he's only walked 18 times. He also struggled to get bunts down consistently in 2024, despite the Phillies having him lay down one bunt per game during every Grapefruit League game. Whether it's making contact at a higher clip, drawing more walks, bunting for hits or some combination, Rojas is going to need to find a way to get on base more consistently to be even a semi-regular in the lineup moving forward.
Johan Rojas can bunt now 👀
— Phillies Tailgate (@philstailgate.bsky.social) November 26, 2024 at 10:34 PM
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In 23 games in the Dominican Winter League, Rojas has hit .307 with 10 walks and 18 stolen bases. Perhaps the 24-year-old can take a step forward at the plate in 2025. If not, he will find himself the odd-man-out quite a bit with Brandon Marsh in center field, Nick Castellanos in right field and Max Kepler in left field.
Realmuto will turn 34 in March. Expecting someone who has caught more than 9,794 2/3 innings in his career to still be at the height of his powers probably isn't realistic.
With that said, Thomson — while acknowledging he needed to do "some convincing" with the three-time All-Star — seemed to indicate back in October that the Phillies believed Realmuto could benefit from a lessened workload in 2025. That's probably true, but will require either Rafael Marchán or Garrett Stubbs to perform in the game or two per week that Realmuto isn't in the starting lineup.
Over the past two seasons, Realmuto has hit .258 with a .757 OPS. Over his first four seasons with the Phillies, he hit .271 with an .811 OPS. If Realmuto can find a level in between those two in 2025, it would be an excellent development for the Phillies.
Perhaps more important is for Realmuto — a two-time Gold Glove Award winner — to rebound behind the plate a bit. Realmuto had right knee surgery in mid-June, which certainly affected his output behind the dish. Still, over the past two seasons, Realmuto has -4 defensive runs saved and a -19.7 framing grade. In the two seasons prior to that, Realmuto had 11 defensive runs saved and a 9.7 framing grade. Even at this stage of his career, Realmuto is a better defender than he's shown the last two years.
It's a contract year for Realmuto, so how he performs this year will likely determine what the Phillies do moving forward at the catcher position. The guess here is 2025 isn't going to be Realmuto's last year with the Phillies.
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