The Philadelphia Phillies have plenty of intriguing narratives to follow in the new year, starting with whether their top free agent will re-sign.
As the calendar flips to a new year, there are plenty of new narratives to follow surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies. Here are the top Phillies storylines to follow during 2026.
Will J.T. Realmuto Be Back In Philadelphia?
One offseason storyline that has dragged on longer than anyone anticipated is whether free agent J.T. Realmuto will re-sign with the Phillies. The year 2026 has started, and the veteran catcher remains on the open market.
Realmuto is coming off his worst season offensively in years, but is still a solid defensive backstop, and knows this Phillies pitching staff better than anyone.
It will be interesting to see where Realmuto ultimately ends up playing next season. Plus, if it’s not with the Phillies, who will be Philadelphia’s Opening Day catcher?
Will Bryce Harper Have An ‘Elite’ Season?
Dave Dombrowski made a comment earlier this offseason that Bryce Harper is a quality player but did not have an “elite season” in 2025. Last season, Harper slashed .261/.357/.487 with a .844 OPS while ranking above average in nearly every advanced metric
“Elite” is such a subjective title, and whether Harper met that criterion or not, that didn’t stop the star from wearing a “not elite” shirt in an offseason workout video. Clearly, Harper has taken the comments to heart and is looking to prove to the Phillies president wrong in 2026.
What Type Of Impact Will The Prospects Have?
The Phillies seem hard-set on giving their young core some run time in 2026.
Justin Crawford has a very good chance at being Philadelphia’s Opening Day center fielder, and Andrew Painter could end up in the Phillies' rotation at some point during the season. It’s still unclear what the plan is for Aidan Miller, but MLB Pipeline has his ETA set for this year.
The question remains: how much impact will this trio of top prospects have? Young players have emerged and achieved immediate success at the major league level, while others take time to adjust.
It’ll be worth it to keep an eye on and follow Philadelphia’s young core throughout the year.
Category: General Sports
