The Phillies are getting up there. Not quite "get-off-my-lawn" old, but just old enough that their clubhouse might start receiving AARP mailers—and honestly? They’re fine with it. When you're chasing a World Series, you want veterans who’ve seen it all and won't flinch in the big moments. The problem? Father Time is always lurking, and the window for this team? It’s starting to creak.
After last year’s NLDS collapse in New York—against their rivals, no less—it looked like John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski might overhaul the roster. A fresh start for 2025. Instead, they hit the refresh button—making tweaks here and there, not a full-scale revolution. It’s subtle, but it’s still a gamble.
Sure, there are bright spots on the horizon. Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford—these are names that could make an impact down the line. But the Phillies’ track record with homegrown talent? Let’s just say it's not the stuff of legends. If you’re expecting a cavalry of young stars to come charging to the rescue, you might want to lower those expectations.
As the calendar flips to 2025, the window is still open—but it’s not as wide as it once was. And the clock? It’s ticking.
So yeah, this team is built to win now. But as the saying goes: "now" doesn’t last forever.
With Opening Day on the horizon, here are three key questions that could decide whether this window closes with a bang—or just another what-if.
1. Which Bryson Stott shows up in 2025?
After a breakthrough 2023, Stott was supposed to be a force in 2024. Instead, his production cratered. Sure, he ran more. Walked more. But the power? The key stats? They vanished.
A nerve issue in his elbow didn’t help matters. He says it was manageable, but when your swing’s compromised, you pivot. Stott focused on his glove and his legs, but it wasn’t enough to fill the void in the lineup.
Now healthy, Stott’s mission is clear: get back to his 2023 form. And the Phillies have no illusions about what they need from him.
"Bryson Stott should be an on-base guy. We're not expecting 20 home runs," Dave Dombrowski told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber. "He’s got a good eye, can work the count, and we want him to settle into that role."
With the power-packed lineup around him, Stott’s job is simple: get on base. If he does, the rest of the offense will do the heavy lifting.
2. Which Alec Bohm will show up in 2025?
Bohm spent the offseason dodging trade rumors. The Phillies weren’t actively shopping him, but after another early playoff exit, his name popped up in discussions. No trade happened, so here he is: back for 2025, and that’s good news for the Phillies.
Bohm’s been a run-scoring machine, driving in 97 in back-to-back seasons, and his .312 career average with runners in scoring position is invaluable. But 2024 was a tale of two halves. The first half? Potential All-Star numbers: .295/.348/.482, 33 doubles, 11 homers, 70 RBIs. The second half? Yikes: .251/.299/.382 with just four homers and 27 RBIs. Plus, the benching in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Mets? It wasn’t just his numbers—his body language screamed frustration. In high-pressure moments, that can be a liability.
So, the big question: Can Bohm find his first-half consistency again? If the Phillies are going deep into October, they’ll need Bohm to produce at his peak, without the second-half slump. They can’t afford another year of inconsistency from him.
3. What’s the plan for J.T. Realmuto?
At 33, Realmuto can’t catch 130 games anymore. He’s been a workhorse in the past, but last season, a meniscus surgery in June forced him to 99 starts—and you have to wonder if that’s the new norm.
Rob Thomson’s already hinted: expect Realmuto to get more time off his feet this season. He’ll DH, and maybe even see some time at first base to keep his bat in the lineup while protecting his knees.
With his contract expiring at the end of 2025, Realmuto knows the clock is ticking. "We’re all aware of Father Time," he told reporters in Clearwater last month. "We know we don’t have unlimited time together to get the job done. Every year that passes, we want to win the World Series. The longer it takes, the less chance we have to get it done. There’s certainly a little bit of urgency."
For the Phillies to make that championship push, Realmuto needs to stay healthy and remain as productive as ever—when it matters most.
At 33, Realmuto can’t catch 130 games anymore. He’s been a workhorse in the past, but last season, a meniscus surgery in June forced him to 99 starts—and you have to wonder if that’s the new norm.
Rob Thomson’s already hinted: expect Realmuto to get more time off his feet this season. He’ll DH, and maybe even see some time at first base to keep his bat in the lineup while protecting his knees.
With his contract expiring at the end of 2025, Realmuto knows the clock is ticking. "We’re all aware of Father Time," he told reporters in Clearwater last month. "We know we don’t have unlimited time together to get the job done. Every year that passes, we want to win the World Series. The longer it takes, the less chance we have to get it done. There’s certainly a little bit of urgency."
For the Phillies to make that championship push, Realmuto needs to stay healthy and remain as productive as ever—when it matters most.
