Lineup Changes: Here’s how the Phillies can win the World Series in 2025

In case you didn’t know, the Philadelphia Phillies entered 2024 with sky-high expectations after coming agonizingly close to glory in back-to-back seasons.

First, they reached Game 6 of the 2022 World Series before losing to the Astros. Then, they made it to Game 7 of the 2023 NLCS only to fall to the Arizona Diamondbacks in back-to-back games at Citizens Bank Park.

Despite the heartbreak, John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski ran it back, confident that their core roster was good enough to win it all.

At the time, it made sense.

Bringing back most of the squad seemed like a no-brainer, right? The decision seemed to work. When the Phillies cruised to a 45-19 record after beating the Mets in London on June 8, putting them on pace for 114 wins, it looked like the strategy was working to perfection.

But baseball is a long season, and things went downhill from there. Including the NLDS, the Phillies finished the year 51-51—pretty much .500 ball after a scorching start.

By the time they faced the Mets in the NLDS, the offense had clearly stalled. While no one wanted to admit it, the same problems with the lineup that we all witnessed in October 2023 and throughout the regular season were on full display against the New York Mets.

The Phillies scored just 12 runs in four games, hit a miserable .186 with a .597 OPS, and struck out 38 times. Again, there were concerns about the lineup heading into the season, especially after how it disappeared in the final stretch of the 2023 NLCS, and those fears became a reality.

So, where do the Phillies go from here?

The championship window is still open, but it’s hard to imagine they can head into 2025 with the same lineup and expect different results leaving us with some pretty straightforward changes that could be made to refresh the roster.

Who’s Coming Back?

Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, JT Realmuto, Bryson Stott, and Alec Bohm are likely to return. This is the core. While Bohm has struggled at times and Bryson Stott had a bad year, they will likely be considered as a part of the future. While I disagree on both, I’ll explain more below.

Who’s Out?

Some of the current pieces just don’t fit anymore. Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott have shown they struggle against left-handed pitching, and in today’s game, you need guys who can hit no matter the matchup.

The same can be said for Austin Hays, who can’t hit righties. It’s time to move on from these guys. Bryson Stott should get the benefit of the doubt given his relationship with Bryce Harper and the fact that he has shown serious signs of improvement over the past three years. Brandon Marsh shouldn’t receive the same luxury.

Garrett Stubbs? The backup catcher role is too important, and with JT Realmuto showing signs of wear, it’s time to consider Rafael Marchan as the next man up to handle those duties. As for Johan Rojas, while his glove is outstanding, he hasn’t proven himself at the plate, and that can’t be ignored after a full season in the big leagues.

Coaching Changes?

Hitting coach Kevin Long will likely be the fall guy for the offense’s inconsistency. The approach at the plate has been a serious issue, and someone’s going to have to take the blame. Rightfully or not, that could be Long’s job.

Bold Trades and Signings

If the Phillies are serious about winning now, it’s time to think big. I would trade Alec Bohm in a package deal to St. Louis for Nolan Arenado. Arenado’s bat and glove would be a massive upgrade over Alec Bohm. Period.

Next, bring in Mike Trout to anchor center field while top prospect Justin Crawford develops behind him. Then, make a splash by signing Juan Soto to play left field. I know that’s wishful thinking but I honestly believe that John Middleton might be crazy enough to get it done.

As mentioned, Bryson Stott can stay, but there should be an eye on Aidan Miller’s development as his potential replacement in the infield.

On the pitching side, I’d sign Garrett Crochet, with Andrew Painter waiting in the wings to become a major piece of the rotation.

Revamping the Bullpen

The bullpen needs reinforcements. Carlos Estevez and Jeff Hoffman are both free agents, and I’d bring back Hoffman. Orion Kerkering has the potential to be the team’s closer, but if the Phillies want to go the free-agent route, guys like Clay Holmes (Yankees) or Ryan Pressly (Astros) would be great additions.

At the end of the day, the Phillies are going to shake things up with the lineup and ideally, they’ll retool their approach in the bullpen to ensure that they have standard roles rather than the “committee approach” that has failed them for the past three seasons.

This baseball team has come too close to settle for more of the same. Big moves are needed, and with the right tweaks, this team could be primed for another run at the title.

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