Phillies reportedly ‘lurking’ in Cody Bellinger’s free agent market

The Phillies have been connected to pretty much every outfielder on the planet this offseason, but a new name resurfacing in the rumor mill should perk up some ears. According to Jon Heyman, the Phillies are officially “lurking” in the Cody Bellinger sweepstakes.

The Phillies are reportedly not fully in and not fully out. Seems like a ridiculous report when you actually type it out but apparently, they are just lingering in the shadows like Dave Dombrowski is waiting for the right moment to jump out and steal the Yankees’ lunch money.

Honestly, it makes perfect sense.

The front office has made one thing extremely clear. The focus is on fixing the outfield but re-signing Kyle Schwarber sits at the very top of the to-do list.

Until that situation plays out, the Phillies are basically operating with one hand tied behind their back. They know they need outfield help. They know Nick Castellanos is all but gone. They know Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott could be part of trade conversations if something big shakes loose.

So, at least for now, the Phillies are… lurking.

If Ketel Marte is truly available, the Phillies need to burn the farm and ship the golden boy Bryson Stott out West

What Cody Bellinger Would Bring to Philadelphia

Cody Bellinger is coming off a quietly excellent 2025 season with the Yankees, posting an .814 OPS, hitting 29 homers, driving in 98, and playing quality defense at multiple spots. He put up a .272/.334/.480 slash, stayed healthy, and gave New York a level of consistency they desperately needed.

He is 30 years old and still in his athletic prime. And while he is not the MVP he once was, he is still absolutely a difference-maker.

Adding Cody Bellinger to a lineup featuring Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, JT Realmuto, Alec Bohm (or maybe not), and Schwarber (hopefully) would instantly plug one of the biggest holes on the roster.

He also actually catches the baseball, which is a refreshing concept in right field.

The Yankees are still favorites here, and Heyman says Bellinger remains their top priority. The Dodgers and Angels are poking around too. The Phillies sitting in the tall grass waiting for the right moment is… very on-brand.

I remain on the side of hitting the NBP market heavy this offseason but Cody Bellinger wouldn’t be bad either.

The Bigger Issue: Waiting on Schwarber

Here’s where things get complicated. It feels like the Phillies are waiting to see how the Schwarber contract situation shakes out before fully committing to any external splash. It is still early in the offseason, but waiting too long is how you miss on players you actually need.

The Mets are already moving. The Braves are already moving. Other contenders are already moving. Can the Phillies really afford to sit around and wait for Schwarber’s camp to decide when they want to talk numbers?

Phillies continue to remain silent as NL East rivals start making moves

That feels like a recipe for disaster if this drags into late December or early January. You cannot let half the market dry up while waiting for one domino to fall.

If Schwarber comes back and the finances line up, Cody Bellinger becomes a real possibility. Especially if the Phillies move Castellanos and one of their young infielders to clear both money and space.

What Happens Now

Dave Dombrowski is not the “lurk quietly and walk away” type. If Cody Bellinger’s market softens or if the Yankees flinch, the Phillies will absolutely jump in with actual force.

For now, though, this is the first real sign that they are watching closely. With Castellanos likely on his way out and the organization determined to overhaul the outfield, it is only a matter of time before the Phillies stop lurking and start spending aggressively, swinging big, and making everyone else react to them.

Stay tuned. This one is far from over.

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