The Philadelphia Phillies ended their season in excruciating fashion Thursday night in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their offense failed to produce, and Orion Kerkering’s errant throw home in the 11th scored the game-winning run.
Manager Rob Thomson has been under fire for his bullpen decisions and questionable call to bunt Bryson Stott in the bottom of the ninth inning with no outs and Nick Castellanos on second in Game 2. The Phillies also have free agents in Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suarez they must decide on.
With the Phillies falling short in October for the fourth straight season, here are eight players and coaches that shouldn’t be back in 2026.
Kyle Schwarber
It may seem counterintuitive that the Phillies shouldn’t bring back a player who hit 56 home runs in 2025 and will be an MVP finalist, but with multiple postseason failures, it’s time to move on from Schwarber.
The slugger, who will turn 33 before the 2026 season, will command a four- to five-year contract worth about $30 million annually. That money could be used for free agents like Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette, who are both younger and not relegated to just designated hitter duties.
Since the Phillies won’t be able to move the contracts of Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, running the same trio back that went 3-for-35 with 15 strikeouts in the Phillies’ three NLDS losses to the Dodgers makes no sense. It will be hard to part with Schwarber, but it’s best for the team’s future.
J.T. Realmuto
Another free agent who shouldn’t be back is Realmuto. The three-time All-Star catcher is regarded as one of the best backstops in the game, but he will be 35 before the 2026 season and will still want a multiyear contract.
He was below average offensively in 2025 with just 12 home runs and a 91 OPS+. Instead of bringing back an aging Realmuto, the Phillies should look to the trade market for a younger replacement. The Baltimore Orioles could make Adley Rutschman available.
Brandon Marsh
The Phillies traded for Brandon Marsh at the 2022 trade deadline believing he would be their center fielder of the future. That never materialized.
The left-handed hitting Marsh has abysmal numbers against southpaws — a career .581 OPS and eight home runs in 474 plate appearances — and provides average defense in center field at best. With outfield prospect Justin Crawford waiting in the wings, the Phillies should move on from Marsh and use him in a trade for either a catcher or bullpen help.
Alec Bohm
The Phillies looked to trade third baseman Alec Bohm last offseason, so it shouldn’t be surprising if they’re more aggressive this time around.
The 2024 All-Star is who he is at this point: a streaky player who shows flashes but doesn’t hit for consistent power. The Phillies have prospect Aidan Miller who can take over for Bohm at third, or they could go the free-agent route to upgrade at the hot corner.
Nick Castellanos
It’s highly unlikely Castellanos will be wearing a Phillies jersey in 2026 despite having one year left on his five-year, $100 million contract. He had his moments and even made the All-Star team in 2023, but he never came close to living up to his deal.
During his four seasons in Philadelphia, Castellanos has produced a 1.1 bWAR, .732 OPS and 100 OPS+. He lost his everyday starting role in the second half of 2025 as the team went the platoon route after acquiring Harrison Bader at the trade deadline. He finished the year with a minus-1.0 bWAR, .694 OPS and 88 OPS+.
Castellanos also had a dust-up with Thomson during the season after getting replaced defensively late in a game, causing him to be benched the next day. The Phillies will try to find a trade partner and pay down his contract, but if not, it wouldn’t be surprising if he gets released.
Jose Alvarado
The Phillies can’t trust Jose Alvarado anymore. Alvarado was the team’s best reliever before the Jhoan Duran trade, but while the bullpen was struggling in the first couple of months of the season, the lefty was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Because of that, he was prohibited from pitching in the playoffs, where he could’ve played a huge role. The Phillies hold a $9 million club option on Alvarado, and it’s hard to imagine they will pick it up.
Orion Kerkering
It’s not Kerkering’s fault the Phillies lost Game 4 to the Dodgers, ending their season. That blame lies on the abysmal offense.
But unfortunately, Kerkering will forever be remembered for panicking in the moment and sailing his throw past Realmuto at home when he easily could’ve thrown to first to get Andy Pages out. On top of that, the young right-hander struggled in 2025, allowing 14 of 32 inherited runners to score during the regular season.
For his sake, Kerkering is going to need a change of scenery.
Rob Thomson
Since taking over for Joe Girardi after he was fired in the middle of the 2022 season, Thomson has led the Phillies to the playoffs every year, including the World Series.
Under Thomson, the Phillies went from 87 wins in 2022 to 90 in 2023, and then back-to-back National League East titles in 2024 and 2025 with 95 and 96 wins. However, they have never accomplished their goal of winning a championship and have gone backward every October since their 2022 World Series appearance.
The Phillies are 3-10 in their last 13 playoff games, flaming out in the NLDS in consecutive seasons. They’re not a fundamentally sound team, and their offense has disappeared in the playoffs since 2023.
Something needs to change, and that starts with Thomson. The Phillies need a new voice to lead them.
