Phillies 2026 News and Discussion

[andyb]

It is not like we have room in the OF anyway. We have 2 platoons and Bryce so 5 OF already and an occupied DH spot.

September additional hitter probably needs to play defense too as our revised lineup is a recipe for more late inning defensive subs.

[allentown]

Here is a (I think reasonable) thought which nobody other than perhaps andb is likely to approve: the Phillies should platoon Harper. Why? At his age he is likely to tire out and we want him fresh for the playoff and playing OF will wear him out more than playing 1B. He showed signs of this in July; his LHP/RHP splits are horrendous -- ,994 OPS vs RHP compared to .641 against LHP. This is in almost 200 PA against LHP. These are not the splits he has previously had. He's almost 34 years old. Perhaps his ability to hit LHP has been the first thing to go. Still relatively SSS, but he isn't helping us playing OF against LHP. In games he doesn't start, the Phillies can PH him in situations where the other team cannot remove a RHRP.

[zambonir]

But who do you platoon him with and would a Sosa/Hill/De La Cruz (the only choices) OF (let alone playing Marsh or Crawford over Harper) make the team better? They might not even make the playoffs. The odds of Harper bouncing back from that July slump, from both sides, far better than what you get from anyone not Harper.

[zambonir]

September additional hitter probably needs to play defense too as our revised lineup is a recipe for more late inning defensive subs.

If FanDuel would let me I'd still bet it's Stubbs again, just like last year. Though the Frankenroster certainly makes the extra bench player (both now and expanded) more important than it has been carrying three catchers, or burying Rodolfo Castro on the roster for a month.

Granted, that really does depend on Marchan. And if fielding is truly what's needed Dylan Moore is the only answer.

[andyb]

If you are betting on who the extra bat will be in September I think there are other issues to discuss.

Agree the person might hardly play as we really don't pinch hit much. Just want them to be occasionally useful. Dylan Moore playing defense and pinch running would at least be useful.

[zambonir]

Haha yeah wasn't serious.

Kind of surprising Moore never got another look to begin with but then I guess he would have had to go back on the 40 and possibly get exposed. He's making more money in Allentown than Crawford, De La Cruz and Hill are in the majors.

[LegoDoom]

I didn't watch the game yesterday and haven't seen a lot of Harper's interviews, but he didn't look particularly happy when talking about rotating back to the OF.

[zambonir]

He seemed pretty happy to me. Came out and did his old pre-game ritual of bowing to the fans, got to interact with them more too. They wouldn't have done the deal if he hadn't texted telling them he was ready make the move. Though, admittedly, he probably didn't think he was going to be moving to make room for Alec Bohm.

[andyb]

40-man spots are pretty meaningless in September as there are a number of players who don't have options that will just be cut loose at the end of the year anyway.

No word on Marchan. They could easily string his injury along through the month even if he is healthy and get him a week of minor league rehab games in late August. With BDLC doing well and needed in the OF there really is not the extra roster spot that existed before the Arraez trade. We need the 4-man bench of extra catcher, Sosa, and 2 OF platoons.

[LegoDoom]

NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) on X

He looks like how I feel after a 3 hour meeting today.

[zambonir]

Well, he did have a three-hour meeting!

[Deadgmwalking]

Move over Cal Ripken. You're a true iron man. 45 minutes and I look like Jim Eisenreich in the box.

[zambonir]

Full podcast interview by Stark with DD coming tomorrow

Dave Dombrowski on that Bryce Harper chat and the Phillies’ outside-the-box...

[RolenRules]

That is a really good article. We will see though. As they say, the proof is in the pudding.

[zambonir]

Phillies are very short in their bullpen. "It's a little different tonight," Don Mattingly said. They need a deep start from Zack Wheeler. Club has scratched Alan Rangel from his scheduled start tonight at Triple A in case a fresh arm is needed this weekend.

— Matt Gelb ( @mattgelb.bsky.social ) August 7, 2026 at 4:25 PM

[andyb]

Everybody that pitched last night have pitched 2 in a row. So we will rely on Mayza, Shugart, and the 2 new guys tonight. Can Kilian close after his worst outing of the year?

[andyb]

Lou Trivino free agency lasts 2 days and he is back at Lehigh Valley. And probably in the mix still for an occasional recall when we run out of bullpen arms again. I feel for Chase Shugart because he probably gets sent down for 15 days after pitching 2 innings because we need a fresh arm.

[David_Criss]

Shuggart down and Rangel up......not Wood or McFarlane

[julio]

Shuggart down and Rangel up......not Wood or McFarlane

McFarlane is an option, and may well happen before the season is out.

Gage Wood will not be promoted to the majors this season, for a combination of two reasons:

1. he's not utterly crushing the competition in the minors; and
2. he's not on the 40-man roster, he won't have to be on the 40-man roster this winter, and the club will need 40-man roster slots this winter. They're not going to squander one unnecessarily on Wood.

[andyb]

he's not utterly crushing the competition in the minors; and
he's not on the 40-man roster, he won't have to be on the 40-man roster this winter, and the club will need 40-man roster slots this winter. They're not going to squander one unnecessarily on Wood.

Agree with reason number one.

As for two, I disagree, If Wood were pitching well he would be recalled this year if he looked like the best option. And the bullpen DOES need 2-inning relievers. The 40-man spot is a non-issue for this year as lots of people go away at the end of the year. It is a minor issue over the winter, but remember we are just rotating fungible arms and reserve outfielder through our last 5 spots lately. We will not need to protect that many this winter as well.

Wood would not use an option so it really does not affect that option clock dramatically. They'll have 3 starting with next year anyway and he'll be in AAA at worst next season. I think you overstate the negatives on Wood especially after watching our mediocre bullpen blow games and the lack of decent 2-inning pitchers down there.

If Wood were pitching well we'd want him up here is September.