Phillies 2026 News and Discussion

[zambonir]

You probably shouldn't take that statement anymore seriously than the notion that Luzardo stinks. But to AF's original post, sure, he is probably a longshot for major league contribution if he doesn't start swinging the bat in games before June.

[LoneStarPhan]

It is concerning that Miller has not gotten back in action yet. It clouds his future and makes any chance that he can contrive at the ML level this season a long shot. I hope he can get through the back issue and get back on the field in LV soon.

[andyb]

Back injuries carry uncertainty and are definitely concerning. But he is swinging the bat and they seem to be looking to avoid surgery with rehab and exercise. Most likely scenario is still that he is back in a couple of months and yes, that might be too late to seriously contribute this year. But the range of potential outcomes is very wide and we just don't know at this point.

Frankly I am more concerned that Bohm is done. He is an average player and those types of players often peak at 27 and now he is pushing 30. The off field issues may be distracting him, but his ceiling now might be a 725-750 player with average defense at best. Which is completely replaceable by Sosa but, more importantly, not the above average hitter this lineup needs from the right side.

[zambonir]

is ceiling now might be a 725-750 player with average defense at best. Which is completely replaceable by Sosa

That ceiling is basically his career numbers, which are also pretty much the same as his 2025 numbers (.741 101 OPS+). They couldn't have seriously thought he would be better this year. What he can't be is what he is now, which is unplayable. I'm sure he'lll come around but not to anything more than replacement level. Sosa actually replacing him probably doesn't make the team better though, especially since it forces Stott to play against LHP too.

Garcia was a better gamble. But still a gamble.

Maybe Bichette will be available at the trade deadline.

[zambonir]

Unfortunately Dombrowski's MIller update wasn't correct, but this was already four days ago so hopefully he'll be swinging soon

The Phillies clarified today that Aidan Miller is NOT swinging a bat yet, but he has begun "rotational exercises" as he continues to rehab his back injury.

— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) April 13, 2026

[Philsmania]

There is absolutely no indication Miller is done and it is irresponsible to say that.

It is not at all unusual for back injuries or any kind of spinal injury (IOW, neck also) to be career-enders in almost any sport, especially if there is structural damage (disc damage). Structural damage to the spinal system never completely goes away or can ever be completely good-as-new cured. At best, it can be made manageable. I know from my line of work. What makes things look ominous for Miller in that regard is that this has gone on for far too long to be just a muscle strain.

[andyb]

It is not at all unusual for back injuries or any kind of spinal injury (IOW, neck also) to be career-enders in almost any sport, especially if there is structural damage (disc damage). Structural damage to the spinal system never completely goes away or can ever be completely good-as-new cured. At best, it can be made manageable. I know from my line of work. What makes things look ominous for Miller in that regard is that this has gone on for far too long to be just a muscle strain.

But you really don't "know" any of that. We are all concerned here. It clearly has gone on for awhile including last year. We just have no clue whether rehab can fix this or he can play through it acceptably well. You don't really know if there is any serious structural damage. Then you post he's probably done with no information. It is just irresponsible to post that without specific knowledge.

[zambonir]

I don't think it's irresponsible when it's obviously just a Cassandra-ish opinion.

But yes we don't even know if it has anything to do with his spine or neck. It was called "soreness" last year. Could also just be muscular, spasms. etc. I don't think it's gone on too long to assume anything other than, they don't want them to play through any pain without first getting the extended rest he opted not to get last season.

It ain't good, but it's hardly likely to be any more career-ending than Harper's back injuries have been.

But hey, this isn't the minor league or prospect thread, there reality is Miller is a longshot to impact the 2026 Phillies now. Today Scott Lauber suggested the Phillies might want to go after Isaac Paredes to replace Bohm this year.

[Philsmania]

But, yeah, Bohm is having a disastrous walk year. Maybe a rebuilding team which needs a body at the position will sign him.

[zambonir]

Yeah he can play for a low-budget lesser team or he could weakside platoon for a good one (maybe even at DH). Phillies just don't have that option this year (no LH 3B, no room at DH).

I'm sure he'll bounce back, just not very high (not as high as Marsh did last year, for instance).

It's not like the Phillies didn't try to move on. Overvalued him last year, couldn't replace him this year.

[Callison]

Bohm is suing his parents. Hard to imagine how that happens - I don't want to know - and it's got to be a serious distraction. There's ONE Philie with an alibi. IMHO, he doesn't belong at #4 either and knows he's out of place, could be used better.

Stott looked like he'd found an answer at the plate early but that stopped about when the season began. Kemp looked like he'd found an answer at the plate, too, but is playing his way off the team.

Agree that Nola looked a little better. IMHO the Phils should encourage/pay Nola to see Smoltz' sports shrink to find his consistency. IMHO, has a mental block the size of a planet.

The Phils looked like they had a lot of solid relievers in ST, but I'm unsure they kept the best ones. Mayza just looked iffy again but Rob likes him.

Braves and Phils was a great rivalry in years past. Today we hope the Phils will finally remember how to hit and not fall apart again.

[Philsmania]

Bullpen has definitely been a disappointment so far. It looked in ST like it was going to be a true strength this season. In all fairness to the bullpen, however, a lot of these relievers have ERA's that were inflated in lopsided defeats. The Cubs, in particular, really bludgeoned the bullpen this past week.

[flyers19rw]

This start of the season is not a surprise to me. I didn’t care for the manner in which ST was managed. Perhaps this was due to guys being away for the WBC. However the starters didn’t get enough PT. Innings were being given to guys who have no chance of ever making it to Philly and having much of a positive impact. It is a long season but few regulars were showing that they were on track for opening day. There’s way too much reliance on playing slug baseball. That’s nothing new with these guys. They need to make some major adjustments to MLB in 2026.

[jimbomill]

Bohm is suing his parents. Hard to imagine how that happens - I don't want to know - and it's got to be a serious distraction. There's ONE Philie with an alibi. IMHO

I concur as that's a tough life's pitch to handle.

[zambonir]

Unfortunately it's been going on pretty much his whole career. Ever since they pressured him to ditch his financial advisor and go with Boras in 2020, his rookie year. I'm assuming things were already coming to a head last year, just took this long to take action (and legal action).

[andyb]

Bohm seems like a guy who should have looked for a 3-4 year deal to lock up his arbitration years and maybe a year or two of free agency. I am guessing his parents thought he'd get a huge deal as a free agent and he is looking more like a 1-year deal candidate next year. A 725 OPS 3B on the wrong side of 30 that does not play great defense is just not that valuable.

[zambonir]

Well, the fact that the Boras approach didn't end up suiting the reality of his career is separate from the whole parents embezzling money part. It seems more like the non-Boras advisor wasn't going to let them do whatever they wanted.

[allentown]

And that it's a repeat of same problem. I'm not going to say he's done -- I really hope he isn't and there is no way to know that he is -- this is normal worst-case Phillies phans thinking. BUT, this does seem serious and there does seem to be real risk of a lost season, or close to that.

The Phillies history with young hitters, from scouting, to signing, to development, to keeping up with how pitchers pitch them in MLB, has frankly stunk since they picked and nurtured the careers of Howard, Utley, and Ruiz. Guys who were badly scouted. Guys exposed to competing hitting advice. So many who just flamed out. I hope that Miller returns to health and Crawford continues as the real deal, but going back to Gillick, just so many failures. I hope things really have turned around under DD, I confess that I need some MLB success stories -- continuation of Crawford for a multi-year time span, but others. Looking at the current team: Bohm, Stott, Marchan -- they were among our brightest prospects. THen there is Kingery, but I suspect he was felled by long Covid.

[Philsmania]

Bohm is suing his parents. Hard to imagine how that happens - I don't want to know - and it's got to be a serious distraction. There's ONE Philie with an alibi. IMHO

I concur as that's a tough life's pitch to handle.

In that case, he should probably take a personal leave to deal with this.

[allentown]

IT's not likely to be resolved quickly.