A quick reality check after another Phillies disappointment

No, Bryce Harper shouldn't be traded.

It’s been nearly a week since the Phillies lost to the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.

I don’t know why I thought this year would be different. I should’ve known after last year’s loss to the Mets in the NLDS that nothing would change, but somehow, they got me to buy back in. Well, I won’t be fooled again. Changes must be made — but only to a point.

I know that’s not what people want to hear after the Phillies came up short for the fourth consecutive year, but it’s the reality of the situation. They won 96 games. It’s certainly not the time for a rebuild.

There have been egregious takes thrown about since the Phillies lost in unprecedented fashion last Thursday. Suddenly, everyone wants Kyle Schwarber to walk, and there has been talk of shopping Bryce Harper and Trea Turner.

Yong Kim, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Look, I get it. When your team loses on a walk-off error, it’s bound to elicit some strong responses from fans, especially after the Phillies’ bats disappeared for the umpteenth time against a highly beatable Dodgers team.

That isn’t to say Los Angeles’ pitching wasn’t spectacular, because it was. Their offense left much to be desired, but that’s been the trend in baseball for quite some time. Pitching is out-matching offenses by a wide margin. It’s evident by how the Dodgers have dominated the Brewers.

I’m by no means excusing the Phillies’ lackluster performance. However, I think it’s far too reactionary to want to tear this core down to its studs.

Harper isn’t going anywhere. Yes, he’s not the player he used to be. Not just offensively, but his drive, his hunger, it’s not as prevalent. Why? I’m really not sure. But it’s been a noticeable trend. He’s also prone to injury, but he was on the field enough this year to be a finalist at first base for an NL Gold Glove Award and finished the 2025 campaign with the second-most home runs on the team (27) and an .844 OPS across 132 games.

Turner? He’s not going anywhere, either, or at least, I’d be utterly shocked to see him moved. He just won the NL batting title for a second time in his career, becoming the first Phillie to do so in 67 years (Richie Ashburn in 1958), with a .304 batting average over 141 games. It was by far his best, most consistent season in a Phillies uniform thus far. Ridding of him now would seem silly. That said, in my opinion, Turner’s passion has always been lacking, but he is not an emotional player. There’s nothing wrong with that, but perhaps it doesn’t mesh well with Philly, which is why he is scapegoated a lot of the time.

As for Schwarber, I think he stays. I would love for him to stay. I know he’s been disappointing in the playoffs for a while now (haven’t they all?), but that doesn’t change the fact that the Phillies are much better off with him in their lineup. Letting him walk, potentially to a division rival, would be an awful decision. He nearly broke the franchise’s single-season home run record this year, with an NL-leading 56 Schwarbombs, and had an MLB-best 132 RBI, appearing in all 162 games. He will likely receive some NL MVP votes as well.

The idea that has been gaining the most traction recently is to let Schwarber go, move Harper to full-time DH duties (or back to right field), and sign Mets slugger Pete Alonso to play first base. Although this would give the Phillies and returning manager Rob Thomson more flexibility at the DH spot, I don’t think this is the right move — and not just because I don’t like Alonso.

Schwarber’s reported asking price has raised concerns. He’ll be 33 next season and is seeking five years and somewhere between $25-30 million AAV, per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber. It’s not ideal, but Schwarber, who was emotional during his postgame comments following the Phillies’ elimination, might be willing to give them a discount.

Meanwhile, Alonso, 31 in December, is planning to opt out of his Mets deal in the offseason and reportedly wants seven years. Maybe it’s my anti-Alonso bias, but I’m failing to see how Alonso at seven years is more valuable to the Phillies than Schwarber at four or five years. Furthermore, I don’t think Alonso is the right fit in Philadelphia. Schwarber has made an impact both on and off the field, and replacing his presence in the clubhouse with Alonso would not work the miracle some fans think it would.

You shouldn’t make a change just for the sake of making one. Signing Alonso for seven years would undoubtedly be the wrong choice. After all, there must be a reason why no team wanted to give him a deal last offseason.

And I know what you’re thinking, this sounds awfully close to running it back with the same group. That won’t be the case, though. I believe changes will be made — ones that are significant enough to give this team a different feel.

For now, let’s save the dooming and glooming (I know it’s easy to do) and focus on the offseason. Believe it or not, sometimes small moves can still lead to big changes.