This offseason has not been the strongest period for Dave Dombrowski in his role as Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations. The team essentially brought back Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto, replaced Matt Strahm with Brad Keller in the bullpen, and allowed Ranger Suárez to leave in free agency without much resistance. Meanwhile, Bo Bichette used the situation to his advantage, leaving the Phillies with a roster that appears slightly weaker than the group that reached last season’s NLDS.

However, Dombrowski regained some goodwill on Monday when the Phillies agreed to a five-year, $135 million contract extension with 28-year-old left-hander Jesús Luzardo. The deal secures Luzardo through 2032 at an average salary of $27 million per year. By keeping him off the free-agent market, Philadelphia now has its entire starting rotation under control through at least next season, with both Luzardo and ace Cristopher Sánchez locked in well into the next decade.

Signing the National League’s seventh-place Cy Young finisher to what could prove to be a below-market contract is widely viewed as an excellent move. Still, committing significant money to the rotation could make it more difficult for the Phillies to retain several players who are approaching free agency.

José Alvarado, LHP

José Alvarado’s 2025 season ended prematurely after he received a suspension and was ruled ineligible for the postseason due to a positive PED test. The reliever later apologized and is expected to return to a high-leverage bullpen role in what will be a contract year. Prior to the suspension, the hard-throwing left-hander posted a 3.81 ERA with 32 strikeouts across 26 innings for Philadelphia.

Quality relievers are always in demand, so Alvarado should attract considerable interest on the open market. His value comes from being a left-handed pitcher capable of triple-digit velocity, often generating both swings and misses and ground balls. Command can occasionally be an issue, and mistakes over the middle of the plate can be punished, but Alvarado has consistently proven his effectiveness in high-pressure situations.

With Philadelphia already investing heavily in the bullpen and now committing long-term money to the rotation, Alvarado’s price tag could rise beyond what Dombrowski is willing to pay.

Edmundo Sosa, INF

Edmundo Sosa is another player whose long-term future with the Phillies appears increasingly uncertain as he approaches free agency following the 2026–27 season. Known for his strong defense across the infield and his effectiveness against left-handed pitching—highlighted by an .895 OPS against southpaws in 2025—Sosa provides value as Bryson Stott’s platoon partner. However, it remains unclear whether Philadelphia will be able to match the offers he may receive in free agency.

The 30-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, batting .276 with 11 home runs in 293 at-bats while posting a .777 OPS (109 OPS+). While the Phillies could lose both Stott and Alec Bohm in the coming years, the infield pipeline is also crowded. Top prospect Aidan Miller is projected to debut around 2027—likely at third base—while Otto Kemp and other prospects like Aroon Escobar and Chase DeMartini could soon push for major league opportunities.

If the Phillies ultimately must choose between Stott and Sosa, the organization would likely prioritize Stott. He remains under team control longer and is trending upward as a hitter while already offering excellent defense and baserunning. Sosa, meanwhile, may find a more lucrative contract and a clearer everyday role with another club.

Jhoan Durán, RHP

The Phillies still have one year of arbitration control remaining with Jhoan Durán before he becomes eligible for free agency after the 2027 season. While there is strong external pressure for the team to secure him with a long-term extension, the rapidly rising cost of elite relievers raises questions about whether Philadelphia will be willing to commit the $20 million-plus annually that it may take to retain him.

The Phillies paid a significant price to acquire Durán, sending two promising prospects—pitcher Mick Abel, who is currently dominating spring training for Minnesota, and teenage catcher Eduardo Tait—in the deal. Considering Andrew Painter’s fastball has looked less impressive lately and JT Realmuto is nearing the later stages of his career, those losses could become more noticeable over time.

Durán, however, delivered exactly what Philadelphia needed after the trade deadline. He appeared in 23 games, pitching 20.1 innings with a 2.18 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. His triple-digit fastball paired with a high-90s splitter forms one of the most devastating two-pitch combinations in baseball. If the Phillies receive two-and-a-half seasons of elite closing performance and make another deep postseason run, the trade will be difficult to criticize. But if Durán eventually departs in free agency without a championship to show for it, fans will likely be frustrated.

Alec Bohm, 3B

It would not surprise many Phillies fans if Alec Bohm signs with another team next winter, and Luzardo’s extension further reduces the likelihood of Philadelphia committing to him long term. Bohm experienced a slight dip in production last season, though he recorded back-to-back 97-RBI seasons in 2023 and 2024 and remains a dependable contact hitter in the middle of the lineup.

The Phillies are expected to let Bohm finish his current contract before entering free agency, with top prospect Aidan Miller projected to take over at third base in 2027. There is also a scenario where Miller earns a midseason call-up as early as this year, potentially pushing Bohm onto the trade market. Such a move would signal Miller’s rapid development while allowing Philadelphia to recover at least some value before Bohm departs.

Bohm does not perfectly match the power profile Philadelphia ideally wants from a cleanup hitter, and his defense has been inconsistent. His postseason numbers are also underwhelming, with a .660 OPS. While those factors may soften the blow of losing him, Bohm is still a solid major league player who is likely to move on within the next year.