Time for Change: Why the Phillies Must Move On From Dave Dombrowski

The Philadelphia Phillies again ended their season with a whimper, struggling to score against the Braves in Game 3 in Atlanta. The team went 0-6 with runners in scoring position in the Game 3 finale, with their 5-through-9 hitters combining to go 2-17.

Another Postseason Fizzle Highlights Core Flaws

Phillies star Bryce Harper said after the game that he thinks there will be a lot of changes to the team next season, but that will be difficult to make happen.

"I imagine this team is going to look a lot different next year," Harper told reporters in the locker room after the Game 3 loss.

The first change needs to start at the top with President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski.

Following the Sixers’ Blueprint for Bold Leadership

The Phillies can look no further than across the street at the Sixers, who had an improbable Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics, but were swept at the hands of the New York Knicks in Round 2, which prompted Daryl Morey to be fired and Mike Gansey to be hired.

The Sixers were in a similar spot, with bloated contracts that were perceived to be immovable, but Gansey, along with President of Sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) Bob Myers, found a taker for Paul George, landing All-Star Jaylen Brown, which allowed them to make a play for LeBron James.

They made a tough decision to move on from Morey, who has had success, but had the Sixers stuck in neutral.

The Phillies need to do the same.  It's time to get new ideas and a new pulse into the Phillies organization.

Dombrowski's teams have always spent the money and done their best to compete in the free agent market, but at the expense of developing their own homegrown talent.

The Breakdown of Homegrown Talent and Prospects

Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh have all been nice players, but none have made a consistent impact.  Bohm has been miscast as a cleanup hitter; Stott hasn't developed into anything more than a bottom-of-the-order bat that's been asked to hit in the middle of the lineup; and Marsh, a 2026 All-Star, hasn't graduated past platoon status.

Decisions Loom on Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh

Of this group, Bohm is a free agent, and while he said he'd like to return, it would be hard to sell the Phillies fan base on a reunion.

Stott and Marsh are both arbitration-eligible and will be tricky. What value would they have in a trade?  Likely not much.  The Phillies could non-tender both of them and let them walk, but would get nothing in return.

While these younger players haven't made the impact the Phillies hoped for when they were brought up to the big club, maybe the next batch of Phillies prospects can.

Can Next-Wave Prospects Fill the Gap?

Aidan Miller, Dante Nori, and Bryan Rincon are the best offensive prospects that are the closest to the big league level. Of the group, Miller could make an impact in 2027, but he missed most of 2026 with a balky back and will play in the Arizona Fall League to get more experience.

Navigating Untouchable Contracts and Position Changes

The Phillies are locked into some big offensive contracts, like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmuto, and Trea Turner.  Outside of Schwarber and Harper's Game 2 heroics, the Phillies core came up small in the playoffs once again.

Of that group, Turner, who in three playoff runs with the Phillies is 8-for-43 (.186) with one extra-base hit and four RBI, might be primed for a change of scenery to the fans, but has a no-trade clause that keeps him in Philly until 2032, when he will be 40 years old.

One option might be a position change; Turner played the outfield at the start of his career in Washington and played second base with both Washington and in LA with the Dodgers.

As for Schwarber and Harper, while it's unlikely that they are moved, if someone called, the Phillies must listen. Realmuto still has $30 million owed and two more years remaining; the hope is the Phillies can find a replacement behind him to help limit his regular-season playing time.

Getting out of these deals will be difficult, but it will not happen under Dombrowski's watch.

He got them in this contractual mess, so to get out of it, its time for the Phillies to move on from him.