Are Bryce Harper and the Phillies equipped to repeat as NL East champions in 2026?

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13 February 2026 at 18:40

President of baseball operations of the Phillies, Dave Dombrowski, is a throwback. To begin with, at age 69, he is long in the tooth compared to his active, contemporary baseball executives. And while he may use and utilize baseball’s new analytical philosophies, I don’t think anyone would call him a darling within the sabermetric community. He is definitely old-school, a throwback, and it has worked as the Phillies have won multiple NL East divisions and playoff series.

Dombrowski has won wherever he’s gone…with the Marlins, Tigers, Red Sox, and now Phillies; winning a World Series with the Marlins and Red Sox. He is a big game hunter, and he always has been. He’s never been afraid of the mega-contract, and he loves his superstars.

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His tenure with the Phillies began in 2021, and for the sixth consecutive season, he has the fourth-highest payroll in the game. On his watch, he’s signed SS Trea Turner to an 11yr/$300M deal, OF Nik Castallanos to a 5yr/$100M deal, SP Aaron Nola to a 7yr/$172M deal, and Zack Wheeler to a 3yr/$126M deal.

And in this offseason, he re-signed his own talent. JT Realmuto signed a 4yr/$72M deal, and Kyle Schwarber will stay in Philly for the next five seasons, signing for $150M. He also signed free agent OF Adolis Garcia to a one-year, $10M deal. The NL East is very much up for grabs again. Bryce Harper is the unofficial leader of this team, and Dombrowski has built the team around him since taking over as president.

Lineup:

Oct 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game three of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

This team is definitely molded in Dombrowski’s image. His stamp is all over this team. Aside from Realmuto behind the dish, they have Bryce Harper at 1B. Although MLB’s top 10 first basemen aren’t out yet for 2026, he was no.2 on the list last year. In the past five seasons, on Dombrowski’s watch, Harper has missed a whopping 167 games…more than a full season. When he plays, he still posts, but he’s now entering his age-33 season, and durability is an issue.

They have Bryson Stott at 2B, who missed 30 games last season, and Turner at SS, who missed 21 games (he missed 41 games in 2024, and will also be 33 yrs old this season). Third baseman Alec Bohm also missed 42 games last year. The key to this infield is simply staying on the field. As many coaches and managers like to say, the best ability is availability.

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The OF, which includes Brandon Marsh and the addition of Adolis Garcia, is more than sufficient. Marsh’s 3yr averages are 57R, 13HR, 54RBI, 12SB, and a .787 OPS. Castellanos’ are 77R, 23HR, 88RBI, and .745 OPS. And Garcia’s are 78R, 28HR, 89RBI, 17SB, and .733 OPS. And then there is Schwarber.

He’s coming off a 56 HR season. And while that was a career high, it was not a fluke. Since 2017, he’s hit a minimum of 30 HRs in seven of eight seasons. He’s averaged 47 HRs over his past three seasons, and for his career, he’s hit 340 bombs. This is one of the best lineups in the game from top to bottom.

Rotation:

May 13, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Christopher Sanchez (61) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

This staff had the runner-up in Cy Young voting last year, and he is the no.3 starter on the team. Christopher Sanchez finished the year with a 13-5 record, 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 212Ks. The team legitimately boasts two other perennial Cy Young candidates.

Coming off a 2024 season that saw Zack Wheeler win 16 games, 2.57 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 224 Ks, he headed into last season as the top-ranked pitcher in the NL. And for the better part of the season, that rank was well deserved. In 24 starts, he was sitting with a 10-5 record, 2.71 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 195 Ks. He developed a blood clot in his lung, which was determined to be venous thoracic outlet syndrome. While he is scheduled back in May, it remains to be seen how well or quickly he can return to his old form…if ever.

Aaron Nola was also coming off a fantastic 2024 season, which saw him finish the year with a 14-8 record. Last season was a disaster. He finished the season with a 5-10 record and an ERA of 6.01. He only made 17 starts, missing half the season with a sprained right ankle and then a stress fracture in his ribcage. Nola is anticipated to pitch in the WBC this Spring for Team Italy. Monitor his return to see if he’s a safe bet for a bounce-back year.

Bullpen:

Oct 9, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) reacts after a strike out in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

During the season, Dombrowski traded Kody Clemens to the Twins for closer Jhoan Duran. He is the closer for the team, heading into the season. And while Matt Strahm and Dave Robertson are no longer on the team, Jose Alvarado still is. He managed seven saves last season and will act in late-inning, high-leverage situations.