The Philadelphia Phillies’ potential 2027 roster is already raising important questions about what comes next for the organization.

With several players approaching free agency, examining the 26-man roster without those impending departures offers a glimpse into the decisions facing president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Philadelphia still has an established core capable of competing, but the projected lineup also exposes weaknesses that cannot be ignored if the franchise hopes to make another deep postseason run.

The starting rotation looks like a major strength, with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter forming an intriguing group. The position-player core also features familiar names such as Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryson Stott.

However, questions emerge elsewhere.

Who plays third base regularly? Can the outfield produce enough offense? Will the bullpen have sufficient depth? And what happens behind the plate if the Phillies lose an important contributor in free agency?

These are the questions Dombrowski must answer before Philadelphia can confidently call its 2027 roster a championship contender.

The Phillies do not need to rebuild their entire team, but this roster demonstrates why standing pat this offseason could be a costly mistake.

PHILLIES’ PROJECTED 26-MAN ROSTER WITHOUT IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

Based on the roster projection provided, here is how Philadelphia could line up without its impending free agents.

STARTING ROTATION

• Zack Wheeler
• Cristopher Sánchez
• Jesús Luzardo
• Aaron Nola
• Andrew Painter

BULLPEN

• Jhoan Duran
• Alex McFarlane
• Jonathan Bowlan
• Orion Kerkering
• Caleb Kilian
• Chase Shugart
• Tanner Banks
• Alan Rangel

STARTING LINEUP

• C: J.T. Realmuto
• 1B: Bryce Harper
• 2B: Bryson Stott
• SS: Trea Turner
• 3B: Otto Kemp
• RF: Bryan De La Cruz
• CF: Justin Crawford
• LF: Brandon Marsh
• DH: Kyle Schwarber

BENCH

• Garrett Stubbs
• Rafael Marchán
• Derek Hill
• Felix Reyes

This is a projected roster, not an official Phillies roster. Actual availability, contracts, transactions, and roster eligibility will determine the final composition.

THE STARTING ROTATION COULD KEEP THE PHILLIES IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONVERSATION

The most encouraging aspect of this projected roster is its starting rotation.

Wheeler, Sánchez, Luzardo, Nola, and Painter offer Philadelphia a combination of established experience, left-handed pitching, and younger talent.

Wheeler provides an experienced presence at the front of the rotation when healthy. Sánchez offers another potential frontline option, while Luzardo gives the Phillies another left-hander capable of helping balance the staff.

Nola’s place in the rotation provides continuity, although the Phillies will need to evaluate his consistency and workload rather than assuming that every veteran will automatically return to peak form.

Painter represents a different kind of opportunity.

The young right-hander gives Philadelphia a chance to benefit from its investment in developing a potential long-term rotation piece. His continued progress could be especially important as the organization attempts to balance an established core with younger contributors.

The challenge is ensuring that the rotation remains healthy and productive over an entire season.

Even an impressive starting five can become vulnerable when injuries accumulate or pitchers struggle to work deep into games. Philadelphia must therefore consider how its rotation affects bullpen usage and whether additional starting depth is necessary.

Still, the group provides a promising foundation.

If the Phillies’ starting pitchers stay healthy and perform to their capabilities, the rotation should be one of the strongest reasons to believe the team can compete in 2027.

THE BULLPEN NEEDS MORE THAN A FEW RELIABLE ARMS

The bullpen is a more complicated situation.

Jhoan Duran stands out as an important piece of the projected relief group. However, a contender cannot rely on one prominent reliever to solve every late-inning problem.

The Phillies need multiple pitchers capable of handling high-pressure situations, particularly against the strongest lineups in the National League.

Kerkering’s development will be worth watching after his difficult 2026 campaign. Philadelphia must determine whether he can regain consistency and become a dependable part of the relief corps.

Banks could provide a useful left-handed option, while Bowlan, McFarlane, Kilian, Shugart, and Rangel offer additional possibilities depending on their performance, health, and roster eligibility.

But names on a projected roster are not the same as established production.

Several of these pitchers would need to prove that they can consistently get major-league hitters out before the Phillies could confidently enter the season without further bullpen additions.

That makes relief pitching one of Dombrowski’s biggest offseason priorities.

Philadelphia should explore trades and free agency for controllable relievers who can strengthen the middle innings and provide dependable alternatives in close games.

The front office should also avoid assuming that a young pitcher who performs well in limited opportunities will automatically handle a larger workload.

A championship-caliber bullpen requires depth, versatility, and enough dependable arms to survive injuries and stretches of poor performance.

THIRD BASE COULD BECOME THE BIGGEST LINEUP QUESTION

Otto Kemp’s appearance at third base is one of the most noticeable features of this projection.

The position could become a major decision if the Phillies move on from Alec Bohm.

Kemp may offer an internal option worth evaluating, but Philadelphia must determine whether he can handle the responsibilities of a regular major-league third baseman while contributing enough offensively.

There is a difference between giving a young player an opportunity and entering an entire season without an adequate alternative.

The Phillies should assess Kemp’s development and consider whether he can be part of a broader third-base plan.

That could mean allowing him to compete for the job while keeping other options available through trades or free agency.

Philadelphia should not automatically spend heavily on an outside replacement if an internal candidate is ready. However, the organization also cannot afford to confuse potential with proven production.

If the Phillies believe Kemp can handle the position, they should give him a genuine opportunity.

If not, third base must become one of the front office’s primary targets.

The goal is to build a lineup capable of producing consistently against both right-handed and left-handed pitching.

THE OUTFIELD REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN

The projected outfield of Bryan De La Cruz, Justin Crawford, and Brandon Marsh presents both opportunities and risks.

Crawford offers the possibility of injecting youth and athleticism into the lineup. His development could become an important part of Philadelphia’s transition toward a younger supporting cast.

Marsh presents a different challenge.

His first half of 2026 demonstrated his offensive potential, but his second-half decline raised legitimate questions about his consistency. With his final year of arbitration eligibility approaching, the Phillies must decide whether to keep him, trade him, or reduce his role.

Trading Marsh without securing a replacement could create another hole in an outfield that already needs improvement.

De La Cruz’s place in the projected lineup also raises questions about whether Philadelphia has enough dependable production across all three positions.

The Phillies cannot assume that Crawford’s arrival will solve every problem or that Marsh will automatically rediscover his best form.

They need to evaluate the entire outfield as a unit.

A productive offseason should leave Philadelphia with enough offensive depth to withstand injuries, avoid overworking young players, and provide manager Don Mattingly with useful lineup flexibility.

That might require acquiring an established outfielder while allowing Crawford to compete for regular playing time.

The key is to improve the group without blocking a young player who is genuinely ready to contribute.

CATCHER COULD BECOME AN EXPENSIVE OFFSEASON DECISION

The projected roster includes J.T. Realmuto, Garrett Stubbs, and Rafael Marchán.

That arrangement offers several possible options behind the plate, but the Phillies must evaluate the roles and availability of all three players before settling on a plan.

Realmuto’s situation is especially important because the catching position demands more than offensive production.

Workload management, defensive responsibilities, communication with pitchers, and the ability to remain effective over a long season all matter.

Philadelphia needs to determine how much playing time Realmuto can reasonably handle and whether the organization has sufficient depth to give him the necessary rest.

Stubbs and Marchán provide possible alternatives, but the front office must decide whether the existing group offers the right balance of defense, offense, and reliability.

If Realmuto becomes an impending free agent, his contract situation could significantly change this projection. If he remains under contract, the Phillies still need a clear plan for managing his workload.

Catcher is a position where a seemingly small roster decision can have a significant effect on the pitching staff.

The Phillies should avoid waiting until the market becomes expensive before addressing any uncertainty.

THE BIGGEST QUESTION: WHERE DOES THE OFFENSE COME FROM?

Philadelphia’s projected lineup still features several established hitters.

Harper, Turner, Schwarber, and Stott provide a recognizable foundation, but the lineup needs dependable contributions throughout the order.

The Phillies cannot expect their stars to carry the offense every night.

When the supporting cast struggles, opposing pitchers can concentrate on the biggest threats, making it more difficult for Philadelphia to score consistently in important games.

That is why the outfield and third-base decisions matter so much.

The organization needs to identify players who can provide quality at-bats, take advantage of favorable matchups, and contribute when the biggest names are not producing.

The solution does not necessarily require signing multiple expensive free agents.

A combination of one meaningful offensive acquisition, an effective platoon option, and continued development from younger players could improve the lineup considerably.

However, the Phillies must be realistic about their needs.

If they lose important contributors without replacing their production, the remaining stars could face even more pressure in 2027.

WHAT SHOULD DAVE DOMBROWSKI DO THIS OFFSEASON?

The projected roster suggests that Philadelphia should prioritize three areas.

First, strengthen the outfield. The Phillies need to establish whether Marsh remains part of the plan and identify at least one reliable option who can improve the group.

Second, reinforce the bullpen. Duran is an important piece, but the organization needs sufficient depth to avoid placing too much pressure on a small number of relievers.

Third, settle the third-base situation. Kemp deserves evaluation, but the Phillies must have a contingency plan if he is not ready to handle a regular role.

Catching depth and bench flexibility should also remain on the checklist.

The front office must balance those needs against its financial commitments and the value of its prospects. Trading a top prospect for immediate help may make sense in the right circumstances, but Philadelphia should avoid sacrificing long-term depth for a short-term upgrade that does not materially improve its championship chances.

Dombrowski’s challenge is to improve the roster without disrupting the core that has kept the Phillies competitive.

FINAL VERDICT: THE PHILLIES HAVE A FOUNDATION, BUT THE OFFSEASON WILL DEFINE THEIR CEILING

Philadelphia’s projected roster without impending free agents does not look like a team that needs to start over.

The rotation offers significant potential, the lineup retains several established stars, and younger players could provide important contributions.

But the roster also exposes several weaknesses that could undermine the team’s championship ambitions if they are not addressed.

The bullpen needs dependable depth. Third base requires a clear plan. The outfield needs more certainty, and the organization must decide how to manage its catching situation.