The Phillies' lineup is stuck in a time loop! As pitchers and catchers gear up in Clearwater, the rest of the team isn't far behind, ready to embark on yet another season. But the buzz and anticipation surrounding the Phillies have taken a different turn this time around.
They're coming off an October run that fizzled out quickly in the NLDS, and this winter, they lost out on the Bo Bichette sweepstakes to their rivals, the Mets. As a result, the Phillies are set to roll with almost the same lineup that has consistently delivered postseason appearances but has consistently fallen short once they get there.
Phillies' president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, declared that the organization is "content" with their current state, especially after missing out on Bichette and quickly re-signing veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Manager Rob Thomson, however, insists that the Phillies aren't just repeating the same old routine. He highlights the new additions to the team, including relievers like right-hander Brad Keller and right fielder Adolis García. Thomson also mentions prospects like Justin Crawford, who is poised to take on the starting center-field role this spring, and Otto Kemp, who is looking forward to his first full season in the majors. He even brings up Andrew Painter, a young starting pitcher the club hopes will make a significant impact.
"We're turning over 20-25 percent of our roster," Thomson said. "So if you think that's turning it back, you're mistaken."
But the core of the lineup, which has been a point of contention among fans all winter, remains largely unchanged.
García will bring a fresh face, and Crawford, if he makes the cut, will add much-needed youth. However, seven out of the nine batters who have been starting almost every day since 2023 are projected to continue doing so in 2026.
Nick Castellanos is out after the Phillies decided to part ways, but Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber are back and here to stay. Bryce Harper, entering his eighth year of a 13-year pact, Alec Bohm, still at third base despite offseason rumors, Realmuto, starting a new three-year deal, Stott holding down second base, and Brandon Marsh, one of the Phillies' better outfielders, all remain integral parts of the lineup.
This group, which crumbled in Game 7 of the 2023 NLCS against Arizona, has consistently delivered diminishing returns in the postseason despite back-to-back 96-win seasons and NL East crowns.
And the aging process doesn't seem to be slowing down for this core group. Turner, Schwarber, Harper, and Realmuto are all well into their 30s, while Bohm, Marsh, and Stott, once known as the Phillies' Daycare, are now in their late 20s, with free agency looming on the horizon.
García, one of the key additions to shake things up, was signed to a one-year deal, a gamble on his ability to recapture his form from the Rangers' World Series run in 2023.
It's been over four years since the Phillies' miraculous run to the World Series in 2022, and they haven't come any closer to repeating that success since. They've kept the group mostly together, first without Rhys Hoskins and now Castellanos, but they keep hitting the same roadblock.
And now, they're doing it all over again, with some minor changes, while baseball rapidly evolves around them.
The spring training excitement and hope that usually surround the Phillies have a different feel this time. It's a far cry from the optimism of 2023, and it's hard to be optimistic about a lineup that seems stuck in a time loop.
Here's a look at the Phillies' lineup from Game 7 of the 2023 NLCS, Game 4 of the 2024 NLDS, Game 4 of the 2025 NLDS, and the projected list for 2026 (with returning players in bold):
2023 2024 2025 2026*
1) Schwarber, DH 1) Schwarber, DH 1) Turner, SS 1) Turner, SS
2) Turner, SS 2) Turner, SS 2) Schwarber, DH 2) Schwarber, DH
3) Harper, 1B 3) Harper, 1B 3) Harper, 1B 3) Harper, 1B
4) Bohm, 3B 4) Castellanos, RF 4) Bohm, 3B 4) Bohm, 3B
5) Stott, 2B 5) Bohm, 3B 5) Marsh, CF 5) Stott, 2B
6) Realmuto, C 6) Realmuto, C 6) Realmuto, CF 6) García, RF
7) Castellanos, RF 7) Stott, 2B 7) Kepler, LF 7) Marsh, LF
8) Marsh, LF 8) Wilson, LF 8) Castellanos, RF 8) Realmuto, C
9) Rojas, CF 9) Marsh, CF 9) Stott, 2B 9) Crawford, CF
*Projected
Will the Phillies break out of this time loop and find success, or will they continue to hit the same wall? What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
