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The Philadelphia Phillies endured a multitude of frustrating developments during the 2026 campaign, yet the most glaring letdown was arguably the output of their lineup. Plate production was a constant struggle, with several core contributors—most notably shortstop Trea Turner and catcher J.T. Realmuto—enduring the least productive seasons of their respective careers. The outfield also failed to deliver, compounding the team's scoring difficulties.
Changes to the lineup are inevitable this winter. Adding a right-handed-hitting outfielder such as Randy Arozarena or Seiya Suzuki would directly address a pressing need, and a few veteran backstops could provide support behind the plate. Bringing in players who fit the mold desired by Don Mattingly makes logical sense. However, one internal improvement could elevate the offense to another level: stealing bases.
Untapped Potential on the Basepaths
Despite being a squad renowned for its power, the Phillies possess numerous players capable of creating havoc on the bases. Bryson Stott swiped 27 bases without being caught once, while Turner successfully stole 21 bases and was thrown out only four times. Those two led the team, with center fielder Justin Crawford (17) and fellow outfielder Brandon Marsh (11) the only other players to reach double-digit steals. That total is one Mattingly will surely want to see rise, especially from Crawford, whom President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski identified as a player the team needs more from in 2027.
"(Stott) had a really good June, July, August," Dombrowski said, via Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic (subscription required). "I don't know why he can't be that player all the time. We need to get (Justin) Crawford better. He did like we thought he would this year. But there's got to be another level to him, where he gets better, he gets on base more, he steals more bases."
Stott was excellent for most of the summer, at one point producing at a level not seen since Barry Bonds. Entering his second season as a Big Leaguer, Crawford can be expected to improve and could serve as a platoon option early on. The Phillies' 105 stolen bases were their lowest total since 2022, when new rules were implemented that increased steals league-wide. A more aggressive approach would be welcome, but it requires players to reach base—a struggle in 2026, when the team's .312 on-base percentage ranked 23rd in baseball, buoyed by an incredible August. For the rest of the season, Philadelphia was among the worst in the sport. More consistent on-base skills would allow the faster players on the roster to get going on the basepaths and create offense.