Now that the holidays are over and we are more than a week into the New Year, we have hit that sweet spot of the MLB offseason where we can see the light of Spring Training baseball at the end of the tunnel.
With that said, the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies roster is not quite set yet, as there are still some question marks as things stand right now. Numerous scenarios could play out where the organization decides to move off some familiar faces and change things up in the room.
Here are three Phillies who could potentially be shipped to another franchise before they report for Spring workouts:
1. Alec Bohm, 3B/1B
It is no secret that the Philadelphia Phillies are more than willing to explore moving on from homegrown third basemen Alec Bohm as he enters his final season of team control in 2026.
The relationship between Bohm, the front office, and even the fanbase has been rocky at best over the past couple of seasons, and while he has given them solid production at the hot corner from time to time, it is safe to say he has not really lived up to the hype of being the third overall pick in his draft year.
Through six seasons in Philadelphia, Bohm has slashed .279/.328/.415 and has been a positive offensive player for the most part, including being named the starting 3B in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game for the National League.
However, his power numbers have never really developed, which is frustrating for a guy who is 6'5" and 230 pounds and plays a power position such as third base. His glove has been average when at his best and awful at his worst, and with the rumors linking the Phillies to free agent Bo Bichette, it is easy to see a path towards a fresh start for Bohm as he enters his contract year.
2. Orion Kerkering, RHP
Seeing the Phillies move on from Orion Kerkering would definitely be a surprise, and I think it is fair to say this one is a lot more unlikely than the team moving on from Bohm. However, it is not completely impossible to see a scenario where the young right-hander gets moved in a deal for an upgrade at another position.
The 24-year-old Kerkering certainly has value as he comes off a strong sophomore season in South Philly, where he posted an 8-4 record, 3.30 ERA, and four saves in 69 appearances for the Phils. His fastball/sweeper combo is already solid, and it has elite upside if he can continue to develop his stuff as he gets more experience
However, Kerkering's playoff failures over the past three seasons are fresh on everyone's mind and truly make you question if he can be a part of the solution in the Phillies bullpen, as opposed to one of the problems.
If the Phillies decide to pivot off resigning J.T. Realmuto, maybe they could build a package around Orion Kerkering to look to land their starting catcher for 2026 and beyond
It is no secret that the way the Phillies' year ended and the role Kerkering played in that season-ending loss have left a sour taste in the mouth of the fanbase. Maybe a fresh start for all parties involved is what's needed.
3. Nick Castellanos, RH
Okay, I admit, this one is cheating a bit as pretty much everyone knows there is about a 0% chance that Nick Castellanos will be on the Phillies roster when the season begins. However, I did say these were players whocouldbe traded, and even though it would take eating most, if not all of the money left on his deal, there is a scenario where he could be traded.
As we enter the final year of Castellanos' five-year deal that he signed entering the 2022 season, his tenure with the team has been a bit of a dud when you consider the $100 million commitment the front office made to him.
There have been some highs and lows, the highest being a 2023 All-Star appearance and some good playoff series in 2023 against the Atlanta Braves and 2024 against the New York Mets.
There have also been some lows, such as his 1-for-27 series in the 2023 National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, getting benched for fighting with Rob Thomson in 2025, and eventually becoming a platoon player down the stretch. And, of course, posting a rather pedestrian .732 OPS since joining the Phillies — the worst of the four teams he's played for.
Ultimately, Castellanos has not been the middle of the order bat he was signed to be more often than he has been throughout his time with the Phillies, and he has publicly voiced his displeasure with the organization, setting up this inevitable split.
Sure, the Phillies could just decide to release Castellanos and eat the money, but maybe if they absorb it all, they can look to get something, literally anything in return for the veteran outfielder.