For the Phillies to let Walker go, they would need to eat the remaining two years on his contract and the $18 million owed in 2025 and 2026. It would be wise of Philadelphia to eat up this money and let Walker go. Given his numbers through two seasons, he hasn’t proven that he can consistently pitch well to keep his spot in the rotation.
In his first year with the Phillies in 2023, he started 31 games and finished with a record of 15-6 and an ERA of 4.38. It’s time to let Walker go and give Painter a chance.
3B Alec Bohm
This one may be controversial. Since joining the Phillies in 2020, Bohm has been one of the team’s biggest run producers. He recorded 97 RBI in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Why should the Phillies even consider letting Bohm walk? He is on a one-year, $4 million deal and is due for a new contract this offseason. He may ask for a significant salary raise, and it’s up to the organization to decide if he’s worth it.
Every player has an up-and-down season. Bohm managed to play 143 games even after suffering a hand injury late in the season. He hit .280, collected 15 home runs and scored 62 runs total. Defensively, Bohm made 15 errors in 2024. This is his second-highest number of errors since 2021, when he committed 16. Only Trea Turner had more with 17.
The postseason is where Bohm struggled quite a bit. In 2024, Bohm only collected one hit in 13 at-bats for a .077 batting average.
The Phillies should let Bohm walk because of his high number of errors and inability to come up big in the playoffs when the club needs him. If Philadelphia wants to win a World Series, they will need better situational hitting from its entire roster, including Bohm.
C Garrett Stubbs
The Phillies plan to get J.T. Realmuto off his feet a little more next season. Therefore, they’ll need a backup catcher for more games. Will Garrett Stubbs continue to be that guy?
Stubbs has proven that he has the arm to throw players out trying to steal bases and has the personality that every team wants. However, offensively, he may not be their guy going forward. In 2024, Stubbs played 56 games, hit seven home runs, collected 45 RBI and had a batting average of .207.
Stubbs shouldn’t be back in Philadelphia next season due to his poor offensive performance and lack of power at the plate. If the Phillies want to give Realmuto, entering his age-34 season in 2025, more time off, they’ll need to find someone who can fill his spot with a decent bat and strong arm.
Rafael Marchan could be an option. Albeit a small sample size, he hit .294 with three home runs and six RBI in 17 games in 2024. Additionally, Marchan is a switch-hitter, which the Phillies don’t currently have in their lineup.
OF Brandon Marsh
The Phillies have tirelessly searched for a consistent center fielder. Throughout the 2024 season, Marsh shared center field with Johan Rojas and appeared in left field.
Philadelphia thought they had found the solution to their center field problem in Marsh, so why is he on this list? He struggles against left-handed pitching. In 64 games against lefties in 2024, he only recorded one home run and eight RBI in 90 plate appearances for a .192 batting average.
The Phillies should move on from Marsh. His inability to hit lefties is the primary reason, but the club must also find someone who can play center field every day without platooning. There are plenty of options available this offseason, and Philadelphia should take their chance on one of the outfielders available.