The Philadelphia Phillies have maintained a relatively quiet offseason so far, opting largely to stick with their core roster while re-signing key contributors Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto.
Beyond these moves, the team’s notable acquisitions include outfielder Adolis Garcia on a one-year deal and relief pitcher Brad Keller, but high-profile additions have been scarce.
The Phillies also pursued All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette, only to lose out to the New York Mets, who offered him a shorter-term, higher-AAV contract. With the regular season approaching, questions linger over whether Philadelphia will make one final impactful signing.
Baseball analyst Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report predicts the Phillies could re-sign veteran pitcher Walker Buehler to strengthen their starting rotation.
With Zack Wheeler expected to start the year on the injured list following thoracic outlet surgery and Ranger Suarez departing via free agency, Philadelphia could use an experienced arm to ease the burden on young prospect Andrew Painter.
Buehler, 31, joined the Phillies late in the 2025 season after being released by the Boston Red Sox. Despite a limited 13.2 innings pitched, he impressed with a remarkable 0.66 ERA, giving the Phillies a taste of what he could bring in 2026.
Once considered among the elite pitchers in baseball, Buehler made two All-Star appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 and 2021 and finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting in the latter season. Injuries, however, have hampered his career, limiting him to just 42 starts over the past four seasons. He holds a lifetime 3.52 ERA, 3.83 FIP, and 1.154 WHIP, though his recent numbers have risen.
Despite his injury history, Buehler represents a cost-effective, high-upside option for the Phillies as they finalize their roster. His potential return could provide critical depth, particularly if the team’s young pitching prospects are not yet ready to handle a full-time major league role.
As the 2026 MLB season nears, Philadelphia fans are watching closely to see if Buehler or another key addition will emerge, rounding out a roster already built around a mix of veteran presence and young talent.
