Matt Gelb

An insightful look from Charlotte into a complex (and frustrating) Phillies issue.

What I’m hearing about the Reds’ interest in Kyle Schwarber and more MLB offseason notes The Phillies will almost certainly offer the slugger more money to return, but his hometown team is serious about getting him back to Cincy.

An update on Kyle Schwarber's free agency from @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

Happy holidays, Rita.

Phillies fan survey: How do you feel about the team and this offseason? As Phillies fans wait for moves, we invite them to share their opinions on this offseason and the state of the franchise.

We’re bringing back the Phillies fan survey at The Athletic. Happy holidays. Come yell: www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

J.T. Realmuto: Another possibility for Red Sox? With @jcmccaffrey: www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

Cliff Diving Podcast Episode · Phillies Therapy · 11/24/2025 · 50m

New PT: So far this offseason, lots of attention on the outfield and some on bullpen depth. But is last year's backbone a spot that needs more attention than we thought?
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Only Phillies’ non-tenders were two righties, Michael Mercado and Daniel Robert, who were not arbitration-eligible. They used this deadline to take them off roster. Phillies are at 32 on the 40-man roster.

Phillies have agreed to a split contract with catcher Garrett Stubbs ahead of today’s 5 p.m. tender deadline. He’ll make $925k in majors and $575k in minors, per source. Stubbs is out of minor-league options, but Phillies chose to retain some catching depth.

There is one change to the 2026 Phillies schedule as a result of MLB's new TV deals: They'll play Mets on July 16th, a Thursday, as the sole MLB game that night. That makes Fri. July 17 an off day.

Phillies protect 3 prospects from Rule 5 draft: What you need to know Here is an overview of the three prospects, and a look at whom the Phillies chose not to protect.

Phillies add three to 40-man roster. No surprises. But all three could factor somehow in 2026. Here’s @charlottevarnes.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

Tender is the Night

New pod: Maybe some action this week? open.spotify.com/episode/2CNG...

“There’s something to be said for knowing how to win..."

It was another playoff-caliber opponent in another playoff-like atmosphere. And it was another Eagles win.

Is it sustainable? Look at their track record (and defense).

Read more on @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

What I’m hearing about the Phillies: Schwarber’s free agency, trade market, bullpen reboot Schwarber is valued highly by the Phillies, but it's not obvious how the market will view him. If not the Phillies, who is it?

Some Phillies items that emerged from Vegas: www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Phillies’ outfield revamp: Justin Crawford, no Nick Castellanos, and a lot of questions The Phillies are actively shopping Nick Castellanos at this week's GM meetings, multiple major-league sources told The Athletic.

Dave Dombrowski on Harrison Bader: "They know we have interest. They know that we'd like to bring him back. They also had expressed that they want to see what's out there because this was the best year he's had, I think, in quite a while."

More on OF: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Phillies’ outfield revamp: Justin Crawford, no Nick Castellanos, and a lot of questions The Phillies are actively shopping Nick Castellanos at this week's GM meetings, multiple major-league sources told The Athletic.

From Vegas: Dave Dombrowski begins to outline the path toward an outfield reconstruction … www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

2026 Prospects: Philadelphia Phillies Top Prospects | Baseball Prospectus Top-heavy is a common descriptor for farm systems, but it's truer here than in most places.

I wrote about a system so thin I started making Dr. Seuss jokes instead of trying to ordinally rank the 5th round sixth year college senior closer against the 4th round up and down bench outfielder in the teens www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/ar...

Lind was a valued behind-the-scenes presence with Phillies; hitters offered unprompted praise for his work at the end of the regular season.

Why the Phillies are bringing back José Alvarado by exercising $9M club option The decision reflects the club's confidence that Alvarado can return to form after a season interrupted by an 80-game PED suspension.

It was a forgettable 2025 season for José Alvarado, but a $9 million decision to bring him back in 2026 didn’t feel too complicated. He would have been one of the best lefty relievers on the market. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

Phillies have exercised José Alvarado’s $9 million team option for 2026.

Get excited:

What will Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Dylan Cease and other MLB free agents make this offseason? How much will it cost to reel in a big star this offseason? Our analysis uses historical contract data and other trends to make a forecast.

It's Contract Projection Day: www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

Matt Berninger traded his notebook for a baseball. And the words kept coming For The National’s frontman, the way forward was written on rawhide.

A new story I'm pretty pumped to share. It's about words, and our pastime, and changing your traumas by changing your patterns.

On Matt Berninger, and the baseballs of writing:

With Great Rumors Come Great Responsibility

New pod: Yeah, we talked about it. Then, we took a first stab at trying to solve the clearest issue the Phillies face this offseason. Thank you for listening. open.spotify.com/episode/7kgg...

Phillies star Bryce Harper ‘hurt’ by trade speculation after Dave Dombrowski’s comments “I have given my all to Philly from the start,” Harper told The Athletic. “Now there is trade talk? I made every effort to avoid this."

Bryce Harper has some thoughts on his mind: www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

One of baseball’s timeless quirks will guarantee a World Series ring for Buddy Kennedy After playing briefly for both World Series teams, Kennedy will watch each game closely: "I added some little — very, very little — help.”

Fun story from Mitch Bannon, who talked to Buddy Kennedy, guaranteed World Series champion: www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Submit questions for Matt Gelb’s Phillies mailbag What questions do you have about the Phillies as they prepare for a critical offseason? Submit them here.

The World Series is starting without the Phillies. So, come here with your Phillies questions: www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

V.J. Edgecombe makes history to give 76ers hope: ‘He was amazing’ When the lottery balls fell Philadelphia's way and they were able to draft Edgecombe, a night like Wednesday night was the vision.

Great to have Tony Jones covering the Sixers for The Athletic. Two outstanding stories to begin the season ...

On Tyrese Maxey: www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

And, from Boston, a V.J. Edgecombe debut to remember: www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

San Francisco Giants to hire Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello as next manager: Sources Vitello will be the 40th manager in franchise history and he has by far the most unique resume.

Breaking news story on the Giants being in agreement with Tony Vitello, making him the first head coach with no pro baseball experience to leap directly to a major league managerial position: www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

Carlton Fisk’s home run in 12th beats Reds, 7-6 - The Boston Globe At 12:34 a.m., in the 12th inning, Fisk’s histrionic home run brought a 7-6 end to a game that will be the pride of historians in the year 2525.

Fifty years ago today, the greatest piece of baseball writing on deadline: www.bostonglobe.com/sports/1975/...

Gritting through the pain, George Springer gets his signature Blue Jays moment Springer's go-ahead home run will stand as one of the biggest in Jays history, a Joe Carter-like landmark for a new generation of fans.

After an epic Game 7, spectacular baseball writing in @theathletic.com

@ken-rosenthal.bsky.social on Springer's HR www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

Mitch Bannon on a special time in Toronto www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

@tylerkepner.bsky.social on M's heartbreak www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...