Scott Lauber

Sources: MLB planning Phillies-Twins matchup in August 2026 ‘Field of Dreams’ game The event, which would count as a regular-season game with the Twins as the home team, hasn’t been finalized and might not be announced when the rest of the schedule is released Tuesday.

Remember the plan for the Phillies to play the Twins in the return of the "Field of Dreams" game in Dyersville, Iowa? (www.inquirer.com/phillies/fie...) It'll be on Aug. 13, televised live by Netflix, MLB announced Wednesday as part of a three-year rights deal w/ESPN, NBC Universal, and Netflix.

Got a Phillies question? Sure you do. Ask here (or email slauber@inquirer.com), and I'll try to answer it on the next edition of "Phillies Extra," the baseball podcast from @inquirer.com. Thanks, as always.

Andrew Painter has been added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster, as expected, the team announced Tuesday. The Phillies also selected OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. and RHP Alex McFarlane. There are 33 players on the roster.

As expected, neither Kyle Schwarber nor Ranger Suarez accepted the $22.025 million, one-year qualifying offer. The Yankees' Trent Grisham was among four players who did, taking an outfielder off the board in a thin free-agent class. (Good for Harrison Bader.)

The Phillies’ ‘longer-term bet’ on Cristopher Sanchez looked like a misstep. Then he found his pitch. The 27-year-old lefty’s origin story, which took from him a teenager in the Rays’ organization to a project in the Phillies’ farm system and to a top-three starter in a playoff rotation, is a doozy.

Today is the deadline for teams to protect Rule 5 draft-eligible players by adding them to 40-man roster. The Phillies will add Andrew Painter (maybe RHP Alex McFarlane & OF Gabriel Rincones Jr.). Teams w/crowded 40-mans might trade. Best recent example from 2019: www.inquirer.com/phillies/phi...

Gameday Central: Phillies Extra with Joe Maddon Joe Maddon is a three-time former Manager of the Year, manager of the hex-breaking 2016 Chicago Cubs, and one of the sharpest minds in baseball. He’s also a native Pennsylvanian. And he joined “Philli

Also, “Phillies Extra” is available to watch here:

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Joe Maddon Spotify video

🚨New episode of "Phillies Extra" from @inquirer.com. This week: Joe Maddon. Please follow, listen, rate, review here:

--Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/48RP...

--Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j...

GM meetings takeaways: The J.T. Realmuto question, competition for Kyle Schwarber, and more We’re leaving Las Vegas with some observations after baseball’s braintrusts spent this week laying the groundwork for what should be a busy offseason.

Not everything that happened in Vegas this week stayed there. Phillies-related thoughts, observations, takeaways from the GM meetings. Weekend baseball reading, via @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/gm-...

Kyle Schwarber received 23 second-place votes and finished second overall in the NL MVP race. Trea Turner finished fifth.

I was an NL MVP voter. My ballot: Ohtani, Schwarber, Soto, Perdomo, Turner, Tatis Jr., Crow-Armstrong, Skenes, Freeman, Yelich.

The Phillies intend to move on from Nick Castellanos. Could a swap for Nolan Arenado be an option? Dave Dombrowski said "sometimes change of sceneries can be beneficial for people, too" in reference to his conversation with Castellanos. St. Louis is looking to move on from Arenado as well.

“Sometimes changes of scenery can be beneficial,” Dave Dombrowski said he told Nick Castellanos. The Cardinals are saying the same about Nolan Arenado. A bad contract match? From the GM meetings, via @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/dav...

YouTube video by The Philadelphia Inquirer Phillies Extra: Kevin Long

Also available here ...

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Kevin Long returns Spotify video

🚨 New episode of "Phillies Extra," the baseball podcast from
@inquirer.com. This week: Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long. Follow, listen, rate, review. Thanks!

--Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0Vl3...
--Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
--Inquirer: www.inquirer.com/phillies/phi...

Harrison Bader becomes a free agent after declining his $10 million mutual option with Phillies Bader, who hit .305 with five homers and an .824 OPS in 50 games with the Phillies, will join Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suárez as the team's other prominent free agents.

On Harrison Bader's decision to decline his mutual option and join the ranks of free-agent Phillies. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

Free-agent outlook: J.T. Realmuto will be 35, but he remains as valuable as ever to the Phillies Realmuto’s offense is diminished, but his value behind the plate — and behind the scenes — is as high as ever, almost to the point of being unquantifiable.

Diving into the free-agent market for J.T. Realmuto, from today's @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/phi...

The World Series is over, but "Phillies Extra," the baseball podcast from @inquirer.com will continue through the offseason. So, if you've got a Phillies question, ask here (or by email at slauber@inquirer.com), and I'll try to answer it on an upcoming show. Thanks.

Dusty Wathan Spotify video

🚨🚨 New episode of “Phillies Extra” from @inquirer.com with guest Dusty Wathan, the Phillies’ third base/catching coach. Please follow, listen, rate, review, yada, yada. Thanks!

—Spotify: spotify.link/2TjOGuwIWXb

—Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

Where will Kyle Schwarber land? Sizing up the Phillies’ competition in the free-agent sweepstakes Losing Schwarber would be “devastating” for the Phillies, who have made re-signing him a priority. But there will be teams that try to pry him away.

"I think it would be devastating to this organization and this fan base and everybody involved if he wasn’t a Phillie." Sizing up the market for Kyle Schwarber. Weekend baseball reading from @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/kyl...

How can Bryce Harper have an ‘elite’ season in 2026? It starts with examining his atypical 2025. Dave Dombrowski offered an eyebrow-raising answer about Harper’s season. Whether he can “rise to the next level again” depends on the star — as well as his front office and manager.

Let’s talk about Bryce Harper, his atypical 2025 season, what made him elite in the past (it’s more than lineup protection), and how he can be elite again. ICYMI, weekend baseball reading from @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/bry...

How can Bryce Harper have an ‘elite’ 2026 season? It starts with examining his atypical 2025. Dave Dombrowski offered an eyebrow-raising answer about Harper’s season. Whether he can “rise to the next level again” depends on the star — as well as his front office and manager.

Let’s talk about Bryce Harper, his atypical 2025 season, what made him elite in the past (it’s more than lineup protection), and how he can be elite again. Weekend baseball reading from @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/bry...

Greg Luzinski Podcast Episode · Phillies Extra · 10/21/2025 · 54m

🚨🚨New podcast: 45 years ago tonight, the Phillies won their first World Series. Let's chat with 1980 playoff hero Greg Luzinski on this week's "Phillies Extra" from @inquirer.com:

--Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
--Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6L1a...

Phillies Extra: Greg Luzinski Former Phillies slugger Greg “The Bull” Luzinski reflects on the team’s 1980 World Series win, his standout moments, and today’s Phillies’ playoff push. Watch the full conversation here.

45 years ago tonight, the Phillies won their first World Series. Time for a new episode of "Phillies Extra" from @inquirer.com with 1980 playoff hero Greg Luzinksi.

--Inquirer: www.inquirer.com/phillies/phi...
--YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu8l...
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Which Phillies should stay or go? Swipe and decide With several core players set to hit free agency, the Phillies are primed for bigger changes. Who needs to come back, and who needs to go? Swipe and decide.

Time for our annual "Stay Or Go?" interactive feature, in which we look at the future of each Phillies player. Then, you be the GM and make the choice. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/inq...

The Phillies are eyeing an infusion of youth for 2026. Here’s how three top prospects can fit. Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter, and even Aidan Miller likely will make their debuts next season for the Phillies, who are ready to push down harder on the prospect pedal as they tweak their roster.

Weekend baseball reading from @inquirer.com: It's time for a Phillies youth movement: www.inquirer.com/phillies/pro...

Got a Phillies question? Ask it here (or email me at slauber@inquirer.com), and I'll try to answer it on the next episode of "Phillies Extra" from @inquirer.com. Thanks.

Bryce Harper was named a finalist for the Gold Glove, Rawlings announced Wednesday. Other NL nominees at first base: Braves' Matt Olson and Reds' Spencer Steer. Harper is the Phillies' only Gold Glove finalist. Winners announced Nov. 2.

Phillies offseason preview: Futures of Schwarber, Realmuto, and time for a youth movement? There will be pressure to improve a roster that figures to undergo more changes this winter than in any of the previous three. Here are their three most pressing questions.

The Phillies have a fascinating offseason ahead. Breaking down the contract status of each player, and asking three (of the many) questions facing John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/fre...

Larry Andersen Spotify video

🚨"Phillies Extra" podcast from @inquirer.com. This week: Larry Andersen. Please follow, listen, rate, and review:

--Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6Far...
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Source: Rob Thomson will be back as Phillies manager in 2026 Questions arose about the job status of Thomson, who has one year left on his contract, after the Phillies lost in the divisional round of the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Rob Thomson will be back to manage the Phillies in 2026, a major-league source confirmed (@joelsherman.bsky.social and @jonheyman.bsky.social first.) From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/rob...

Phillies Extra: Larry Andersen Andersen sits down with The Inquirer’s Scott Lauber on the latest episode of “Phillies Extra” to discuss how the Phillies lost and what comes next.

New episode of "Phillies Extra" from @inquirer.com. This week: Larry Andersen. Please watch (podcast version available shortly):

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Phillies players ‘love Topper,’ but history shows replacing Rob Thomson might be the easier way to make a change There are only so many changes the Phillies can make to the roster with $170 million committed to seven players and key free agents they’d like back. Could Thomson be the 2025 Danny Ozark?

Weekend baseball reading from @inquirer.com: What about Rob? Players 'love Topper,' who has led Phillies to four consecutive playoff appearances. But history shows replacing a manager is an easier way to change course than a roster overhaul. www.inquirer.com/phillies/rob...