Now a week removed from the 2025 postseason, the Philadelphia Phillies held a press conference to discuss preparations for 2026.

Manager Rob Thomson and President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski answered questions Thursday on the team's offseason approach.

The presser's main topics: revamping the offense, engaging with minor league talent and the stability of the pitching staff.

Philadelphia's offense was often criticized this season, so it's no surprise names like Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber were mentioned Thursday.

Thomson and Dombrowksi said signing Schwarber is the franchise's No. 1 priority this offseason, while noting that the Phillies slugger holds the same mindset.

It's unlikely that Philadelphia returns all of its high-profile free agents, with Schwarber's contract reaching into nine digits while Suarez's number is rapidly approaching the $100m mark. Despite there being a lot of money on the table to bring them all back, knowing the the front office is ready to go all out to bring Schwarber back to South Philly eases a lot of the fans' worries about the NL MVP runner-up's status.

On the topic of star talent in Philadelphia, Dombrowski also responded to questions regarding Harper and his production going forward, but his answer leads to worry for many. 

With Harper turning 33 years old on the day of the press conference, reporters asked about whether or not he can continue his performance as one of the faces of the franchise as he ages, but Dombrowski's response makes it seem like the Phillies aren't really sure.

"I guess we can only find out if he becomes elite [again] or [if] he continues to be good," Dombrowski said. "I don't really know that answer."

Stepping away from conversation surrounding current major leaguers, Thomson and Dombrowski also answered questions regarding how the lineup will be tweaked heading into the 2026 season, which included some names Phillies fans have been waiting to hear.

Thomson noted that the 2025 lineup was oversaturated with left-handed hitters, something he hopes to manage better in the future. 

One of the right-handed batters who will eventually be added to the lineup is Aidan Miller, a well-rounded hitter who can play most positions in the infield.

Miller spent the majority of 2025 in Double-A with the Reading Fightin Phils before ending his season in Triple-A with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. 

The 21-year-old slashed a solid .264 batting average in the minor leagues, tallying 42 RBI in 114 hits. The Dunedin, Florida, native rose through the minor-league ranks quickly, going from the Single-A Clearwater Threshers in 2023 to a potential major-league debut in 2026. 

Dombrowski's comment cements the fact that Miller will be called up to the major-league roster at some point in 2026, adding that, when the time comes, he will see consistent playing time.

Additional minor-league talent the Phillies are likely to explore using in 2026 include Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter, names that Phillies fans were calling on throughout the second half of the 2025 regular season but never had the opportunity to see. 

With Suarez's departure from the program seeming more likely by the day, bringing Painter up adds another right-hander to the team's arsenal. If he is to receive the call, his performance needs to see definite improvement from his play in the minors in order to stave off Philadelphia's rabid fanbase and meet their expectations.

Crawford is likely the option that's been brought up more often in recent news with the developing relationship drama between Castellanos and the club. The Phillies' No. 8 has one year left on his contract, but an obvious rift between player and front office developed late in the season, as Castellanos saw limited playing time in September and in the postseason. 

Finally, Thomson and Dombrowski made a few points regarding the state of its pitching staff, speaking on ace Zack Wheeler's recovery timeline and the return of the star reliever.

Dombrowski stated that Wheeler's recovery is going well and that he's on track to begin rehab the week after the presser. His hope is that the star pitcher will be healthy come the start of the 2026 season, if not back on the mound by May, which is big news for the fans who are still reeling from the devastation of his late-season injury.

Additionally, Dombrowski noted that strong-armed reliever Jose Alvarado is likely to return to the Phillies after missing most of the season while serving a suspension, adding another powerful reliever to the bullpen to set up for closer Jhoan Duran.

"I'd be surprised without making any announcements that Alvarado's not back with us, but we'll see what's happening," Dombrowski said.