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12 Key Notes and Quotes from a Busy Phillies Day
By Luke Arcaini
Published:
J.T. Realmuto, Dave Dombrowski, Preston Mattingly, and Rob Thomson spoke to the media this morning via Zoom after the Phillies made official Realmuto’s new three-year deal.
Then, in the afternoon, Christopher Sanchez, Tanner Banks, Otto Kemp, and Thomson spoke to the media in-person at Citizens Bank Park.
Instead of writing a million different stories, here’s everything you need to know wrapped into one post:
1. Realmuto contract negotiations “got a little hairy”
Everybody in the baseball world knew that the Phillies were in on Bo Bichette, before he ultimately signed with the Mets on a 3-year, $126M contract. The Phillies made an offer to Realmuto before they were in the Bichette market, but once things started to pick up, they made it clear to Realmuto that they had the potential of other plans.
“There was a short time where, there was no secret, that the Phillies had other opportunities, I was looking at other teams… It got a little stressful,” Realmuto said on the Zoom call. Ultimately, Realmuto returned on a 3-year, $45M deal that can get to $60M total with $5 million of incentives each year.
2. Bo Bichette deal “fell through at the last minute”
Dombrowski noted that the Kyle Tucker deal played a role in how things went down. Tucker signed a 4-year, $240M contract with the Dodgers, which made the Mets immediately pivot to Bichette and put a ton of money on the table.
Dombrowski confirmed that the Phillies did make an offer for Bichette, which was the offer that Bichette and his camp wanted. Ultimately, he took the higher AAV (Mets) rather than more years on the deal with the Phillies.
3. Nick Castellanos will not be on the team in 2026
Dombrowski confirmed that they still expect a “change of scenery” for Nick Castellanos. Castellanos is under contract for $20M this upcoming season. If the Phillies find a trade partner, they’ll have to eat a big chunk of the salary. Designating Castellanos for assignment could also be an option.
4. Cristopher Sanchez at the World Baseball Classic?
Sanchez said to reporters, via a translator, that it would be an honor to represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. He has to talk to the Phillies about it, who could be hesitant based on Sanchez’s 2025 workload and what they need from him this year.
5. two procedures for Otto Kemp
Kemp confirmed that he had not one, but two procedures done this offseason, one on his shoulder, and one on his knee, which removed a bone fragment. Kemp said he was “pretty banged up” last year, but did everything he could to continue to go out there whenever his name was called to help this team win.
Kemp said he fully expects to be 100% ready to go for Spring Training.
6. the leadership of Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber
When the Phillies were last together as a group, there was a chance that Schwarber and Realmuto wouldn’t return to the clubhouse. Now, they’re both back, with five years for Schwarber and three years for Realmuto.
“They’re the cornerstone of where we’re at,” Kemp said. “They set the tone every day. They’re in here with energy, and they’re ready to work every single day. And so as a young guy, you watch what those guys do, and there’s a reason why they’ve been playing baseball, and they’ve been playing winning baseball for their whole career. So, just kind of observing and letting those guys work and learning from them has been really, really special.”
7. Justin Crawford is a “gamer” and “grindy guy”
Justin Crawford will have the chance to win the everyday starting job in centerfield. The Phillies have praised their youth all offseason, with names like Crawford, Kemp, Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, Gabriel Rincones Jr, and more. Kemp had a ton of praise for Crawford, who will most likely spend a lot of time in the Phillies clubhouse in 2026:
“He’s a gamer. He’s a game changer. He’s got speed. He’s just raw, athletic, I mean, he’s just a grindy guy. He’s going to get the job done, and I’m excited to see what he can do at the big league level, because playing with him over the last three years has been really special. Setting the tone in the leadoff spot, swiping bags, taking the extra 90s. I think it’s all stuff that plays a big factor in winning baseball games.”
8. Tanner Banks in a higher-leverage role
The Phillies trade of Matt Strahm showed a couple things, one of them being their confidence in Tanner Banks, who said he’ll go into the 2026 season with the same procedure as always. He’s ready to take the ball no matter the situation, whether it’s a 10-run deficit, 10-run lead, or tie game.
Banks said he spoke to a group of kids at the Nike RBI Clinic Monday at Citizens Bank Park, and said the most important thing you can do is be consistent. When I spoke to Tanner Banks back in the summer, he reiterated consistency to me about everything in his life.
He’ll look to have that same amount of consistency in 2026, considering 2025 was the best year of his career.
9. Orion Kerkering as a dawg
Orion Kerkering had a nightmare end to his 2025 season. Everybody knows it, and nobody would wish the way things ended upon any athlete.
Banks said he’s talked to Orion Kerkering multiple times this offseason. He compared him to a dog, or a “dawg” as people say nowadays.
“I compare Kerk to, for me, like a dog. You know, he’s got that mentality of like, ‘let me get back out there, let me go at it again.’ But also, he’s extremely loyal to his teammates and to the city and everyone around him, and I know he’s been working hard. He’s a great dude. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and I’m really excited for him coming into this season.”
10. Kemp will be corner-outfield focused
With the Phillies DFA’ing Weston Wilson earlier on Tuesday, the move opens up an even bigger opportunity for Kemp’s playing time, potentially as the platoon partner with Brandon Marsh.
Thomson said that Kemp will train everywhere, outfield and infield, but will be more corner-outfield focused. The Phillies have Edmundo Sosa as their utility infielder. In a perfect world, Kemp is taking down time in the corner outfield spots rather than the infield, but the Phillies will prepare him for all situations.
11. An update on Zack Wheeler
Zack Wheeler has thrown from 90 feet, according to Thomson. They have yet to put a timeline on him, and he has not thrown from a mound just yet, but Thomson and the Phillies continue to get positive feedback on Wheeler’s recovery.
12. Running it back? – Thomson doesn’t think so
Are the Phillies “running it back?” That’s been the biggest question of the offseason. Thomson doesn’t think so:
“We got three new relievers. We got a new right fielder. We’re gonna put Crawford…Crawford’s gonna get every chance to play. Probably got a rookie starting pitcher in (Andrew) Painter. We got Otto Kemp, who wasn’t here at the start of last year. So we’re turning over 20-25% of our roster. So if you think that’s ‘turning it back,’ or ‘running it back,’ whatever the saying is, yeah, I can’t help you.”
Luke Arcaini writes about the Phillies for Crossing Broad, covers the Phillies for FOX Sports The Gambler, and co-hosts "Phillies Digest" on YouTube. The wave is the worst thing in all of sports. Contact: lukearcaini8@gmail.com