The Philadelphia Phillies have several reasons to be disappointed with how their 2026 campaign unfolded, but one of the biggest concerns heading into the offseason is the inconsistent performance of their offense. Despite having an experienced lineup filled with established stars, Philadelphia struggled to produce runs consistently, exposing an area that must be addressed before the 2027 season.
While the Phillies remain a team capable of changing games with their power, their offensive approach became too predictable at times. Too often, they depended on home runs and extra-base hits rather than finding different ways to manufacture runs. That lack of versatility placed additional pressure on their biggest offensive contributors and made it easier for opposing pitchers to control games.
Several important players experienced disappointing seasons. Shortstop Trea Turner and catcher J.T. Realmuto endured some of the least productive campaigns of their respective careers, while the outfield struggled to provide the consistent offensive production Philadelphia needed.
Consequently, significant lineup improvements are expected this winter. Potential acquisitions such as Randy Arozarena or Seiya Suzuki could address the need for a productive right-handed-hitting outfielder. The catching position could also receive attention, with the Phillies potentially exploring veteran options to strengthen their depth behind the plate.
However, signing established players should not be the organization’s only priority. Philadelphia already has several players capable of contributing more offensively without requiring additional financial investment.
One particularly important area of improvement is baserunning.
THE PHILLIES NEED TO BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE ON THE BASEPATHS
The Phillies have traditionally been recognized for their power, but their roster contains several players with the speed and athleticism to create additional scoring opportunities through aggressive baserunning.
Bryson Stott demonstrated exactly what that approach can accomplish in 2026. The second baseman finished with 27 stolen bases without being caught once, making him one of the most efficient baserunners on the roster.
Turner also contributed 21 stolen bases while being caught just four times. Although his offensive production was disappointing in other areas, his speed remains an important weapon that Philadelphia can utilize more effectively.
Center fielder Justin Crawford finished with 17 stolen bases, while Brandon Marsh recorded 11. Those were the only four Phillies players to reach double figures in stolen bases during the season.
Collectively, Philadelphia recorded just 105 stolen bases in 2026. That represented its lowest total since 2022, when Major League Baseball introduced rule changes designed to encourage more aggressive baserunning and increase stolen-base opportunities.
For a team with Philadelphia’s offensive talent, that number should be higher.
Manager Don Mattingly has an opportunity to change that dynamic in 2027 by encouraging his players to take advantage of their athletic abilities. Adding pressure to opposing pitchers, forcing defensive mistakes and creating scoring opportunities without needing extra-base hits could make the Phillies considerably more dangerous.
JUSTIN CRAWFORD COULD BE A MAJOR FACTOR IN 2027
One player who deserves particular attention is Crawford.
The young outfielder possesses the speed and athleticism to become an important contributor to Philadelphia’s offensive identity. However, the organization believes there is another level to his game that he must reach.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has already identified Crawford as someone who needs to make significant improvements heading into 2027.
Discussing the development of Stott and Crawford, Dombrowski acknowledged the potential for greater production from both players.
“Stott had a really good June, July, August,” Dombrowski said, via Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic. “I don’t know why he can’t be that player all the time. We need to get Crawford better. He did like we thought he would this year. But there’s got to be another level to him, where he gets better, he gets on base more, he steals more bases.”
Those comments highlight an important part of Philadelphia’s offseason priorities.
Crawford does not necessarily need to become a power hitter to provide tremendous value. Improving his ability to reach base, recognizing opportunities to steal and consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses could significantly increase his overall offensive contribution.
Entering his second major-league season, further development should be expected. Depending on how the Phillies construct their outfield, Crawford could also face competition for regular playing time. Making improvements in these areas would strengthen his case for a larger role.
GETTING ON BASE MUST BE THE FIRST PRIORITY
Although stolen bases could become an important weapon for Philadelphia, there is one fundamental problem the team must solve first: getting runners on base.
The Phillies finished the 2026 season with a .312 team on-base percentage, ranking 23rd in Major League Baseball. Their impressive August helped improve that figure, but their production throughout much of the season was considerably less encouraging.
Without consistent opportunities to reach base, even the fastest players cannot make a meaningful impact on the basepaths.
That is why improving the overall offensive approach must remain a priority. Turner needs to rediscover his consistency, Realmuto must provide better production, and the outfield needs to become more reliable.
Stott also needs to demonstrate that his strongest stretches in 2026 can become a regular feature of his game rather than occasional flashes of excellence.
If those improvements happen, Philadelphia could have considerably more opportunities to utilize its speed.
A SMALL CHANGE COULD PRODUCE BIG RESULTS FOR PHILADELPHIA
The Phillies do not necessarily need to completely overhaul their offensive identity to become a better team in 2027. Their power will remain important, but developing a more balanced offensive approach could make them much harder to defend.
Adding another productive outfielder and strengthening the catching position would help. However, maximizing the abilities of players already on the roster could be just as valuable.
Stott, Turner, Crawford and Marsh have demonstrated that they can steal bases. The challenge is creating more opportunities and developing a consistent approach that allows them to use that ability effectively.
For Mattingly, this represents an opportunity to introduce another dimension to the Phillies’ offense.
If Philadelphia improves its on-base percentage and becomes more aggressive on the basepaths, opposing teams will have to prepare for more than just the threat of the home run.
That combination of power, speed and improved offensive discipline could be exactly what the Phillies need to make their lineup more dangerous and strengthen their chances of competing for a championship in 2027.
