The Phillies' Frustrating Formula: Why Not Just Spend Like the Dodgers?
When free agency drags on and star players like Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, J.T. Realmuto, Ranger Suárez, and others remain unsigned, it's natural to wonder what's holding them back. For a team that needs to compete with the Dodgers' lucrative payroll, the question is: why not just spend like L.A.? does.
Last season's numbers tell the tale. The Dodgers had a massive $103 million spending lead over the Phillies, and their winning ways proved it was worth every penny. Meanwhile, teams like the Rays, White Sox, and Marlins were barely scraping by due to their tiny payrolls. The disparity was staggering – three entire payrolls couldn't even come close to matching the Dodgers' payroll.
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire in 2026, which has fueled speculation about a potential lockout. If that happens, it could lead to increased spending, as players and owners head into uncharted territory. For now, though, the Phillies seem hesitant to open their checkbooks.
The correlation between spending big and winning big is well-documented. Since 2018, only twice in the last decade have champions come from outside the top 10 highest payrolls. The Phillies are projected to have the third-highest spending in 2026, but where's the incentive to try for first?
One reason could be the team's profitability. According to CNBC, the Phillies are a $3.2 billion valuation franchise that made $528 million in revenue last season – tied for fourth among all 30 MLB teams. However, their international players have limited upside compared to the Dodgers and Yankees, which generate over $700 million in income annually.
So, what's holding the Phillies back from splurging on top talent? CEO John Middleton has stated his commitment to winning, saying he wants to spend "stupid money" to get there. He's signed big-name players like Bryce Harper and Trea Turner to nine-figure deals, as well as Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler.
However, the Phillies seem hesitant to go beyond a certain point. They've become repeat luxury tax offenders, paying over $56 million in penalties last season. The fear is that they won't be willing to break the bank for Realmuto's catcher position or upgrade their outfield with pricey free agents.
Instead, the Phillies appear to be focusing on picking and choosing smartly, rather than throwing hundreds of millions at a single player like Shohei Ohtani or Roki Sasaki. They're prioritizing young prospects Justin Crawford, Aidan Miller, and Andrew Painter over high-risk, high-reward moves.
While it's understandable that the Phillies want to be frugal, their approach may not align with the reality on the field. With Realmuto's impending free agency looming large, it's essential for the team to find a balance between smart spending and aggressive pursuit of top talent. Until then, fans will just have to wait and see if the Phillies can put together a winning formula – without breaking the bank.
When free agency drags on and star players like Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, J.T. Realmuto, Ranger Suárez, and others remain unsigned, it's natural to wonder what's holding them back. For a team that needs to compete with the Dodgers' lucrative payroll, the question is: why not just spend like L.A.? does.
Last season's numbers tell the tale. The Dodgers had a massive $103 million spending lead over the Phillies, and their winning ways proved it was worth every penny. Meanwhile, teams like the Rays, White Sox, and Marlins were barely scraping by due to their tiny payrolls. The disparity was staggering – three entire payrolls couldn't even come close to matching the Dodgers' payroll.
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire in 2026, which has fueled speculation about a potential lockout. If that happens, it could lead to increased spending, as players and owners head into uncharted territory. For now, though, the Phillies seem hesitant to open their checkbooks.
The correlation between spending big and winning big is well-documented. Since 2018, only twice in the last decade have champions come from outside the top 10 highest payrolls. The Phillies are projected to have the third-highest spending in 2026, but where's the incentive to try for first?
One reason could be the team's profitability. According to CNBC, the Phillies are a $3.2 billion valuation franchise that made $528 million in revenue last season – tied for fourth among all 30 MLB teams. However, their international players have limited upside compared to the Dodgers and Yankees, which generate over $700 million in income annually.
So, what's holding the Phillies back from splurging on top talent? CEO John Middleton has stated his commitment to winning, saying he wants to spend "stupid money" to get there. He's signed big-name players like Bryce Harper and Trea Turner to nine-figure deals, as well as Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler.
However, the Phillies seem hesitant to go beyond a certain point. They've become repeat luxury tax offenders, paying over $56 million in penalties last season. The fear is that they won't be willing to break the bank for Realmuto's catcher position or upgrade their outfield with pricey free agents.
Instead, the Phillies appear to be focusing on picking and choosing smartly, rather than throwing hundreds of millions at a single player like Shohei Ohtani or Roki Sasaki. They're prioritizing young prospects Justin Crawford, Aidan Miller, and Andrew Painter over high-risk, high-reward moves.
While it's understandable that the Phillies want to be frugal, their approach may not align with the reality on the field. With Realmuto's impending free agency looming large, it's essential for the team to find a balance between smart spending and aggressive pursuit of top talent. Until then, fans will just have to wait and see if the Phillies can put together a winning formula – without breaking the bank.
. its clear that more money means more wins, right? i mean, they had way less payroll than l.a. last season and still made it to the playoffs 
. but now they're hesitant to open their checkbooks because of some tax penalties? that seems unfair to me 
. they need to stop worrying about breaking the bank and start thinking about winning a championship 
. its not like they can put a price on success or anything 
.
. Sure they might be worried about luxury tax penalties but thats just good business sense 
.
, but they gotta think about the long game here too 
. Maybe their approach is more sustainable than just throwing cash at players like Ohtani 
...only time will tell
. The correlation between spending big and winning is real, fam 
. Still, it's gonna be tough for them to compete without throwing some serious cash at Realmuto 
. Can't wait to see what happens in 2026 when the CBA is up for grabs 
!
The Phillies seem stuck between being smart about their spending or going all-in on top talent. I think they need to find that sweet spot where they can balance both. Maybe they're just playing it too cautious? 
I mean, come on guys! You're projected to be one of the top spenders in 2026 and yet you're still playing it so safe? It's like you think the money is gonna magically make itself or something 
And don't even get me started on Realmuto... I feel for him, he deserves better than being held back by this team's penny-pinching ways 
And we know what happens when you spend big: you win big! 
So why can't the Phillies just take a cue from their LA counterparts and splurge on some top talent? 
! I think the Phillies are being super cautious with their spending right now, but it's hard not to wonder what would happen if they just went all-in like the Dodgers 
! But at the same time, I get it, there are risks involved with spending too much on one player... but what if they hit a home run (literally)? 
. Like, Realmuto's gonna be a free agent soon and if they don't sign him, it's gonna be a disaster 
️! But at the same time... 
️.
like ohtani and sasaki, those guys are straight up game changers 
.
. But till then, they're stuck in limbo with Realmuto looming over them like the elephant in the room 
. They need to take a deep breath and splurge on top talent or else fans will be left wondering what could've been 