The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees enter this winter facing crossroads that could reshape the direction of both franchises. Each team has star-caliber players from last season sitting on the open market, and their decisions could create ripple effects throughout the league. Among the headline free agents are Kyle Schwarber and Cody Bellinger, two of the most accomplished hitters available. Their markets are expected to be competitive, and the outcome of their individual negotiations could dramatically alter the offseason strategies for both clubs.
For the Phillies, the situation is particularly delicate. Schwarber, who just completed one of the most dominant offensive seasons of his career, finished as the runner-up for the National League MVP Award. Since arriving in Philadelphia, he has become a cornerstone of the lineup, bringing elite power, on-base ability, and a postseason track record that fits the identity the Phillies have built under Dave Dombrowski and Rob Thomson. As a result, the Phillies are understandably pushing to retain him. However, they are far from the only team motivated to land Schwarber, and the slugger’s consistent production ensures he will draw interest from a range of contenders.
One team viewed as a serious threat to land Schwarber is the Cincinnati Reds, who are reportedly preparing to make a massive offer. If Cincinnati ultimately signs him, the Phillies would face the painful reality of losing one of the most important players on their roster. Losing Schwarber would not simply create a single vacancy; it would leave the Phillies with a collection of offensive gaps that cannot realistically be filled by just one player. Schwarber’s combination of power, patience, leadership, and postseason clutchness makes him almost irreplaceable in a one-for-one manner.
Recognizing this, analysts have examined potential fallback options for Philadelphia. Among those analysts is Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer, who recently projected what the Phillies might do if Schwarber signs elsewhere. According to Rymer, the Phillies could shift their focus to Cody Bellinger, another marquee free agent and one of the premier outfielders available on the market. While Bellinger does not replicate Schwarber’s exact offensive profile, he brings a valuable blend of power, athleticism, defensive versatility, and upside that would address multiple needs for the Phillies at once.
The fit is logical for many reasons. Philadelphia is widely expected to move on from Nick Castellanos, whose inconsistencies, defensive limitations, and significant salary have made him a trade candidate. If Castellanos is moved, the Phillies would have immediate openings—or at least significant question marks—at all three outfield positions. The notion of entering 2026 with uncertainty across the entire outfield is something the front office clearly wants to avoid. In this context, adding Bellinger would not just be a recovery plan; it would be a strategic upgrade in several dimensions.
Bellinger’s 2025 season reminded the baseball world of his MVP-level talent. He launched 29 home runs, the most he has hit since his 2019 MVP campaign, and showed improved plate discipline, better contact quality, and sustained defensive value both in the outfield and at first base. His bounce-back performance alleviated doubts that surrounded him earlier in his career following injuries and inconsistencies with the Dodgers. For a team like Philadelphia—one that prizes power but also athleticism, defensive flexibility, and postseason resilience—Bellinger checks a wide range of boxes.
Importantly, the interest is not hypothetical. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Phillies have already shown genuine interest in Bellinger. That makes him an obvious candidate to become the team’s primary target if Schwarber heads elsewhere. Philadelphia has the financial resources to remain in the upper tier of the bidding market, and if they suddenly find themselves with the money they had allocated for Schwarber freed up, they could easily redirect those funds toward Bellinger and outbid several of their rivals. Such a move would not fully replicate Schwarber’s production, but it would give them a younger, more versatile player who could stabilize their outfield for years to come.
Meanwhile, the Yankees find themselves in a parallel but slightly different situation. They also have Bellinger hitting free agency, and they too must map out their outfield plans based on whether they retain him. If the Yankees are unable to re-sign Bellinger, they would be forced to make a strategic shift in how their outfield is constructed for the upcoming season.
In that scenario, the Yankees’ internal depth becomes more important. Their most likely plan involves handing the starting left-field job to Jasson DomÃnguez, the highly regarded young outfielder who showed flashes of star potential before injuries interrupted his early development. New York is confident in his talent and ceiling, but leaning on him as an everyday starter immediately after losing a proven star like Bellinger would be a significant adjustment in roster structure.
With DomÃnguez in left, the plan would then move Trent Grisham into the starting center field role. Grisham, while not the offensive force Bellinger has been, brings above-average defense, steady athleticism, and valuable on-base skills. His presence helps maintain defensive stability, especially in Yankee Stadium’s expansive center field. In the remaining corner-outfield spot, of course, would be Aaron Judge, whose presence alone helps shape the identity of the Yankees’ lineup. Still, the loss of Bellinger would noticeably weaken the offensive depth and left-handed presence that the Yankees have spent years trying to assemble.
The repercussions of these free-agent outcomes extend far beyond just the Phillies and Yankees. Schwarber and Bellinger are not simply good players—they shape the offensive landscape of Major League Baseball. Schwarber’s elite power and left-handed bat make him a dream addition for any club seeking run production and veteran leadership. Bellinger’s combination of youth, athleticism, positional versatility, and 30-homer potential makes him a unique asset whose signing could elevate any contender.
For the Phillies, Schwarber’s departure would mark the end of a highly successful era that saw him emerge not just as a star hitter but as a heartbeat of the team, especially in October. Replacing that presence is extremely difficult. But the addition of Bellinger would allow the front office to retool with a multi-positional, well-rounded slugger entering what should be the prime of his career.
For the Yankees, Bellinger’s loss would force them to rely more heavily on youth and internal development while likely pushing them to pursue other free agents or trade opportunities to avoid offensive regression. DomÃnguez, for all his talent, does not yet offer the consistency or the track record that Bellinger brings. And while Grisham offers defensive reliability, he does not provide the type of all-around impact the Yankees originally sought when they acquired Bellinger.
The interconnectedness of these decisions highlights how quickly the offseason can evolve. If Schwarber joins the Reds, the Phillies pivot to Bellinger. If they aggressively pursue Bellinger, the Yankees must adjust quickly. Meanwhile, other teams—many of whom covet top-tier outfield upgrades—are monitoring both markets closely, ready to step in if either club hesitates.
Ultimately, the fates of the Phillies and Yankees this offseason may hinge on the decisions of these two star outfielders. Philadelphia’s entire lineup structure could shift dramatically depending on whether Schwarber stays or leaves, and Bellinger represents both an insurance policy and a long-term investment. New York, on the other hand, must determine whether retaining Bellinger is essential to supporting Judge and stabilizing the lineup, or whether they are prepared to place greater trust in DomÃnguez and Grisham to fill crucial roles.
As winter unfolds, these storylines will continue developing, and the outcomes will almost certainly influence how each team approaches the rest of the offseason. Whether Schwarber returns to Philadelphia, whether Bellinger remains in New York, and how each team moves forward if they lose their star free agents will determine not just their roster construction but their competitive trajectory for years to come.
