At the deadline, Philly shuffled the infield, sliding Bryson Stott to third, Alec Bohm to first and Bryce Harper out to right to make room for Luis Arraez, while Trea Turner stayed at short.
The experiment fizzled. Arraez’s production nosedived and a left‑ankle sprain kept him out of the Wild Card Series, prompting Philly to revert Stott to second and slot Edmundo Sosa at third in the Atlanta loss.
Looking ahead to 2027, Arraez, Bohm and Sosa will hit free agency. Dombrowski said Harper will likely return to first base, with occasional outfield duties, and Kyle Schwarber could see more time at the corner, giving Mattingly flexibility for Harper’s DH days. For my money, Harper belongs at first.
Turner is slated as the everyday shortstop for 2027, though the club warned the role isn’t set in stone. “Defensively he must improve,” Dombrowski stressed, adding that the standards from ’26 to ’27 are non‑negotiable.
The 33‑year‑old endured his worst season, posting a .242/.297/.378 line – career lows aside from his limited 2015 rookie year. He still managed 19 homers and 100 runs, largely thanks to batting near the top of the order, and logged 156 starts with over 700 plate appearances.
Defensively, Philly fretted most. Turner tied Otto Lopez for the league lead with 21 errors and posted a -17 DRS, the lowest among shortstops, plus a -8 OAA grade. He cleaned up in September, committing just one misplay, but the overall picture remains troubling.
Turner’s fielding slipped in 2023‑24, rebounded in ’25, then declined again. He excels tracking balls to his right but makes too many mistakes covering the middle. Speed and arm strength linger, yet the Phils may need to contemplate an outfield shift if errors persist.
Only Sosa shared shortstop duties this year. Top prospect Aidan Miller, hampered by back problems, missed most of the season but is now healthy and pitching in the Arizona Fall League at third base. Meanwhile, 22‑year‑old Bryan Rincon earned a Double‑A breakout and is set for a 40‑man roster addition, likely starting in Triple‑A.
If Bohm and Arraez depart, Philly must add an infielder from outside. Stott, entering his final arbitration year, remains a solid second‑base defender who can also cover the left side. Miller could vie for the everyday third‑base spot, yet a more versatile bench piece than Otto Kemp is needed.
A swing‑man like Mauricio Dubón would fit nicely. Utility options such as Isiah Kiner‑Falefa or Ha‑Seong Kim sit at the lower end of free agency, while trade targets like Willi Castro or Jared Triolo could also fill the gap.
Team defense has lagged for years, ranking 22nd in Outs Above Average and dead‑last in DRS. New manager Don Mattingly called it a top priority, saying, “Defense is a premium we must push,” a mantra that must begin this offseason. Can the Phils finally tighten up their glove next season?