The Philadelphia Phillies appear to have concluded their major offseason spending after signing outfielder Max Kepler and reliever Jordan Romano to one-year contracts.
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski indicated that further impactful free-agent acquisitions are unlikely, citing luxury tax constraints.
“I would be surprised if we got into impactful free-agent type of signings from an offensive perspective,” Dombrowski said Friday evening.
The Phillies have been aggressive in recent years, securing stars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and others, pushing their payroll beyond $300 million. However, exceeding the third luxury tax threshold means paying a 92.5% penalty on overages.
Kepler’s $10 million deal, for instance, effectively costs the Phillies $19.25 million.
“Everybody we sign is a major penalty at this point,” Dombrowski explained. “You’re cognizant of that.”
With their payroll nearing the fourth tax threshold of $301 million, Dombrowski acknowledged the challenges but expressed confidence in the current roster. “I think we’re as good,” he said, comparing the 2025 squad to last year’s team.
The Phillies still aim to add a versatile pitcher but seem prepared to enter spring training with their current lineup. Despite the financial limitations, Dombrowski remains optimistic:
“I think we have a really good ballclub.”
