The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to compete for the World Series in 2025. Many have them on the short list of teams that can win it all due to their elite pitching staff and star-studded lineup.
Bryce Harper even said earlier in the offseason that he still needs to accomplish his goal of winning a World Series in Philly.
But not everyone sees the Harper’s team as serious contenders. MLB analyst Jayson Stark has concerns about the Phillies entering the 2025 season.
Jayson Stark Says “Age” Is a Concern
Stark went onto the “Hittin’ Season” podcast to discuss the Phillies and their 2025 season outlook. Stark said, “Only two teams in history have made it to the postseason with six full-time players, 32 or older, getting 500 plate appearances.”
The Phillies’ lineup fits that description, as it includes Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, and Nick Castellanos. Talented as those players undoubtedly are, it’s likely the Phillies as presently constituted are entering the back end of their championship window and need to start showing results.
In 2022, the Phillies lost in the World Series to the Houston Astros and fell short of returning in the subsequent pair of seasons by losing in the NLCS and NLDS. Summed up another way, the Phillies are not trending the right way when it comes to postseason exits.
Phillies’ 2025 Season Outlook
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Phillies have the fourth-best World Series odds at +1000. They trail only the Dodgers, Braves, and Yankees on that leaderboard. Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Max Kepler are some players to watch for the Phillies this year. Sanchez had a breakout season last year, and many expect him to be even better in 2025 in the wake of a great Spring Training and notable increase in velocity.
Two of the Phillies’ more significant additions this offseason are Luzardo and Kepler. Luzardo was acquired from the Miami Marlins in a trade, and Kepler was signed in free agency. We have seen flashes of brilliance from Luzardo during his career, but he has been inconsistent. The hope is that the Phillies can bring the best out of him this year.
As for Kepler, he is an outfield bat that fits a need for Philadelphia. It remains to be seen if he will be a full-time player or primarily serve as a platoon bat, but he’s certainly capable of making contributions in some capacity this coming season.
Despite the age-related concerns, the Phillies should have more than enough talent to remain an exciting contender, one that could potentially fulfill Harper’s goal.