There may be significant changes in Philadelphia following the Phillies’ poor season finale once again. While Rob Thomson seems to have a safe and secure position, a number of other well-known coaches are under pressure and may not have much longer to stay with the team.
Phillies’ hitting coach Kevin Long could be this year’s scapegoat
Following yet another disappointing postseason exit, the Philadelphia Phillies may be poised for significant changes. Although manager Rob Thomson appears secure in his role, other prominent coaches could be on the chopping block.
One potential target is hitting coach, who might be held responsible for the Phillies’ struggles at the plate when it mattered most. According to Nathan Ackerman of Phillies Nation, the Phillies’ offense faltered in the postseason, recording just 24 hits and 11 runs over 129 at-bats in four games. Remarkably, 14 of those hits came from only three players—Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Trea Turner. This downturn was stark compared to a regular season where Philadelphia ranked in the league’s top five for runs, hits, doubles, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
Unfortunately, these playoff struggles aren’t new for the Phillies. In the 2023 NLCS, they failed to capitalize on a 3-2 lead over the Diamondbacks, scoring only three runs across the final two games. Similarly, in the 2022 World Series, the Phillies lost three consecutive games to the Astros after leading the series 2-1, managing a combined three runs and suffering a no-hit shutout in Game 4 at home.
Phillies can only make so many changes to the roster
Because of the money the Phillies have spent on their core group, there is little chance of a full squad makeover after another poor postseason.
While Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, and Bryson Stott all have several years remaining in their arbitration contracts before they first become available to the public, Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Trea Turner are all signed through at least 2026.
Even if they might be able to trade some of the players who are still eligible for arbitration, because these players are not committed for the long term, their return will probably be less than anticipated.
Given the current Phillies’ payroll structure, it’s very likely that Kevin Long and his two best assistant coaches, Dustin Lind and Rafael Pena, will be let go. The Phillies’ trend of postseason problems should force them to reevaluate their strategy, which hasn’t worked out in the postseason against the best teams in the league, even though coaches can only do so much to help a team win.
At the same time, it’s important to consider that Juan Soto is a free agent, and Kevin Long’s potential departure could influence Soto’s decision regarding a move to Philadelphia. The two have previously worked together in Washington, which may play a role in Soto’s thoughts. However, Soto might still be inclined to join the Phillies due to his relationships with Bryce Harper and Trea Turner from their shared time with the Nationals.
The Phillies have a history of making significant changes when the team struggles. In 2022, they fired Joe Girardi during his third season as manager after it became evident that the team was underperforming despite its talent.
Now, two years later, the Phillies find themselves in a similar situation. Ultimately, it will be up to Dave Dombrowski and his team to determine if the current coaching staff has what it takes to lead this team to a championship.
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