Sep 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Walker Buehler (31) looks on from the dugout during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
With less than 10 days until pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater, the Phillies do feel a bit thin on starting rotation depth.
Don't get it twisted, the ceiling of Rob Thomson's starting rotation is really high. Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo will both be trendy NL Cy Young Award picks, if anyone is looking for a Paul Skenes alternative. 2025 was a disaster for Aaron Nola, but he's obviously one of the most accomplished pitchers of his era. Andrew Painter is one of the top pitching prospects in the sport. Zack Wheeler was still pitching like an ace before a blood clot and thoracic outlet decompression surgery prematurely ended his 2025 campaign. And while the Phillies likely are looking forward to Taijuan Walker's $18 million salary coming off the books after 2026, he was useful last year, posting a 4.08 ERA over 123 1/3 innings split between the starting rotation and bullpen.
At the same time, this is a rotation that could get thin on depth in a hurry. Ranger Suárez departed for the Boston Red Sox in free agency. By all accounts, Wheeler's recovery from thoracic outlet decompression surgery is going very well, but what if there's a setback and/or the Phillies just don't think he's ready for Opening Day? What if Painter — who posted a 5.40 ERA in 22 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley last year — doesn't look ready for the Major Leagues to start the season? Without jinxing anyone else, what if another injury crops up?
As is, the Phillies depth after their top six arms of Sánchez, Luzardo, Nola, Wheeler, Painter and Walker — in whatever order you group them — is pretty thin. How would you feel if the Phillies end up needing, say, seven starts from any of Alan Rangel, Jean Cabrera, Bryse Wilson, Yoniel Curet or Tucker Davidson in 2026?
The Phillies could stand to add another starter, though their ability to do that will likely be limited by the fact that they can't guarantee any remaining free agent 20+ starts this upcoming season. In the best-case scenario, the Phillies rotation will be made up of Sánchez, Luzardo, Nola, Wheeler and Painter, with Walker also looming.
So while it's fair to want the Phillies to add another arm, you have to be realistic. Is Justin Verlander — who is 34 wins from 300 — going to sign up for an uncertain role? Probably not. Ditto for other second or third-tier veteran options on the market like Lucas Giolito, Max Scherzer, Jose Quintana, Chris Bassitt or Zak Littell.
To get an upgrade over some of the options the Phillies currently have they may need to guarantee a Major League deal, though it would ideally be with a pitcher who has a low guaranteed salary. That way, if the pitcher struggles and/or the Phillies end up moving on from the player in a roster crunch later in the season, it isn't like you're swallowing a $10 million pill.
The available free agent who might fit this bill the best is Walker Buehler, who finished the 2025 season with the Phillies. In a 2025 season spent largely with the Red Sox, Buehler posted a 4.93 ERA over 26 starts. It wasn't a good season overall, and while Buehler did close out the 2024 World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has a 5.10 ERA across 201 1/3 innings since returning from his second Tommy John surgery.
That description might not sell you on bringing Buehler back, though you have to remember that you're not offering him a particularly attractive position. He would basically be the 2026 version of Spencer Turnbull, and in the best-case scenario, the two-time All-Star would spend most or all of this campaign pitching out of the bullpen.
So why would Buehler be interested in returning to the Phillies? Well, there's still a lot of decent arms available in free agency, so there's no guarantee anyone is going to give him a better opportunity. He's also someone used to winning, so he may not be keen on taking a better deal from a bad team. Buehler was effective over 13 2/3 innings for the Phillies in September, posting a 0.66 ERA. The 3.72 FIP he had as a Phillie suggests that, go figure, the 0.66 ERA he had wasn't sustainable. But it was a glimmer of hope for Buehler, who was attracted to the Phillies in part because of the chance to work with pitching coach Caleb Cotham, a fellow Vanderbilt product.
Walker Buehler said “that’s above my paygrade” when asked if he’s put himself in position to start in the postseason.
He also added “next time we celebrate, I wanna feel like I was a part of it.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/HDkZiLrwNu
As part of a larger answer in late September on whether he thought he put himself into position to potentially start a game in the postseason for the Phillies, Buehler did acknowledge that he had enjoyed his brief time in red pinstripes.
"...I haven't been here very long, but I've really enjoyed this team and next time we celebrate, I wanna feel like I was a part of it," Buehler said. "So whatever they ask me to do."
That doesn't mean Buehler entered this offseason thinking he wouldn't get a chance to be a full-time starter, but as camps begin to open, the idea of returning for a full season with the Phillies in a sort of swing role might begin to sound more appealing.
