The 2025 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies - Predictions by Barreldelphia Media

The Phillies are winning the World Series this year.

Become comfortable with that statement soon because approximately seven months from now it will be true. The Phillies have all the pieces necessary for winning a World Series - the national media believes it - it's just the fanbase in this area that is so negative for some reason.

Well, hold on a second. I know why we're so negative. We always are. I get it. We're a miserable people and we love that. But go be miserable about the disgrace that is the Sixers, or the Flyers who have been rebuilding for a century and just fired their John Tortorella.

Bring the negativity to those franchises, not our beloved Phillies. The Phillies and Super Bowl LIX Champion Eagles are in a different category than those other two teams that play at the Wells Fargo Center. The Phillies and Eagles do the right things - they sign the big name free agents, they win, they don't make dumb mistakes. The Sixers and Flyers can't say the same.

So what are the Phillies gonna do this season? Well, like I said, win the World Series. But, how will they do it? Just like I laid out on X (Twitter, whatever makes you happy).

Trea plays like we know he can

First, Trea Turner has to play at the level he's capable of. What does that mean? Well, in the four seasons leading up to him joining the Phillies (2019-2022), he slashed .311/.361/.509, with an .870 OPS, stealing 30+ bases twice during those seasons, and in '21 he hit an MLB best .328. In his first two years with the Phils, he's .266 and .295. He definitely improved last year, but then he slumped when he came back from injury and in a major way in the playoffs. The Phillies need Trea to return to form, and I think he can. Just last year he was hitting .343 until May 3rd, when he got injured.

I'm not saying Trea has to hit .343, or even .320, but if we can at least see him hit .310 to go along with 20+ homers (something he has done each of the past two years), it would go a long ways to helping the Phillies be successful. Especially in the leadoff spot now, like he is on Opening Day, we're going to need to see the old Trea again in 2025. And we will.

Rotation is as good as advertised

Zack Wheeler is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. When you look at the MLB since he joined the Phillies in 2020, it's hard to argue anyone has been better. He's finished second in NL Cy Young voting twice now, after doing it again last year, and this could be the year he finally captures it. But nobody is worried about that. Wheels is going to lead the rotation and dominate like he always does.

The rotation is said by many to be the best in all of baseball - and I think it's right. Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez (when healthy), and the new addition, Jesus Luzardo. We know what we're getting out of Nola and Sanchez - two of the best pitchers in the National League. Ranger is right there with them if he can stay healthy and limit his walks. Luzardo struggled in the Spring, but I think the Phillies see him being a major part of their future, with Ranger likely leaving after this season. The rotation, much like the lineup, just needs to perform like they're capable of.

Harper, Casty, Schwarbs are consistent

All three of these players have shown that they can get really hot. By the same token, we've seen them all get really cold. Castellanos went months at a time last year where he would be ice cold (of course, he was red hot those other months). We've seen June Schwarber, we know how hot he can get, and we don't need him playing out of his mind all year long, but we do need him playing at a high level the entire season. It's a contract year for Schwarbs, might be his last in the City of Brotherly Love, and a lot of times, guys have pretty strong years when free agency is ahead.

Then you've got Bryce Harper. With the way this roster is loaded, you shouldn't need Bryce to do too much. He doesn't need to be Superman, he just has to play within himself, which is when he is at his best. You need him to come up with the big hits in the big moments, set the tone for the team when they're down, etc. Nobody is asking for a .310 avg, 40 homer, 120 RBI season. But, if we got an MVP caliber season out of Harper, would anyone be surprised?

Stott is not a total zero offensively

Bryson Stott was abysmal at the plate last year. Flat out. It's actually very impressive he stole 32 bases because he was swinging a .245 avg - the guy was rarely on base. Sure, he's a good fielder, but on the offensive side of the game last year he was killing the Phillies. Now, it's been said that he was playing through injury pretty much all of last year. At first - for a split second - I appreciated his gutsy efforts to play through injury. That's what we like in Philadelphia. He didn't make a big deal out of it, he just went to work and did his job. Except, he didn't do his job.

He stunk. And I like him, I'm just being honest. A healthy Edmundo Sosa would've been far better a season ago. So if Stott was hurt, why play?? When the production is going to be that limited? It's just selfish at that point. All that being said, I believe we're past that. He should be healthy this season. And if he is, I do expect him to return to form. There's a lot of people saying they think he'll win a batting title at some point in his career. I think that's wishful thinking. But if he can get back to the .280 hitter with 15 home runs we saw in 2023, we'll be alright.

Romano & the rest of the bullpen is solid

The Phillies made just one big addition to the bullpen this season and that was signing 2x All-Star closer Jordan Romano. The caveat? Romano struggled with injury and poor play last season, while the Phillies also lost Carlos Estevez and Jeff Hoffman to free agency.

I like the idea of buying low on Romano. The concern is you're betting on guys like him, the unpredictable Jose Alvarado, and unproven guys like Orion Kerkering, Tanner Banks, Carlos Hernandez, and Jose Ruiz, among others. But that doesn't mean it won't work. If Romano returns to form, Alvarado - who had a very strong Spring - is more consistent, and guys like Kerkering and Banks turn out the way the Phillies hope, they'll be in good shape. Let's not forget they also have 2024 All-Star Matt Strahm in that pen.

And then, you're World Series Champions.