Stay or Go for Dave Dombrowski After Phillies’ Fifth Straight October Exit
The Phillies are out of October for the fifth straight year, and the question hanging over the winter is what happens with Dave Dombrowski.
Philadelphia was knocked out of the Wild Card series in three games by the Braves, according to Philly Voice, ending another season short of the World Series. Since the 2022 pennant, the club has achieved less and less each October.
Dombrowski, 70, is under contract through 2027 as president of baseball operations. But reports say an extension could be coming soon. The Athletic’s Matt Gelb wrote that Dombrowski is expected to receive an extension from managing partner John Middleton in the coming weeks, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has also said an extension is likely this winter.
The club itself has signaled support. Philly Voice reported that the Phillies have let it be known through several outlets that Dombrowski will be back in 2027 and extended beyond that. No official announcement has been made, so the outcome is not confirmed.
The case for keeping him starts with the roster’s foundations. He built one of baseball’s best starting pitching staffs, and all of it returns next year. He also landed one of the game’s best closers, Jhoan Duran, in a 2025 trade, according to Philly Voice.
His defenders also point to bad luck. Big offensive additions Harrison Bader and Luis Arraez each looked strong for stretches before injuries knocked them out of the postseason picture, and a bullpen that was supposed to be a strength fell apart, Philly Voice noted.
The case for moving on centers on direction. Critics say the roster looks more flawed each year and the October results keep shrinking, raising the question of whether Dombrowski can reshape this particular group rather than simply assemble talent. Some also wonder whether Middleton is too close to Dombrowski to make a fully detached decision, according to Philly Voice.
The offseason picture is still taking shape. Sam Fuld, the Phillies’ president of business operations and a former general manager, has drawn interest from the Athletics, according to SI. Whatever comes next, the Dombrowski decision will define how the Phillies approach a pivotal winter and their next October.