The Philadelphia Phillies are looking ahead ot the 2026 MLB season, and as part of their plans, determining who is staying and who is leaving from the 2025 roster is a major undertaking.
While players like Max Kepler, Ranger Suarez, JT Realmuto, Harrison Bader, and Kyle Schwarber are hitting free agency, there are other players like Nick Castellanos and Alec Bohm who might've played their final games in Phillies uniforms.
During Dave Dombrowski's press conference on NBC Sports Philadelphia after the season, he revealed that the Phillies have major plans for Otto Kemp in 2026. After an up-and-down 2025, Kemp looks poised to have a stable role next year for the Phillies.
Dave Dombrowski reveals Otto Kemp has a big role set for him in 2026
"I think Otto Kemp has a chance to be an everyday player," Dombrowski said. "He has thump in his bat, can play a couple different positions."
This comment from Dombrowski is very noteworthy. If the Phillies are set to lose a few key players in free agency and also trade away Castellanos and Bohm, then a young, controllable player like Kemp will have a much larger role next year.
In his rookie year, Kemp played in 62 games, getting 197 at-bats. He had 46 hits and 12 walks for a .234 batting average and a .298 on-base percentage. While that number will need to improve for his role to be stable in 2026, it's a decent start.
Kemp scored 26 runs, hit 22 doubles, eight home runs, 28 RBIs, stole two bases, and struck out 67 times. His .709 OPS and 92 OPS+ highlight how Kemp was slightly below the league average hitter in his rookie year.
The 26-year-old is a versatile player for the Phillies, who played multiple positions for the team in 2025. He lined up as a third baseman for 31 games, first base for 17 games while Bryce Harper was hurt, two games at second base, and 11 games in left field.
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If the Phillies plan to play Kemp as a full-time player, he could take over in right field for Castellanos after a trade, or at third base if Bohm is dealt this winter.
What makes such a move a bit more likely for the Phillies is how Kemp finished the year. After being sent back down to Triple-A in the middle of August, he waited to return to the Majors just a few weeks later.
He came back to the Phillies roster in September, and across his final 16 games of the season, he hit .250 with an .856 OPS, thanks to four doubles and four home runs in his final 16 games across his 13 hits.
Kemp also had his best stretch of the year at a perfect time. Against the New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, and then the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kemp had a .370 batting average and a 1.160 OPS in eight games. He was clutch and helped secure the NL East at the right time.
Dombrowski revealed that Kemp, after a solid rookie year, is slated for an increased workload in 2026 as the Phillies look to reshape their roster in the wake of a disappointing season.
Kemp and a few other young players could earn larger roles next year, which could provide a spark for an older roster looking to make a World Series run before their window closes.
More Phillies news:
- Phillies' Dave Dombrowski reveals updated Zack Wheeler recovery timeline for 2026 season
- Dave Dombrowski reveals Phillies' free agent plan for Max Kepler
- Phillies expected to bring back Jose Alvarado in 2026 after 80-game suspension
- Phillies linked to Pete Alonso as a Kyle Schwarber replacement