Phillies Extra

Scott Boras is baseball’s most famous agent, with clients up and down the Phillies’ roster. He joins Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss Andrew Painter’s impressive debut, Bryce Harper’s mentality at the start of his 15th major-league season, baseball’s looming labor fight, and more.

It's a really big week for the Phillies' amateur scouting department, with two former first-round draft picks making major-league debuts in a six-day span. Justin Crawford played his first game on opening day; Andrew Painter will make his first start Tuesday night. And assistant general manager Brian Barber sat down with "Phillies Extra," The Inqurier's baseball podcast, to discuss the scouting process that led the team to both players.

Aaron Nola will begin his 12th major league season this week. He has been an All-Star and received Cy Young votes. But after pitching for Italy, a country he has never even visited, in the World Baseball Classic, he said it was "some of the best times I've ever had." Nola sat down with "Phillies Extra" to discuss his WBC experience, the upcoming season, and more.

Justin Crawford always wanted to do everything like his famous father, especially on the baseball field. And when the 22-year-old center fielder makes his major-league debut for the Phillies later this month, Carl Crawford will be there. A four-time All-Star and 15-year major leaguer, Carl Crawford sat down with "Phillies Extra" to talk about his son's formative years in baseball and the dream of seeing him follow in his footsteps.

For the second time in three years, Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs is playing for Israel in the World Baseball Classic. He sat down with "Phillies Extra," live from Team Israel's camp in Miami, to discuss why it's important for him to represent his heritage in the tournament. Stubbs also touched on competing for a job with the Phillies, the new automated ball-strike system, and more.

Kyle Schwarber had the best season of his career in 2025, with 56 homers and a runner-up finish for National League MVP. What can he possibly do for an encore? Schwarber joins Phillies Extra to discuss his goals for the season, the Phillies' chances of getting over the hump in October, playing for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, and more.

A year ago, Brad Keller was trying to win a job with the Cubs as a nonroster invitee to spring training. Now, he's a key member of the Phillies' bullpen on a two-year contract. And in a few days, he will join the most talented U.S. team ever assembled for the World Baseball Classic. Keller sat down with "Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss how much has changed in a year, what led him to Philadelphia, why he believes he can duplicate his success in 2025, and more.

J.T. Realmuto just started his eighth spring training with the Phillies. But for a week in January, he wasn’t sure he’d be back. Realmuto sits down with Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss his roller-coaster offseason contract talks, the release of Nick Castellanos, his outlook for the 2026 starting rotation, and more.

When the Phillies report to spring training Wednesday, it will have been 125 days since last season ended on Orion Kerkering's 11th-inning throwing error at Dodger Stadium. How does an athlete – even a major-league pitcher who is 24, with a gifted right arm and a long career ahead of him – move forward from something like that? Kerkering joined Phillies Extra to discuss the path back.

In 2024, Whit Merrifield was the newcomer to a Phillies' roster that was virtually unchanged from the previous season. Now, the retired former infielder joined Phillies Extra to discuss the team's decision to keep the core of the roster intact, as well as his close friend Brad Keller's path to the Phillies' bullpen and why Rob Thomson was his favorite manager.

In less than three weeks, Phillies pitchers and catchers will hold their first spring-training workout. It's a good time, then, to sit down with manager Rob Thomson, who discussed the roster in the aftermath of not signing Bo Bichette, the potential impact of rookies Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter, the value of J.T. Realmuto, and whether the Phillies are better now than at the end of last season.

Jesús Luzardo had the best season of his career last year with the Phillies. This is shaping up to be another important year for the 28-year-old pitcher, with free agency looming next winter. Luzardo sat down with Phillies Extra to discuss his interest in a contract extension, his relationship with catcher J.T. Realmuto, and what he can do for an encore after his breakout 2025.

The Phillies are preparing to turn over the keys to center field in 2026 to prospect Justin Crawford. After working with Crawford last season, triple-A Lehigh Valley hitting coach Adam Lind sits down with "Phillies Extra" to discuss the touted 22-year-old's readiness for the majors, as well as other prominent players in the Phillies organization.

An All-Star lineup of guests has joined The Inquirer's baseball podcast since it launched in February. Because it's the holiday season and the last "Phillies Extra" episode of the year, we've put together a "Best of 2025" show to revisit some of our favorite conversations, from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to Mike Schmidt and John Middleton, and many others.

For two decades, Scott Franzke's voice has been the soundtrack of the summer for Phillies fans. And his radio calls of some of the best moments in franchise history are legendary -- from Jimmy Rollins' walkoff double in the 2009 NLCS to Bryce Harper's "Bedlam at the Bank" homer in 2022. The longtime play-by-play announcer joined "Phillies Extra" to talk about the team's offseason and much more.

Cole Hamels is among the greatest pitchers in Phillies history. He's also on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. It's the perfect time, then, for him to join us again on "Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss the honor of being on the ballot, the Phillies' offseason so far, his work with Phillies pitchers, and much more.

What's it like to be an executive at baseball's winter meetings? Jim Duquette, a former general manager with the Mets and Orioles and now the host of a show on MLB Network Radio, puts us in the rooms where everything happens. He also discusses the Phillies' offseason, including the chances that Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto return in free agency. It's all on "Phillies Extra," the baseball podcast from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Luke Murton just completed his first season as the Phillies’ minor league director. He joins Phillies Extra to discuss the state of the farm system, including the 2026 expectations for Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter, and Aidan Miller, as well as less heralded players to monitor.

Joe Maddon is a three-time former Manager of the Year, manager of the hex-breaking 2016 Chicago Cubs, and one of the sharpest minds in baseball. He’s also a native Pennsylvanian. And he joined "Phillies Extra" to discuss the state of the Phillies, Kyle Schwarber's evolution into a complete hitter, how to pitch Bryce Harper, and much more.

As the offseason begins and the Phillies sort through their roster, they will focus on trying to improve an offense that went cold again in the postseason. Hitting coach Kevin Long sat down with Phillies Extra to assess Bryce Harper's season and discuss his future, handicap Kyle Schwarber's chances of re-signing, the progress made by Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh, and more.