Trea Turner. Kyle Schwarber. Bryce Harper.

Those three, in some order, have taken down the bulk of the plate appearances in the top three spots of the Phillies lineup over the last three seasons. We’ve had plenty of debates on where Schwarber belongs, Turner’s role, and if Harper should be somewhere other than the No. 3 spot.

But the real issue isn't who bats first, second or third.

It’s who bats fourth.

The Phillies, if we keep the top three status quo, don’t have great options. Alec Bohm isn’t a clean up hitter on a championship team. Adolis Garcia hasn’t been that kind of bat for years. J.T. Realmuto's days of profiling as that kind of hitter are long gone. The platoon of Otto Kemp and Brandon Marsh? Please.

Instead, let’s re-imagine this entire thing. I’m willing to go to a place that I haven’t before, including moving a different player into the top four of the order.

What if, instead of strictly talking about stacking the Phillies best three hitters, we expand the conversation to stacking their best four hitters in the top four spots? If we’re looking at how last season ended as a springboard into 2025, it's hard not include Bryson Stott’s name into the conversation.

From July 23 through the end of the season, Stott posted a .307/.376/.508 slash line. That’s roughly equivalent to Bobby Witt Jr.’s 2025 season. I’m not saying Stott is Witt. That's a lot. But I am wondering if there's a world in which Stott continues that trajectory into 2026 and ends up as one of this team’s four best offensive players.

Let’s imagine a lineup with Stott stacked with the guys at the top.

It looks… deeper. It looks… more balanced. It looks... different.

Will be enough? Time will tell. Can Stott handle it? Your guess is as good as mine. But I was struck by Dave Dombrowski bringing up his second half numbers on Wednesday’s WIP Morning Show.

Maybe the idea could have some legs.

Second-round pick for A.J. Brown? Count me in.

I expect a quiet Eagles free agency this year.

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