World Baseball Classic: Risky business for Phillies' rotation?

World Baseball Classic: Risky business for Phillies' rotation? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Honoring your country is second to none. Especially in baseball, a game that captivates nations worldwide.

When players put on their country’s colors with a chance to win it all, the competitive instinct kicks in on a different level.

Just ask the Phillies’ starting rotation.

Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker will all compete in this spring’s World Baseball Classic. Sanchez represents the Dominican Republic, Nola suits up for Italy and Walker returns to Mexico for the second consecutive tournament.

It’s exciting to see Philadelphia represented on that stage before the season kicks off. There’s also concern. The Phillies send more Major League starters to the Classic than any other club in the league.

Who will stay back? Jesús Luzardo, Andrew Painter and Zack Wheeler.

Luzardo, currently on Team Venezuela’s reserve list, called it a “tough” decision via MLB Network, but coming off a career-high 183.2 innings and entering his final year before free agency, he opted out. Venezuela’s ace Pablo López recently tore his UCL, but the club elevated another arm rather than turning to Luzardo.

If Venezuela makes it beyond the first round, the lefty could be in play, though.

Painter is a rookie making a push for a rotation spot. Wheeler will return from thoracic outlet syndrome, likely missing the first month of the season.

The rotation has been a strength of this club for years. In 2026, the bullpen may carry more weight — mainstay Ranger Suárez signed a five-year deal with the Red Sox this winter, leaving a void in the starting staff.

How much Sánchez, Nola and Walker actually pitch in the Classic remains to be seen.

On Sunday, Tarik Skubal announced he’d start just one game for Team USA. On Tuesday, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic they’d start twice each.

Worth noting: up until the 2023 WBC, no Phillies starter who made more than 10 starts that respective season had ever appeared in the tournament, across four editions in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017.

Nobody wants to speculate about injuries. But the Phillies, champing at a World Series bit, can’t afford one. These pitchers want to win for their countries. The club just needs them healthy in late March.

Rob Thomson has been clear that he considers representing one’s country an honor, but the length of the leash for each of his starters in the tournament will become clear soon enough.

He’s also noted that an earlier ramp-up that the WBC provides could benefit a pitcher like Nola. There are positives and negatives to weigh.

On the bullpen side, the representation is thinner. Brad Keller, who signed to a two-year, $22 million deal this offseason, will pitch for Team USA. José Alvarado had his insurance denied.

Closer Jhoan Duran will not participate at all. He’s their most important late-inning arm, and there’s no appetite for preseason risk there. Think Edwin Díaz’s knee injury in the WBC four seasons ago.

NEED DEPTH?

Before Spring Training opened, Dave Dombrowski said the club would still consider adding starting pitching depth, whether through free agency or a trade.

The remaining free agent market isn’t appealing. The Phillies are already paying a 110% luxury tax on every dollar over the threshold, which tightens the financial calculus considerably. Nestor Cortes, Patrick Corbin, Tyler Anderson and Tony Gonsolin are affordable options, but none project into a legitimate rotation role.

Could Dombrowski revisit his own playbook?

Last December, he sent the Phillies’ No. 4 prospect Starlyn Caba and No. 23 prospect Emaarion Boyd to Miami for Luzardo, carrying two years of team control during the Marlins’ annual rebuild.

A comparable target this winter could be Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen. The 30-year-old made his first All-Star team in 2025, going 10-5 with a 2.76 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 31 starts. Despite reaching that workload, he threw just 150 innings. Tampa Bay’s outlook for 2026 is bleak, which could open the door.

The financial fit is hard to overlook. Rasmussen is owed $4.25 million this season with a club option for another $4.25 million. With the luxury tax factored in, his total cost lands at $8.925 million — well below what free agent arms like Lucas Giolito or Zack Littell would command once the tax is applied.

The Phillies want to get through Spring Training clean. But a case can be made that this rotation needs not just depth, but talent. The WBC questions are present, and they may be exactly what pushes the front office to act.