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The Philadelphia Phillies are down 0-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. After dropping both Game 1 and Game 2 in different heartbreaking ways, the Phillies are running out of time to advance to the NLCS.
Philadelphia needs to win three straight games to stay alive, and while it's not impossible, it's a tall task, especially for how this team has played the last few games.
With the possibility of being eliminated on Wednesday night in Game 3, there's an unsettling thought that comes to mind: Is this the end of this era of Phillies baseball?
A Game 3 loss might spell the end of this Phillies era
If the Phillies lose Game 3 and are eliminated from playoff contention, then there will have to be some major changes in the offseason to win over fans for the 2026 season.
While players like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Cristopher Sanchez aren't going anywhere, a lot of the roster might look different in 2026 if this team can't extend the NLDS past three games.
Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, and Alec Bohm are all signed through next season, and while they could be on their way out, the Phillies don't have to make any changes with them just yet.
The same can't be said for the Phillies' free agents. Kyle Schwarber is the most noteworthy Phillies player set to be a free agent this offseason. There will be plenty of teams interested in him, like the Boston Red Sox, who could out-bid the Phillies in free agency.
JT Realmuto is also hitting the open market, as is Ranger Saurez, Max Kepler, David Robertson, Jordan Romano, and Harrison Bader. Philadelphia will be fine if they let Kepler, Romano, and Robertson walk, but losing Realmuto, Suarez, and Bader would be tough blows to the roster.
But, with the expensive contracts of Harper, Turner, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola taking up a lot of the assets of the Phillies, multiple of those free agents are likely to depart.
Meanwhile, Nick Castellanos is almost certainly being traded this offseason. He's butted heads with Rob Thomson multiple times this season about his playing time, and he hasn't nearly lived up to his $100 million price tag either.
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Jhoan Duran, Orion Kerkering, and Matt Strahm are all coming back in the Phillies bullpen, but Jose Alvarado is expected to walk after his 80-game suspension.
In 2022, the Phillies went on a magical run, while in 2023, they had their best chance to win the World Series, but blew it in the NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That series was the beginning of the end, as the Phillies' superstars couldn't close out the Diamondbacks when they had ample opportunity to do so.
When looking over this Phillies roster, it's not hard to believe that if the Phillies lose Game 3 of the NLDS on Wednesday night to the Dodgers, it'd be the end of an era.
Schwarber, Realmuto, Suarez, Alvarado, and Bader can all leave in free agency. Castellanos is likely on his way out, and any one of Bohm, Marsh, or Stott could be in their final year of their Phillies careers.
That isn't to say the Phillies won't have a solid core in 2026, with Harper, Turner, Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and a few rookies in the mix. But the departing players and aging veterans point to the Phillies entering a major inflection point.
2027 is going to be a decisive time for the Phillies, as both Wheeler's and Jhoan Duran's contracts ended. Wheeler is going to retire after the 2027 season, while Duran might be hard to retain, especially with the bloated contract of Nola and other stars hurting the Phillies' bottom line.
With the departing free agents, aging veterans, and uncertain future, if the Phillies lose to the Dodgers on Wednesday, it might be the end of an era in Philadelphia. They'll have the talent to compete in 2026, but the trust will be gone. The 2025 NLDS hasn't gone to plan, and with the upcoming decisions in the offseason, this series might be the last one with the Phillies as the World Series contenders fans have come to know over the last three years.
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