With the Philadelphia Phillies having clinched the Wild Card bye, they now look to their first 2025 MLB playoff series. They’ll face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-five NLDS beginning on Saturday. This core, seeking vindication since 2022’s Cinderella run, might be Bryce Harper’s last chance at a World Series ring in Philadelphia.

There’s no hiding Kyle Schwarber’s impending free agency, but in addition to him, catcher J.T. Realmuto and outfielders Max Kepler and Harrison Bader, as well as homegrown pitcher Ranger Suárez, will all hit the free agent market this winter. While Bader and Kepler are new to the mix, they have become just as vital in the postseason push.

Phillies’ impending free agencies could determine whether Bryce Harper will retire a World Series champion

Schwarber’s hefty contract is likely the most expensive the Phillies will face this winter. While fans hope for his return, he might not be the team’s top priority. Bader’s offensive impact has been valuable, but unless the team shops for a new catcher, they’ll need to re-sign Realmuto and rebuild their catching depth beyond the veteran.

When looking at the free agent class of catchers beyond Realmuto, Salvador Perez, who has a club option, could potentially become available if he doesn’t retire. Mitch Garver and Danny Jansen have mutual options, and Gary Sánchez will become available again.

While all of these backstops are fine, none of them know the Phillies’ pitching staff as well as the man who has been catching them for years now. It’d be best to wait and see what form of potential draft pick or trade target they could go after to place Realmuto beyond the next couple productive years he has left at his demanding position.

With the question mark at catcher, the carousel of outfielders over the years, and the “daycare” potentially leaving the nest within the next few years, it might be time for Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to focus on tending to the farm a bit more.

Phillies’ ‘win now’ mentality is a double-edged sword beginning to show itself

This core, which has fought for four years now to return to the World Series, could see its time together come to an end. It could mean trading away fan favorite Nick Castellanos to make way for a new outfield of Bader, Brandon Marsh and perhaps top prospect Justin Crawford. Or Castellanos might stay for one more year, despite the way his second half unfolded.

With the variables of veterans about to potentially walk away either this winter or next, and the Phillies’ lukewarm minor league pipeline not immediately producing as many homegrown “studs” as it once did, this year might be the last chance for the two veteran pillars of Harper and Trea Turner, to win the Fall Classic in a Phillies uniform, and Harper’s potential last chance all together.

Harper has never won a World Series trophy or received a championship ring, despite being one of the best talents of this generation. In 2019, he chose to sign with Philadelphia and has made this city his home. Baseball can be poetic, even if not always the certain outcome one may hope, but in this case all we can do is manifest for the best.

Maybe this Phillies team, like the great teams of the past, can finish its impressive run with a big win. If this is their final season together, it’s fitting to aim for the championship with such a talented group.