Even though the Phillies should have another great month of baseball ahead of them, it is never too early to consider free agency.
The Philadelphia Phillies had a memorable regular season, thanks in large part to the executive office’s roster decisions. Despite the seemingly constant ailments and knocks and bruises that undoubtedly occurred during the grind of the 162-game marathon, the Phillies’ depth allowed them stay at the top of the standings.
After winning 95 games, their highest total since 102 victories in 2011, Phillies supporters may rest assured that the 2025 club will appear remarkably similar to this year’s edition.
The organization is well-positioned for future success because to the efforts of president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Sam Fuld in recent seasons. Driven by managing partner John Middleton’s aim to build a dynasty, the Phillies roster has few moving elements and will appear quite similar in 2025, regardless of how the season ends.
Here are all of the Phillies players entering free agency after the 2024 season
While superstars such as Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, and Zack Wheeler have long-term contracts, a few current Phillies will reach the free agent market this offseason.
Even if the Phillies are eliminated from the MLB playoffs before the World Series, their players will not be eligible for free agency until the day after the World Series ends. Players can’t sign with other teams until five days after the Fall Classic ends, giving the Phillies an opportunity to keep them before other teams get involved.
This winter, the following Phillies will be on the open market:
Carlos Estévez (2024 salary: $6.75 million)
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Carlos Estévez is nearing the end of a two-year, $13.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels and will soon become a free agent after spending the last three months of the season in Philadelphia. Acquired at the trade deadline in exchange for two pitching prospects, the hard-throwing right-hander has bolstered the Phillies’ bullpen, making it one of the strongest as they head into the MLB playoffs.
Entering his age-32 season next year, Estévez is coming off a career-best year and is expected to be well-compensated in free agency. While the Phillies have hinted at wanting to retain their key trade deadline addition, it’s still likely that he tests the free agent market after the World Series.
This season, Estévez recorded a personal best with a 2.45 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and a .191 opponent batting average, though some regression to his career averages might be expected. However, considering he spent his first six seasons pitching in Colorado, his past numbers may be misleading. Spotrac projects Estévez will land a five-year contract worth around $69.5 million, or approximately $13.9 million per year.
Jeff Hoffman (2024 salary: $2.2 million)
Remarkably, Jeff Hoffman improved on his impressive 2023 performance in 2024. After recording a 2.41 ERA over 44 2/3 innings last year, he lowered it to 2.17 in 66 1/3 innings this season. As a key late-inning option for manager Rob Thomson, Hoffman notched 10 saves and set career highs with a 33.6 percent strikeout rate, a 6 percent walk rate, a 16.9 percent swinging strike rate, and a 31.9 percent CSW (called and swinging strike rate).
The Phillies avoided arbitration with the 31-year-old last offseason by signing him to a one-year, $2.2 million contract. Given his stellar performance, the front office may now regret not securing him for a longer term.
The looming question is whether the Phillies can afford Hoffman’s next deal, which is expected to be around $10 million per year. While Hoffman has expressed interest in staying, his future in Philadelphia may be influenced by the team’s pursuit of Carlos Estévez. It would be difficult to envision the Phillies signing both relievers to long-term contracts.
Spencer Turnbull (2024 salary: $2 million)
Spencer Turnbull, who could potentially make a postseason appearance, is set to become a free agent this winter. After signing a one-year, $2 million contract, Turnbull aimed to prove he could regain the form he showed before injuries disrupted his promising career in Detroit. Early in the season, it looked like the Phillies had found a gem, with the right-hander stepping up in the fifth rotation spot during the season’s first month.
Turnbull posted a 2-0 record with a 1.67 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP across six starts, matching the strong performance of the Phillies’ rotation, which led the league through April. However, after landing on the IL in late June, his season has been derailed, though there’s a chance he could make a final impression from the Phillies’ bullpen in the playoffs if he’s healthy enough to make the NLDS roster.
Spotrac estimates Turnbull’s next contract to be around $9.3 million over two years, a price that might be steep for the Phillies. However, given his injury history, they could potentially negotiate a more team-friendly deal. With the way this season has unfolded, Philadelphia could benefit from all the MLB-ready starting pitching depth they can secure.
Looking ahead to free agents in 2026
While the Phillies have only three free agents on the current roster heading into this winter, the post-2025 offseason will present more significant challenges for the front office. Star veterans J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber are set to become free agents before the 2026 season, along with outfielder Austin Hays and left-hander Ranger Suárez. The Phillies will face some tough decisions regarding the future of these key players.
In terms of options, relievers Matt Strahm and José Alvarado both have team options for 2026. Whether the Phillies choose to bring back one or both of them will largely depend on how their performances shape up during the 2025 season. Predicting those moves now remains difficult, as much will hinge on the team’s needs and financial flexibility at that time.
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