After a disastrous end to the 2024 season, the Phillies are looking to turn the page and finally accomplish their ultimate goal in 2025, which is winning the World Series. The Phillies had a frustrating postseason last year that was cut short in the NLDS by the New York Mets.
Phillies fans hope this group can get it done after the last two years of disappointments, as many believe this could be the “last dance” for several players. Vets such as Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto are set to become free agents, while Taijuan Walker and Nick Castellanos are still under contract.
That said, Walker and Castellanos could play elsewhere in 2026, depending on how things shake out this season. The Phillies surprisingly didn’t make massive changes to their roster despite losing in four games to the Mets.
The Phillies’ brass and coaches believe in this group to run it back one more time. They have a talented lineup and potentially one of the better starting rotations in baseball.
But if the Phillies fall short again in the postseason, it could look like a different team this time next season. Below, we’ll discuss five players who are possibly playing their last season in the City of Brotherly Love.
1. Ranger Suarez, Starting Pitcher
The 2025 season could be the final year we see Suarez on the mound at Citizens Bank Park. The 29-year-old starting pitcher is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and has hired Scott Boras to be his agent.
Anytime someone hires baseball’s super agent, one has to believe that player is looking to max out his value in free agency.
Could that be with the Phillies? Possibly, but Suarez could be playing somewhere else in 2026, as Philadelphia has Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, and Jesus Luzardo under contract for multiple years.
And not to mention, the Phillies have one of the best prospects in baseball, Andrew Painter, who could make his MLB debut this season. When you factor all of those things together, it’s a huge year for Suarez.
Last season, the left-handed pitcher struggled on the mound as he dealt with a back issue, which hindered him in the second half of the 2024 campaign.
Suarez was dominant in his first 16 starts, posting a 10-2 record with a 1.83 ERA. However, things went downhill over the final 11 starts of last season. Suarez was 2-6 with an abnormally high 6.54 ERA.
The veteran starting pitcher missed almost a month of action last year, and now the lower back soreness has reappeared before the start of this season.
Suarez will begin this season on the 15-day injured list, as the team hopes he’ll be ready to pitch sometime next month. Until then, Taijuan Walker will take over the fifth spot in the rotation, much to the delight of Phillies fans.
That said, Suarez needs to show that he can stay healthy for the rest of the season. The Phils will need him if they want to go far in October.