Phillies All-Star's days with team could be numbered

The 2024 Major League Baseball regular season will be over in just a few days.

Once it ends, teams who have done enough to secure playoff spots will attempt to make a run to the World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies, unsurprisingly, will be one of those teams that still are in the mix once the regular season comes to an end.

Philadelphia has consistently been one of the best teams in baseball this year and currently has a 93-64 record. Last year, the Phillies racked up just 90 wins, and they still have time to add more over the coming days.

There's a lot to like about this Phillies team, and there is a real chance that they will be able to get over the hump and represent the National League in the World Series this year. Once the playoffs end, though, Philadelphia will have some tough decisions to make.

The Phillies were busy this summer looking for ways to improve the team ahead of the trade deadline. One great move the team made was acquiring All-Star reliever Carlos Estévez. He has appeared in 19 games for the Phillies and has a 2.25 ERA to show for it.

Landing him was the right move, but he may not stick around for the long term. He will be a free agent at the end of the season. He currently is projected to receive a deal worth roughly $69 million over five years. It may be tough to bring him back because he won't be the only Phillies reliever hitting free agency.

Fellow All-Star Jeff Hoffman has had an even better year and also will be a free agent at the end of the season. He will be significantly less expensive than Estévez, making it more likely that the club decides to keep Hoffman if they have to decide between the two.

Ideally, the Phillies would find a way to keep both heading into 2025, but that may not be the most likely outcome.

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