The Philadelphia Phillies’ season-ending 2-1 loss to the Dodgers was painfully rough to watch. Apart from reliever Orion Kerkering’s rushed throw that went terribly wrong, the Phillies were able to manage only four hits all night. Out of four, their first three batters—Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper—went 1-for-14 with a walk. Even then, Schwarber’s first-inning double turned out to be just a tease. With their 3-1 series loss to the Dodgers still fresh, these three have been thrown under the bus by an MLB insider.

Recently, on Foul Territory, Philadelphia radio host Jack Fritz spoke about the Phillies’ NLDS elimination by the Dodgers.

According to him, the Phillies are sitting at home today because their key $709 million trio failed to come through.

“The biggest reason why they’re sitting home today is their big three at the top of the lineup did not come through. We can talk about the changes they need to make and things like that, but if Kyle Schwarber, Trey Turner, and Bryce Harper show up in the series, it’s a completely different ball game.” He said.

While he pinned the blame on Schwarber, Harper, and Turner, manager Rob Thomson believes it was Dodgers’ pitching that proved overwhelming. “The Dodgers have really good pitching,” he said.

“It really comes down to the pitching. They pitched great. We pitched great. It was a well-fought series. They came out on top, unfortunately, and that’s the way it is. I feel awful.” he said. Well, the Phillies’ second straight NLDS loss, following last year’s four-game defeat to the Mets, turned out to be mostly due to their hitters, who couldn’t get past the Dodgers’ pitching staff. It was the Phillies’ last chance to make a run with the current core.

They had the talent, the bye, everything—and it still didn’t work out. Kyle Schwarber, the core of the club, will hit the free agency market after this season.

On the other hand, Bryce Harper, now 32, still hasn’t captured that elusive World Series title. “I know how much it means to him to be in the World Series. It’s a dream. It’s always been his dream,” said his father, Ron Harper, back in 2022. For many, this season felt like his best chance yet—only for it to end in heartbreak once again.

Philadelphia’s reaction to the NLDS collapse was swift and emotional. Fans flooded social media and radio shows with disbelief and anger, blaming the bullpen and the $700 million trio for disappearing when it mattered most. One fan told CBS Philadelphia it was “a nightmare ending to a dream season,” while another told 6ABC, “We keep spending big and getting the same heartbreak—something has to change.”

Some even wondered if the club was “cursed” after yet another early exit. Still, amid the outrage, there was empathy for reliever Orion Kerkering after his costly throwing error. Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez urged fans to rally behind the young pitcher, reminding everyone how much he had carried the team throughout the year. Yet the city’s frustration runs deep—another October collapse after a 96-win season that seemed built for redemption.

This season was supposedly his best shot. Well, as the Phillies have entered the off-season earlier than expected, let’s see what could be their plan for 2026.

Phillies offseason move predictions after crushing playoff defeat

To begin with, the Phillies just cannot afford to lose their top slugger, Kyle Schwarber. In no time, he became the de facto captain of this team, slamming a career-high 56 home runs this season.

In fact, he finished fifth in Major League Baseball with a .928 OPS. While undoubtedly, the front office should go all in on resigning him. However, it’s unlikely that he will sign a team-friendly deal. Next up, the Phillies might need to think outside the box.

Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm have both been solid in recent years, but sometimes being “good” isn’t enough. While Bohm was linked to trade talks last season, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s moved with one year left on his rookie contract.

But then, there’s also an argument for trading Stott instead, since he has three years left on his contract and could probably have more trade value.

All in all, the Phillies are facing a lot of uncertainty around big free agents, rising costs, and an aging core. They’ll still be aiming for a title next season, and a lot is going to happen this winter.