The Philadelphia Phillies have fallen short in a World-Series-or-bust season.
They were only able to win a single playoff game before being eliminated by the rival New York Mets in the National League Division Series. And many of the strengths that made them one of the best teams in baseball during the regular season fell well short in October.
The bats that powered arguably the National League’s best offenses were quiet. And a bullpen that maintained a 3.94 ERA all year saw that number rise to an 11.37 ERA in four playoff games.
Now, the Phillies are left to adjust the roster where they can in hopes of another playoff run while their biggest stars are still in their primes next year. And Zach Pressnell of FanSided expects that reliever and pending free agent Jeff Hoffman won’t be part of those plans moving forward.
“RHP Jeff Hoffman played himself out of Philly’s price range this season,” Pressnell wrote. “Now, I want to preface that I believe that the Phillies should prioritize Hoffman this offseason. He’s been incredible for them and they absolutely should try to bring him back this winter. But he’s played so well that Philadelphia will struggle to pay his market value while they also add to their outfield and starting rotation.”
Hoffman racked up 89 strikeouts and 10 saves in 66.1 innings for the Phillies this season with a 2.17 ERA en route to his first-career All-Star game. But, like much of the team’s bullpen, he struggled against the Mets in the postseason. In 1.1 innings in the NLDS, he gave up three hits, six earned runs and finished with a 40.50 ERA.
As he tests the free agent market, Hoffman is likely to find suitors who evaluate him based on his regular season results, rather than the postseason blow up. He’s likely to earn a lucrative long-term deal as a result, and that might force the Phillies to part ways with him.
“But Hoffman is set to be a free agent this year and given his great performance over the last two years, he may have played himself above the Phillies available price range,” Pressnell added.
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