Kyle Schwarber is not a prototype leadoff hitter, but he gets the job done — and more. He scored 110 runs for the Phillies this year and that’s a number that would please any organization. He also drove in 104, which is a staggering amount for a leadoff man. Schwarber came to the major leagues as a catcher but caught only 26 games before becoming a shaky left fielder. Today he is relegated to his proper role, which is designated hitter. The two men who usually bat behind Schwarber — shortstop Trea Turner and first baseman Bryce Harper — were both National League All-Stars this season, even though neither had his best year. Turner batted .275 with 21 homers, but the blazing speed he once displayed is a thing of the past. He twice led the league in stolen bases, but this year he swiped only 19 sacks. He was never great in the field and now his diminishing range has caused some scouts to suggest that it’s time for him to find another position. Harper has already been forced to find a new position. He was an outfielder until last year, when an arm injury caused him to become a first baseman. He has adapted to his new position brilliantly and has even been nominated for a Gold Glove this season. His bat remains productive, as evidenced by his 30 homers, 43 doubles and 87 RBIs. On any given day right fielder Nick Castellanos might bat fourth, fifth or sixth, but he is certain to bat somewhere. He was one of only four people to play all 162 games this season, and he contributed 23 homers and 86 RBIs. He’s never been a stellar outfielder, but his defensive play is at least acceptable. Catcher J.T. Realmuto hit everywhere from second to seventh, but towards the end of the season he usually batted lower in the order. That’s now where he belongs. As recently as two years ago Realmuto was the best catcher in baseball, but his skills have eroded noticeably. Not only has his offensive production fallen but opposing base runners are taking liberties with him that they would not have considered when he was in his prime. Zack Wheeler (16-7 with a 2.57 earned run average) was probably the third best starting pitcher in the major leagues. It was the best season he’s ever had and, since he’ll turn 35 next May, probably the best season he ever will have. Schwarber, Turner, Harper, Castellanos, Realmuto and Wheeler have more in common than simply the fact that they are teammates with the Phillies. All of them started their careers with other organizations. All but Realmuto were first-round draft picks. All of them joined the Phillies as free agents, signing contracts worth at least $20 million per year. To put that into perspective it works out to roughly $124,000 per game. All six of these high-priced players will be at least 32 years old next season. None of them has won a world championship in a Philadelphia uniform. Two years ago they reached the World Series but came up short against the Astros. Their bid to return to the Fall Classic last year ended when they dropped the League Championship Series to the Diamondbacks. This year? If you happen to be in Philadelphia, don’t even mention this year. This year seemed full of promise when the Phillies won 62 games before the All-Star break. Some of the media were calling them the best team in baseball and many fans were buying it. Those people overlooked the fact that the schedule makers had given the Phillies a very soft schedule in the early portion of the season. After the All-Star break the Phils were a .500 team — winning only 33 of their final 66 games. Nevertheless, the early blitz was good enough to make them division champions and earn them a first-round bye in the playoffs. That bye was their high-water mark of the postseason. Once the Phillies got on the field they looked like the aging and deteriorating team they have become. They were thoroughly out-played and out-classed by a younger Mets club. It should be clear that if this generation of Phillies players is ever going to stage a parade down Broad Street, it will have to be soon. Next year might be their last chance. They will need some significant upgrades to the roster. Their best minor league prospect in the farm system is a 21-year-old pitcher named Andrew Painter, who missed last season because of Tommy John surgery. If he makes a healthy return, he might be able to contribute to the big league club at some point in the summer. Otherwise, there seems to be little chance the farm system will be much help in 2025. That leaves trades and free agent signings. Trades and/or secondary free agent signings might help them build depth in the bullpen and acquire a much-needed backup catcher. But that won’t get them what they need the most. They need a power hitting outfielder. They need a presence in the lineup who will discourage rival pitchers from working around Schwarber and Harper. They will get that only if owner John Middleton is willing to reach deeper into his pockets and spend more of what he calls “stupid money.” Chances are he will. Does that mean that if Yankees outfielder Juan Soto becomes a free agent the Phillies will make a bid? It might mean exactly that. It might mean the Phillies will be bidding against the Mets, Giants, Blue Jays and probably others. There’s no certainty they will get Soto even if they try. Nor is there a certainty that they will try. There are, after all, other good options. Maybe they’ll go after Cody Bellinger, Teoscar Hernandez or Anthony Santander. Or maybe they’ll do something else. The second-best free agent in the class (or the best if Soto elects to remain with the Yankees) is Brewers shortstop Willy Adames, who drove in 112 runs and scored 93 this season. He might be a logical target for the Phillies. No, he is not a heavy-hitting outfielder. He’s a heavy-hitting shortstop, which might be exactly what thePhillies actually need. Isn’t it time to move Turner to the outfield? If Adames were on the roster that would be a very easy and logical move to make. A FEW POSTSEASON STATISTICS (Wednesday’s game not included): During the regular season the Padres stole 120 bases in 162 games. In seven postseason games they stole zero … The Yankees have a .238 postseason batting average. Believe or not, that’s second best (behind the Brewers) among the playoff teams … On Tuesday Pedro Avila of the Guardians was credited with one-third of an inning pitched even though he officially faced no batters. He was on the mound when the third out of the inning was made on the bases … Austin Wells of the Yankees is 2-for-24. Both hits have been singles … Pete Alonso of the Mets has drawn nine walks … On Monday Joey Cantillo of the Guardians officially threw 21 pitches — only seven for strikes. Four of the others were wild pitches … Yankees pitcher Tim Hill has a .500 postseason fielding average even though he has officially handled the ball only once. He was charged with an error for obstructing a runner on the base path … The Tigers played 56 innings in the postseason. Their leadoff batter struck out in 20 of them. Former Hall of Fame voter Jay Dunn has written baseball for The Trentonian for 56 years. Contact him at [email protected]