HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 28: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the third inning against the Houston Astros in Game One of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies are the two best teams in Major League Baseball, but regardless of their fate in 2022, they won’t look quite the same next year.
Of the 12 teams involved in the MLB playoffs in 2022, the Houston Astros were at the top or close to the top of teams that people expected would be in the World Series. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Phillies were one of the biggest underdogs since they were the third Wild Card team in the National League.
In fact, under the playoff structure from 2012-2019 and 2021, the Phillies wouldn’t have even made the playoffs. Nonetheless, the Astros and Phillies are in the World Series, with Game 2 being played in Houston later tonight.
World Series: Astros, Phillies impending 2022-23 free agents
Entering next season, the Astros and Phillies could look a bit different, though. Combined, the two clubs could have as many as 16 players eligible for free agency in less than two weeks. Some of them will certainly be free agents, but some could be free agents if they don’t exercise their player option or if the club does not exercise its option on the players.
Here are Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies players that will be — or could be — free agents that should be watched closely in the World Series.