The 2025 MLB playoffs are here — and for some teams, October has lasted a lot longer than it has for others.
Starting with the wild-card round, the Cincinnati Reds became the first team eliminated from postseason contention — on the very first day of the month, no less. They were followed the next day by the Cleveland Guardians and, ultimately, the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox.
In the division series, the New York Yankees were first to go, followed by the Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers.
What’s next for the teams and towns that won’t be celebrating a World Series parade this fall? As each contender is eliminated, ESPN MLB experts Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez and David Schoenfield will list that club’s key free agents and biggest offseason questions and make their predictions for the long, cold winter ahead.
Teams eliminated in division series
Detroit Tigers
Eliminated by: Mariners
Key free agents: RHP Jack Flaherty (player option), RHP Jose Urquidy (club option), RHP Paul Sewald (mutual option), RHP Alex Cobb, 2B Gleyber Torres, RHP Rafael Montero, RHP Tommy Kahnle, RHP Chris Paddack, RHP Kyle Finnegan
Biggest offseason priority: Restocking the rotation. The Tigers have a tremendous foundation in ace Tarik Skubal and midrotation standout Casey Mize. But with health concerns surrounding the likes of Ty Madden, Jackson Jobe and Reese Olson, the Tigers will need more. Most of the top-ranked prospects in a talented system are on the position player side, which will allow GM Scott Harris to target the pitching side this offseason, though you can always talk yourself into a splurge on a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. The Tigers’ focus on building out their depth with veterans on short-duration contracts gives the club all kinds of flexibility this winter. Signings. Trades. It’s all on the table for an organization just a move or two away from becoming an American League front-runner by the time next season begins.
How can the Tigers diversify their offense? Detroit’s offense was above-average this season but it was uneven stylistically in ways that might have contributed to its demise in the postseason. Strikeouts are a big problem. Against Cleveland, the lineup stalled as the Tigers had so much trouble simply making contact with runners in scoring position, much less bringing those runners home. The offense was even worse against Seattle. The Tigers laid down five sacrifice bunts all season and finished last with 61 stolen bases. Detroit has two ideal solutions for this problem at the top of its prospects list in infielder Kevin McGonigle and outfielder Max Clark. The question the Tigers have to answer in the short term is how soon these young stars — who both topped out in Double-A this season — will arrive in Detroit ready to boost a contending team. Whatever the answer, the Tigers are an organization ideally positioned to contend in the short and the long term.
Offseason prediction: The Tigers will go hard after multiple free agent starters — think Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease — in free agency. The time to make a splash has arrived. — Doolittle
Philadelphia Phillies
Eliminated by: Dodgers
Key free agents: C J.T. Realmuto, DH Kyle Schwarber, OF Max Kepler, LHP Ranger Suarez, RHP Jordan Romano
Biggest offseason priority: Replacing the free agents. The Phillies aren’t going to enter into a soft rebuild, a hard rebuild or any kind of rebuild. The Phils have a star-studded group of free agents, but assuming the payroll remains in the same neighborhood — a luxury neighborhood at that — it’s safe to say the Phillies will remain a top-heavy team with expensive stars. It just might not be the same group of stars.
At the same time,