This Yankees season has redefined a core narrative thanks to a transformation in real time

ST. PETERSBURG — When the Phillies left the dugout late Thursday night, having made the playoffs for a franchise record-tying fifth straight year but having again fallen short of winning their third championship, the following was true: 

The faces of this Phillies era — Bryce Harper, Aaron Nola, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Zack Wheeler — would all be, at minimum, 34 by next June. Two core pieces, Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa, are about to be free agents, as is key trade deadline acquisition Luis Arráez. Wheeler, Jhoan Duran, Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott will enter their walk year in 2027. And a key trio in transitioning to the near future — Justin Crawford, Orion Kerkering and Andrew Painter — did not have good years, though there was some promise in Painter. 

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Oh yeah, the Phillies already have $236 million committed to their graying roster for next year, plenty of holes to fill around prime-age starting stars Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo. And there is a strong possibility of much tighter payroll restrictions coming; perhaps a salary cap. 

If you are the Mets in the NL East and your Carson Benge and Nolan McLean did what Crawford and Painter didn’t (not to mention AJ Ewing, Nate Lavender and Zac Thornton and a burgeoning farm system), you can look at the Phillies (who are viewed as having among the worst farm systems) as vulnerable.