Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Worst-Case Scenarios This Winter

An October that couldn’t finish soon enough for baseball in Philadelphia has mercifully come to an end. In winning the World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals have reopened the wounds of Phillies fans still tending to broken hearts, but also given the Philly faithful a reason to emotionally reinvest in their team.

Following a thrilling Fall Classic that they played themselves out of, the Phillies now face a string of decisions that will shape both their chance for redemption next season and the direction of the franchise over the next decade. Crucial calls on team personnel and free-agents acquisitions now fall on the shoulders of GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and the front office as the league closes the book on the 2011 season.

While the City of Brotherly Love has confidence in their bold general manager, there is no consensus on which moves will make Philadelphia’s club a stronger threat when 2012 Opening Day rolls around. Only by pulling the right strings in negotiations with returning players and free agents can Amaro Jr. produce a product that will be as feared as last year’s edition of the team.

Having already declined the options on Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge, the front office turns its focus to shortstop Jimmy Rollins and closer Ryan Madson. The two homegrown stars have become mainstays of the organization and fan favorites during their long tenures in the red pinstripes.

As skilled as Amaro Jr. appears to have been over the past few seasons, a wrong decision could steer Philadelphia away from their World Series aspirations, wasting the championship window their pitching staff has opened.

There are many choices that the Phillies can make that would improve their baseball team, but here are five things that could prove to be disastrous for Philadelphia this winter:

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