By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The 2018 Philadelphia Phillies season, although it appears to be ending in disappointment, in fact was a huge turnaround from the previous years under skippers Ryne Sandberg and Pete Mackanin. For the first time since 2011, the team was well-positioned for a post-All-Star break postseason run, and had not really fallen out of the chase until a few weeks back.
If you thought the club's first season under Gabe Kapler was exciting, just wait until the offseason. According to Fancred's Jon Heyman, the Phillies are poised for a "monster winter," with multiple rival executives suggesting it is "quite possible" they sign both superstars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado in free agency.
Heyman writes:
Multiple rival executives suggested they believe it’s quite possible the Phillies land not one – but both – superstar free agents this winter. Of the more than 10 executives contacted this week, though the question was about who’d get the bigger deal between outfielder Bryce Harper and infielder Manny Machado, a few volunteered that they believed Philly could sign both players. They have been connected to both players in recent years, and despite a few free agent signings last winter, they still have a relatively small amount of money committed to future contracts, which seems to position them for a potentially monster winter.
The Phillies have plenty of money to spend to make this dream come to reality. Per Spotrac, the Phillies currently have just $68.9 million currently committed for next season, with Jake Arrieta ($25 million), Carlos Santana ($20.3 million), Tommy Hunter ($9 million), and Pat Neshek ($7.8 million) accounting for most of that figure. The 2019 luxury tax threshold is set for $206 million, so the Phillies have at least $137.1 million left to distribute. The club's current 2018 payroll is at $104.3 million, an approximate $35.4 million difference from their current 2019 commitments.
Read: Phillies Discussed Trading Santana, Moving Hoskins Back to 1st Base
Heyman also said the Phillies' huge revenue pool after signing their "lucrative 10-figure TV contract," their "willingness to be a big bidder," awareness they "aren't as good as the Braves," owner John Middleton's eagerness to win, and Machado's personal connections with Phillies executives are all contributing factors to them being the "early favorites" for both Harper and Machado.
"The rival execs are convinced that the they could get both superstars, but that one or the other is almost a fait accompli. That in itself would be a game-changer for a Phillies organization that found itself leading the division in 2018 earlier than many expected."
So while the Eagles look to defend their Super Bowl championship, and the 76ers and Flyers aim to build upon their respective previous seasons, don't forget the Phillies in their offseason this winter. A lot can happen, and fast.
