The Phillies are going to have to make some tough decisions over the winter as they have seven players who are free agents after the World Series is over. Here is who I think will be leaving and staying out of this bunch:

Brian Schneider: 34-year old lefty swinging catcher Brian Schneider played in 34 games for the Phillies last year and he was 22 for 125 (.176 avg, .502 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 2 homers and 9 RBIs. The Phillies will be looking for cheaper alternatives to back up Carlos Ruiz over the winter. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Ross Gload: 35-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Ross Gload played in 93 games for the Phillies last year and he was 29 for 113 (.257 avg, .603 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 0 homers and 8 RBIs. He didn’t produce enough to warrant bringing him back. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Jimmy Rollins: 32-year old switch-hitting shortstop Jimmy Rollins played in 144 games for the Phillies last year and he was 152 of 567 (.268 avg, .736 OPS) with 87 runs scored, 16 homers, 63 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. I don’t see the Phillies paying top dollar to Rollins as he isn’t the player he used to be. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Raul Ibanez: 39-year old lefty swinging LF Raul Ibanez played in 144 games for the Phillies last year and he was 131 of 535 (.245 avg, .707 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 20 homers, 84 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Roy Oswalt: 34-year old righty starting pitcher Roy Oswalt pitched in 23 games (all starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. The Phillies and Oswalt have a mutual option for 2012, valued at $16 million bucks with a $2 million dollar buyout. The Phillies already have decent replacements for him on the pitching staff. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Ryan Madson: 31-year old righty reliever Ryan Madson served as the Phillies’ closer in 2011 and he was solid. He pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the Phillies in 2011 and he was 4-2 with 32 saves, a 2.37 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The Phillies are going to want to bring Madson back. PREDICTION: STAYING

Brad Lidge: 34-year old righty reliever Brad Lidge worked in 25 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-2 with 1 save, a 1.40 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Phillies have a club option on Lidge for 2012 valued at $12.5 million bucks with a $1.5 million dollar buyout. PREDICTION: LEAVING

32-year old righty swinging catcher Dane Sardinha has elected to become a minor league free agent. Sardinha played in 15 games for the Phillies in 2011 and he was 7 for 32 (.219 avg, .669 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 0 homers and 1 RBI. He played in 28 games in his two years with the Phillies and he was 15 for 71 (.211 avg, .706 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 3 homers and 9 RBIs. The Phillies should have little problem replacing Sardinha.

31-year old lefty swinging 1B Ryan Howard ruptured his left Achilles Tendon in his last at bat of the N.L.D.S. against the Cardinals and he needs surgery to repair it. Howard will likely miss at least half, if not all of the 2012 season. This is a HUGE blow to the Phillies already in 2012. Howard played in 152 games for the Phillies in 2011 and he was 141 for 557 (.253 avg, .835 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 31 homers, 116 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Howard has now played in 1,027 games in his first 8 years with the Phillies and he is 1,043 of 3,794 (.275 avg, .928 OPS) with 633 runs scored, 286 homers, 864 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Howard’s bat in the middle of the Phillies’ lineup will be almost impossible to replace in 2012. Howard also signed a 5-year, $125 contract extension that starts with the 2012 season. The Phillies have an option for the 2017 season worth $23 million bucks with a buyout of $10 million bones. They need him to take his time in his rehab and not to return until he’s 100%, because they have a huge investment in him.

The Phillies’ goal was to win the World Series in 2011, and they fell short. They still won the N.L. East by 13 games over the Braves as they had the best regular season record in the majors in 2011 with a 102-60 mark. Here is a look at what stood out in my mind about the Phillies in 2011:

TEAM MVP: 31-year old righty Ryan Madson stepped up and filled the role of closer the whole year. He pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the Phillies this year and he was 4-2 with 32 saves, a 2.37 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The Phillies played a lot of close games in 2011 and Madson made them stand up.

BEST PITCHER: This is a three way tie between 34-year old righty Roy Halladay (19-6, 2.35 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP), 33-year old lefty Cliff Lee (17-8, a 2.40 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP) and 27-year old lefty Cole Hamels (14-9 with a 2.79 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP) lived up to the hype for the Phillies.

PLEASANT SURPRISE: 26-year old lefty reliever Antonio Bastardo was excellent until September for the Phillies. He pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Phillies in 2011 and he was 6-1 with 8 saves, a 2.64 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. He only gave up 28 hits while whiffing 70 batters in only 58 innings this year!

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: 32-year old lefty swinging 2B Chase Utley just couldn’t stay healthy in 2011. He played in 103 games for the Phillies in 2011 and he was 103 for 398 (.259 avg, .769 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 11 homers, 44 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

Roy Halladay gave up a run in the first inning and after that he was nails. Halladay pitched the first 8 innings in this game and he gave up 6 hits, 1 run (it was earned), 1 walk and he whiffed 7 batters while earning a loss! Ryan Madson worked a scoreless 9th inning, giving up no hits or walks while whiffing 2 batters. Shane Victorino (2 for 3) and Chase Utley (1 for 3) were the whole extent of the Phillies’ offense in this game as the rest of the team was 0 for 24. The Phillies have lost the N.L.D.S. 3 games to 2 to the Brewers.