The Philadelphia Phillies only have three free agents heading into this winter. Here is who I seeing staying and leaving out of this trio:

Brian Schneider: 35-year old lefty swinging catcher Brian Schneider only played in 34 games for the Phillies last year and he was 20 for 89 (.225 avg, .637 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 2 homers and 7 RBIs. He lost his backup job to Erik Kratz when he was injured. VERDICT: LEAVING

Mike Fontenot: 32-year old lefty swinging infielder Mike Fontenot didn’t stick with the Phillies at the major league level the whole year in 2012. He played in 47 games for the Phillies last year and he was 28 for 97 (.289 avg, .683 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 1 homer and 5 RBIs. VERDICT: LEAVING

Juan Pierre: 35-year old lefty swinging outfielder Juan Pierre really turned in a rock solid year for the Phillies in 2012. He played in 130 games for the Phillies last year and he was 121 of 394 (.307 avg, .721 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 1 homer, 25 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. VERDICT: STAYING

The Phillies have declined 37-year old righty swinging 3B Placido Polanco’s option for the 2013 season valued at $5.5 million bucks. They instead have bought him out for a cool $1 million bucks. Polanco played in 90 games for the Phillies last year and he was 78 for 303 (.257 avg, .629 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 2 homers and 19 RBIs. He played in 688 games in his seven years with the Phillies (two stints) and he was 776 of 2,685 (.289 avg, .739 OPS) with 365 runs scored, 51 homers, 281 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. Polanco was injury prone last year and that made this decision a very easy one.

The Philadelphia Phillies have declined 40-year old righty reliever Jose Contreras’ option for the 2013 season valued at $2.5 million bucks. Contreras pitched in only 17 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year due to injury and he was 1-0 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He pitched in 101 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Phillies and he was 7-4 with 9 saves, a 3.74 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. This isn’t much of a loss as Contreras is still rehabbing his elbow.

The Phillies have declined 35-year old righty swinging infielder Ty Wigginton’s option for the 2013 season valued at $4 million bucks. They instead paid him $500,000 bucks to leave. Wigginton played in 125 games for the Phillies last year and he was 74 of 315 (.235 avg, .688 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 1,315 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 1,161 of 4,422 (.263 avg, .762 OPS) with 549 runs scored, 169 homers, 591 RBIs and 42 stolen bases. Wigginton shouldn’t have a problem finding a new job over the winter, but the Phillies won’t miss him too much.

The Philadelphia Phillies have picked up the 2013 option on 33-year old righty swinging catcher Carlos Ruiz, valued at $5 million bucks. Ruiz played in 114 games for the Phillies last year and he was 121 of 372 (.325 avg, .935 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 16 homers, 68 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 733 games in his first seven years with the Phillies and he is 616 of 2,238 (.275 avg, .781 OPS) with 274 runs scored, 52 homers, 299 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. This was a no brainer for the Phillies as Ruiz just keeps getting better every year with the bat.

The Phillies have lost 27-year old righty reliever David Herndon on waivers to the Toronto Blue Jays. Herndon pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He pitched in 97 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Phillies and he was 2-8 with 1 save, a 3.85 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. This is the second pitcher (Tyson Brummett) that the Jays have swiped off the Phillies already during the post-season.

The Phillies have lost 28-year old righty reliever/starter Tyson Brummett on waivers to the Toronto Blue Jays. Brummett pitched in 1 game for the Phillies this year, working 2/3 of an inning giving up 2 hits and 0 runs while whiffing 2 batters. He also pitched in 44 games (8 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Phillies this year and he was 5-6 with 2 saves, a 3.20 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Brummett pitched in 194 games (83 starts) in his six years with the Phillies and he was 26-47 with 7 saves, a 4.52 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. This isn’t much of a loss for the Phillies.

The Phillies had high hopes for the 2012 season, but injuries short circuited their year early, causing them to be sellers at the trade deadline for the first time in quite a while. The Phillies finished in 3rd place in the N.L. East with an 81-81 (50%) record, 17 games behind the rising Washington Nationals. Here is a look at the players that made the biggest impacts for the Phillies in 2012, in my opinion:

Team MVP: Jonathan Papelbon - 31-year old righty closer Jonathan Papelbon protected a lot of close wins for the Phillies in 2012. He pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 5-6 with 38 saves, a 2.44 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He gave up only 56 hits and 18 walks while whiffing 92 batters in only 70 innings pitched last year, which is very impressive.

Best Pitcher: Cole Hamels - 28-year old lefty starting pitcher Cole Hamels was by far the best starting pitcher for the Phillies in 2012. Hamels started 31 games for the Phillies in 2012 and he was 17-6 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He only gave up 190 hits and 52 walks while whiffing 216 batters in only 215 1/3 innings in 2012, as he was impressive.

Biggest Surprise: Juan Pierre - 35-year old lefty swinging outfielder Juan Pierre came to the Phillies on a minor league deal with no promises of a roster spot. Pierre not only won a roster spot, but he won a starting gig in no time. Pierre played in 130 games for the Phillies last year and he was 121 of 394 (.307 avg, .721 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 1 homer, 25 RBIs and 37 stolen bases.

Biggest Disappointment: Ty Wigginton - The Phillies hoped that 35-year old righty swinging corner infielder Ty Wigginton would help them cushion the blow of not having Ryan Howard at the start of the season. It didn’t work out too well. Wigginton played in 125 games for the Phillies last year and he was 74 of 315 (.235 avg, .688 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jason Pridie has elected to leave the Phillies as a free agent. Pridie played in 9 games for the Phillies this year and he was 3 for 10 (.300 avg, 1.000 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Pridie has played in 121 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 51 of 222 (.230 avg, .685 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 5 homers, 23 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. This isn’t going to be much of a loss for the Phillies.

33-year old switch-hitting shortstop Jimmy Rollins has had a big month in September for the Phillies. He has played in 27 games for the Phillies so far this month and he is 31 of 108 (.287 avg, .913 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 8 homers, 17 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Rollins has now played in 156 games overall this year and he is 158 of 632 (.250 avg, .743 OPS) with 102 runs scored, 23 homers, 68 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Rollins’ overall production numbers look good, but he did struggle quite a bit this year.