PHILADELPHIA -- Goodbye, glory days. Hello, future.The Philadelphia Phillies bid farewell to Carlos Ruiz and Ryan Howard in 2016, signaling the end of the most successful run in franchise history. They also welcomed several talented young players, giving fans hope for 2017 and beyond.Its been a slow rebuilding process for the Phillies, but theres reason for optimism following a 71-91 finish.I know were definitely going to upgrade somehow, whether its from within or go out and get somebody via trade or even a free agent, depending on whos available and if it makes sense, manager Pete Mackanin said. Were going to fulfill our needs. We have to get better next year. We have to show improvement. And hopefully the moves we do make result in more wins.Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez, Aaron Nola, Zach Eflin and Jake Thompson showed potential to be mainstays in the starting rotation, if healthy. Cesar Hernandez, Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, Freddy Galvis and Cameron Rupp had solid offensive seasons, though all of them wont be part of the nucleus going forward.The departure of Ruiz -- traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in August -- and Howards exit -- the team plans to pay him a $10 million buyout -- leaves the Phillies with no players from their 2008 World Series championship team.After winning five straight NL East titles and two pennants between 2007-11, the Phillies have missed the postseason five consecutive years.A slew of prospects coupled with a few emerging stars is expected to help Philadelphia end its playoff drought before the decade ends.Heres a look at the past season and upcoming offseason:OFFENSIVE POSITIVES: 2B Hernandez (.294 AVG, .371 OBP, 17 steals) and SS Galvis (20 homers, 67 RBI) will be the double-play combination to start next season. Galvis power and excellent defense -- eight errors -- made up for his poor average (.241) and on-base percentage (.274). 1B Tommy Joseph had 21 HRs in only 315 at-bats. 3B Franco tied Howard for team-best with 25 HRs, batted .255 and drove in 88 runs. CF Herrera (.286, 15 HR, 25 SB) was an All-Star, though he struggled in second half. C Rupp was a pleasant surprise at the plate: .252, 16 HR, 54 RBI.PITCHING POSITIVES: Eickhoff (11-14, 3.65 ERA) was consistent the entire season. Velasquez (8-6, 4.12), Nola (6-9, 4.78), Eflin (3-5, 5.54) and Thompson (3-6, 5.70) had flashes of excellence. Alec Asher (2-1, 2.28) had a strong September. Relievers Hector Neris (2.58, 2 saves) and Edubray Ramos (3.82) should be late-inning options next season. Jeanmar Gomez had 37 saves but struggled mightily down the stretch.THE PROSPECTS: OF Roman Quinn and C Jorge Alfaro made their big-league debuts in the final month. SS J.P. Crawford, OF Nick Williams and C Andrew Knapp could arrive in Philadelphia at some point next season. OF Dylan Cozens had 40 HRs and 1B Rhys Hoskins hit 38 at Double-A Reading.BIGGEST NEEDS: Disciplined hitters with a professional plate approach who take pitches, work the count and grind out at-bats. I would like to get a good solid proven hitter somewhere on the field, Mackanin said. Where that is right now will be determined by who is available and what kind of a deal, if any, they could make.DECISION TIME: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 3.71) will be a free agent and is expected to command a big salary. The Phillies probably wont offer him a multiyear contract but should consider making a qualifying offer -- a one-year deal worth about $17 million. If so, they would receive a compensatory pick if he signs elsewhere.---Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP-RobMaaddi Cheap Hornets Jerseys China . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. 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OXON HILL, Md. -- Those days of pitching for the Long Island Ducks, out of the majors and almost out of luck, happily seem far away now for Rich Hill.The left-hander who resurrected his career after a detour to independent ball got stability and a lot more Monday. The free agent re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for three years and $48 million.I think its something that has been an incredible journey to get to this point, but never did I ever think that I would pack it in, the 36-year-old Hill said at the winter meetings in suburban Washington.I never thought I was done, he said.Still, to many, he seemed stuck. At least, thats how it appeared when he threw twice for the Ducks in 2015 in what amounted to a tryout. That earned him a shot with Boston to end the season, and then he flourished this year.Hill went a combined 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA in 20 starts for the Dodgers and Oakland. He was 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA in six starts for Los Angeles after being acquired in a five-player deal on the Aug. 1 trade deadlineHill was 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in three postseason starts for the NL West champion Dodgers, tossing six scoreless innings to win Game 3 of the NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs.When you fail, you learn. I dont think you really know what failure is -- or I didnt know what failure was until I got older and understood that that was experience, he said.Health has been a big key to Hills resurgence. He has endured serious injuries throughout his career, including a torn labrum in 2009 and elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2011.Hill threw seven perfect innings against Miami last Sept. 10, but manager Dave Roberts removed Hill from the game because of a recurrence of blisters on his pitching hand. He also had a groin injury.I think its such an outlier from last year, the way that that blister was -- how it came about, it waasnt necessarily a typical pitchers blister that you would think of, it was more of a wound, so to speak.ddddddddddddI think moving forward there would be no issues moving forward with that, Hill said.His presence gives the Dodgers another left-hander besides ace Clayton Kershaw in the rotation.Hill has a 38-28 career record with a 4.10 ERA in 221 games in 12 major league season with the Cubs, Orioles, Red Sox, Indians, Angels, Yankees, As and Dodgers.Hill gets a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $12 million next year, $16 million in 2018 and $18 million in 2019.I guess its a relief in a way, said wife Caitlin, who joined Hill at a news conference, along with Dodgers management and his agents, brothers Sam and Seth Levinson. Were not surprised. I think he always knew that he could do this.Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he didnt hesitate to give a pitcher in his mid-to-late 30s a three-year deal.Well, I think anytime in free agency there are risks that you take. Again, so much of our confidence comes from knowing him, Friedman said.Then, truly that burning desire to win, its hard for me to -- there arent 10 guys that Ive been around in my career that ranked as highly as Rich does in terms of having that truly innate, burning desire to win.Not that Hill comes across as a fiery, win-at-all-costs competitor. Dressed in a suit and tie, he quietly walked out a hotel ballroom with his wife and 5-year-old son Brice, and quickly blended in with the crowd.A fan in a Cardinals hat did ask for an autograph, and that merely piqued the interest of another passer-by.Who was that? he said, shrugging his shoulders.---AP Sports Writers Beth Harris and Stephen Whyno contributed to this report. 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