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A lot has been said and written about what went wrong for the Phillies this past year–you don’t commit to adding over $660 million to your payroll and expect your team to finish with the exact same record it did a year ago.
With a new manager, pitching coach, hitting coach all now in place, along with a nice (but somewhat expensive) free agent pick-up in Zach Wheeler, it’s time to take a look at what the Phillies do the rest of the off-season in terms of their on-the-field personnel.
(This is where I could point out some of the ideas I suggested the Phillies do last December, but didn’t do. Things like, signing Anibal Sanchez. You know, one of the most dominant pitchers in this year’s NLDS who flirted with a no-hitter in a playoff game? But who’d want someone like that on your roster.)
While some of the upgrades that need to be made are rather mundane to discuss (backup catcher, the fifth outfielder/pinch-running option, et al), I wanted to focus on three major things that MUST happen for the Phillies to become playoff contenders in 2020 (and no, I am not one of those writers who think this team is still several years away from the playoffs…with the money they’ve spent and have available, there is simply no excuse why this team shouldn’t be in the post-season next fall.)
#1: SIGN RENDON
One of the biggest free agents available needs to be wined-and-dined as much as Bryce Harper (who also has Scott Boras as his agent) was a year ago. The former National is the obvious main target for the Phillies this year because signing him:
…gives you a player with intensity/sense of urgency–something lacking from many Phillies in 2019
…a perfect complement to Harper in middle of order
…a much-needed improvement both offensively and defensively (something that many people are pointing out that desperately needs to improve this off season)
The Phillies–despite all their offensive upgrades last “hot stove” season–still was not one of the top performers offensively and you need to add a major bat to their lineup. No other free agent gives you as much of an upgrade as Anthony Rendon and he is probably the more likely of the two biggest free agents of the winter season to leave his former team (Gerrit Cole being the other).
NOTE TO ALEC BOHM FANS: No, I didn’t forget the team’s former #1 pick did have an excellent year offensively in Double-A this past summer. IF (and remember he struggled mightily in 2018) he continues to progress with the bat, he can always be moved to first base, where he may be better suited anyway, since some scouts have not been impressed with this work at the hot corner.
But what about the incumbent first basemen? That bring us to…
#2: PACKAGE HOSKINS FOR MORE PITCHING–BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
First of all, another major area the team must make is in ALL aspects of their pitching, even after adding Wheeler, whom I view currently (given his track record of injuries) as a strong #3 pitcher on a World Series championship team (that is the goal now, isn’t it?). The Phillies probably cannot afford to add BOTH of the biggest free agents available on the market and the organization been reluctant to make major financial commitments to pitchers. Therefore, the team must get creative in terms of upgrading its bullpen and starting pitching staff through trades.
Rhys Hoskins remind me a lot of Pat Burrell–a power hitter with great potential and some big at-bats, but one who never fully developed into a proven, 3-4-5 bat in a championship caliber lineup. Burrell, at his best, hit sixth during the Phillies’ best years–where he could shine in some big moments when he was hot, and his inconsistent slumps wouldn’t be nearly as noticeable by hitting lower in the order. When “Pat the Bat” hit higher and in more key spots in the order, (before and after the 2018 World Series year) he wasn’t nearly as effective, which is similar to what Hoskins has shown over the last two seasons.
Also, if the Phillies add Rendon (or even Josh Donaldson), Hoskins is probably pushed to the sixth spot in the batting order–you really want to pass up a chance for a major pitching upgrade for a guy who hits sixth in your lineup?
Plus, Hoskins has been trending downward in each of his first two seasons. Initially in 2018, the excuse was he was forced to play out of position in left field and this affected his hitting. To that end, they jettisoned an All-Star First Baseman (Carlos Santana) to “help” Hoskins, who returned the favor by hitting WORSE in 2019.
I know Hoskins is a fan favorite with lots of potential, but you don’t get major pitching help without giving up significant talent in return.
Given Hoskins’ ego and declining numbers (and is he one of the nameless players that was bad-mouthing Gabe Kapler at season’s end?), it’s time to cut Hoskins lose while his value is still rather high and avoid suffering a third consecutive year of declining numbers.
And if he rebounds?
Again, you have to give up talent to get talent…and the Phillies MUST add to their pitching staff.
Speaking of pitching…
#3: Supplement Your Pitching Staff with SEVERAL Proven Veterans
One of the biggest head-scratching decisions by the Phillies’ front office last winter was their decision to spend “crazy money” on position players, yet didn’t spend ANY money on pitching (except for injured reliever Dave Robertson, who turned out to be a bust).
Unfortunately, this glaring error was put on display when injuries occurred and most of the younger players the Phillies were counting on failed to live up to expectations.
The Phillies cannot afford to make the same mistake this winter. They simply cannot put their faith in having a pitching staff consisting mostly of unproven talent.
You still have to add a proven veteran starter to the staff (to join Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Zach Eflin and Jake Arrieta) plus starting depth AND pieces to the bullpen, to be ready for when the inevitable injuries occur.
Worst case scenario?
You have too many tough choices to make in spring training and can’t take all the pitchers you have on your Opening Day roster. Pitchers have options for a reason – use them! And if the young talent develops and progresses well in the minors over a long period of time (another issue this year was young arms being rushed to the Majors), THEN you can bring them up.
Here’s a look at how my plan would work amongst the starters:
The Lineup
McCutcheon LF
Gregorius SS
Rendon 3B
Harper RF
Realmuto C
Segura 2B
Kingery 1B (or Harrison or Boehm, which moves Scott to CF)
Haseley CF *
*(McCutcheon could also move to CF to make room for Jay Bruce)
The Rotation
Nola
Player X (who you’d acquire for Hoskins)
Wheeler
Arrieta
Efflin
Yes, the team would be over the salary cap, but you can’t brag about all the money the team is bringing in to spend on players and then not spend that money on players!
And, Hoskins would be due for a big pay day in a year or two, so you’re “saving” money for next year, while bringing in much needed talent NOW.
Hopefully, the Phillies front office takes these steps this off-season. I REALLY hope I don’t have the opportunity to say “I told you so” again next winter!
