The Phillies have signed Kevin Frandsen, reports CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, avoiding arbitration with the infielder, who was arb-eligible for the first time this winter. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (who said earlier today that the two sides were close to a deal) reports that the one-year contract will pay Frandsen $850K, with incentives possibly pushing the total to $1.2MM. (All links are to Twitter.)
Frandsen signed minor league contracts with the Phillies before each of the last two seasons and received his first Major League playing time since 2010 this season when he was called on to play third base when Placido Polanco went on the DL. The 30-year-old Frandsen more than capitalized on the opportunity, hitting .338/.383/.451 in 210 plate appearances as Philadelphia's everyday third baseman over the last two months. The Phils are known to be looking a more proven third baseman this winter but if the team can't find an everyday option, Frandsen and Freddy Galvis will platoon at the hot corner next year, reports Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The $850K deal is slightly higher than the $800K that MLBTR's Matt Swartz projected Frandsen to receive in arbitration. With Frandsen signed, the Phillies only have two other arb-eligible players: Antonio Bastardo and Nate Schierholtz.
Seeing that the 3B FA market is barren, I like Fransden at 3B for the Phils. I can see Galvis getting a lot of ABs at 3B as well.
If they go that direction, I’d like to see them add Eric Chavez to platoon with him. I love Freddy’s glove but I’d love to see him get a full year at AAA getting consistent playing time in the event Rollins or Utley go down.
I like Chavez, too, but it seems he’ll get an increased workload if he stays with the Yankees. It’s hard to gauge a player’s loyalties, but given that he was left for dead after the A’s, I feel he’ll stick with a situation he knows unless the money would be that much better (and going year-to year, it won’t).
I think you’re right about Galvis, but I don’t see him going back down to AAA. Even if Chase and Jimmy are healthy, and Fransden is “starting” at 3B, I still think he’ll see 300-400 PAs. I see him in the role Eduardo Nunez has with the Yankees, but with a better glove and not as much as an accomplished hitter.
Base salary of $850k with incentives (I’m assuming based on playing time) that could bring the total to $1.2 million according to Crasnick.
I dont think it was a coincidence that the Phillies started playing much better baseball when Kevin Frandsen(3B) and Erik Kratz(C) started playing every day. 3B should be the Phillies area of least concern. CF,Bullpen,Corner outfield,starting pitcher in case Doc Halladay struggles again. 3B can be handled by Frandsen and Freddy Galvis.
They also got unsustainable performances from both, which is a coincidence.
I think it was more a coincidence that Frandsen started playing regularly right around the time that Howard and Utley ended their “spring training/early season” parts of their schedule. Frandsen was a nice surprise last year, but the team did not go as he did. He just happened to be playing when Chase and Ryan got hot.
Chase and R Howard never got hot last season.Those guys returning from injury certainly helped the Phils but Frandsen and Kratz brought an attitude with them and some tough AB’s for a change. And Frandsen didnt overachieve, he’s alifetime .300 hitter in the minors noted for grinding out AB’s. Thats what he gave last year and will again this year if given the oppurtunity.
I phrased it wrong when I said that Chase and Ryan got hot. I meant that when Frandsen started playing regularly (beginning of August), which was about 6 weeks into the seasons of Ryan and Chase – which would be about the start of a normal season for them. While they never got hot, it was Ryan’s best month and Chase finally seemed to get on top of his game. And yes, Frandsen did overachieve. He may be a .300 hitter in the minors, but in his over 200 games in the majors (before last year), he was a .250 hitter. And hitting .300 in the minors is way different than hitting .340 in the majors. Again, Frandsen and Kratz were nice surprises, but neither are anything to build around. Both should make the team this year (without a doubt), but having them in anything more than a back-up/platoon role would be a disappointment.