Jayson Werth is days away from free agency, so if the Phillies intend to re-sign their right fielder, they'll have to bid directly against other interested teams. There's a real chance Werth signs elsewhere this winter, so the Phillies are thinking ahead. Manager Charlie Manuel has acknowledged that he may pair Domonic Brown up with a more experienced player who can handle southpaws and play right field.
Brown, just 23, had no trouble hitting minor league pitching this year (.327/.391/.589 line) but he bats from the left side and the Phillies could ease him into the big leagues by limiting his exposure to left-handed pitching. Here are eight outfielders the Phillies may consider as platoon partners for Brown:
- Jeff Francoeur, 26 years old, non-tender candidate – Frenchy has his faults, but the 26-year-old can handle lefties. He has a .299/.343/.481 line against them in his career.
- Matt Diaz, 32 years old, non-tender candidate – Diaz has a .335/.373/.533 line against lefties in his career.
- Juan Rivera, 32 years old, trade candidate – The Angels will have to part with an outfielder if they sign Werth or Carl Crawford. Rivera, who spent most of the 2010 season in left field, has a career .288/.333/.499 line against lefties.
- Jose Guillen, 34 years old, free agent – He struggled against lefties this year, but boasts a .270/.327/.460 line against them in his career.
- Xavier Nady, 31 years old, free agent – Nady, who struggled through the 2010 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, has a .297/.367/.451 line against lefties in his career.
- Andruw Jones, 33, free agent – Jones would likely be able to find more playing time elsewhere, so he's not a natural fit in Philly, but his career (.261/.361/.501) and 2010 (.256/.373/.558) numbers against left-handers must have the Phillies salivating.
- Milton Bradley, 32, trade candidate – Again, Bradley seems like an unlikely target for the Phillies, but he has a .300/.382/.488 line against left-handers in his career and could be available.
- Willie Bloomquist, 32, free agent – He has a .272/.334/.366 line against lefties in his career – not much pop, but he's far more versatile than the players above. Bloomquist played all three outfield positions and all four infield positions this year, so Manuel could use him elsewhere if Brown wins the job outright.
- Austin Kearns, 30, free agent – Kearns has a career .261/.383/.416 line against lefties and may have trouble finding an everyday job.
- Ben Francisco, 29, on the Phillies – Francisco has a .267/.347/.460 career line against left-handers.
Diaz and Francoeur handle lefties well and can play right field, so they would be good fits for the Phils if they are indeed non-tendered. Rivera, Nady, Bloomquist and Kearns would also be legitimate options and none of the players listed figure to cost more than a few million on a one-year deal, so the Phillies are well-positioned to recover if Werth leaves and they consider alternatives to Francisco. Their biggest challenge will be helping Brown improve upon the .210/.257/.355 line he posted in 70 plate appearances this summer.
If the phighten’s indeed want to do this then I would say Nady is the best option. He’s a good player that can be roped in relatively cheaply
Unfortunately, we all know Francoeur will be in KC next year.
Maybe, but with our patchwork outfield, he’s still an improvement somehow. At least he’s a natural left fielder and not a converted third baseman.
We need to hit the outfield hard in the next few drafts. We pretty much have everywhere else covered.
Thank heaven he won’t be here.
He fits in perfectly with KC. He is slightly above average speed, past his prime, white, and swings and misses a lot.
He fits in perfectly with KC. He is slightly above average speed, past his prime, white, and swings and misses a lot.
sad but true kc where careers go to die
sad but true. kc where careers go to die.
Kearns is easily the best fit. He’s a solid hitter, good defender, and could handle a full-time role if Brown needs more time in Triple-A. However, I want the Mets to sign him, so hopefully the Phillies sign Francouer.
I agree here. He won’t be that expensive (maybe $800K-$1.5M guaranteed) and can play all 3 OF spots.
Showed he can still hit in Cleveland. Nice vet (and none too old) to have around if you’re Philly. Can Ibanez hold up for another year? Francisco could start in LF if he goes down…but kearns stepped up for Cleveland.
For the money….Kearns is probably the best fit of the guys mentioned.
K. Have fun seeing him strike out almost every at bat with men on base.
Career-wise he’s solid with men on base–so as a 4th OFer/platoon type, I’m fine with his production.
I think the best guy for power on that list is Juan Rivera, but if the Phillies want the best well-rounded guy, that Nady should be their guy to go and get.
Milton Bradley: So much talent, so much insanity.
I didn’t realize Matt Diaz was 32, but I think he’s a pretty good player. Not sure why he didn’t get more action in Atlanta this year, but if he leaves, I’d expect Philly to take a look at him and I’d really like the Pirates to offer him a contract. He’d be a very good right handed outfielder and he could be involved in a timeshare with Doumit and Garrett Jones where they each get some starts.
As stated above, he’s only good against lefties, and not my lefties start against Atlanta. Maybe 20-30 a year.
Diaz will be non-tendered, and brought back at a cheaper price.
Is Frenchy really only 26? Why did i think he was like 37
Obviously you have watched him play
well done.
Diaz is not a very good option defensively in right, I’m a big Matty D fan and supporter, and I think there is a very good chance that he is non-tendered and brought back for the same or slightly less than he was making this year. He is actually one of the key cogs for our clubhouse chemistry….
I know that Manuel said a platoon would be an option with Brown, but why? If the guy is the superstar he should eventually become, why should he platoon? Why not start him everyday?
andruw jones might be able to get some of his magic back if he works with charlie
Francisco, Ben Francisco
Ben Francisco has a career .267/.347/.460 -.807 line against lefties for his career, and he’s already in-house. Why search for a platoon partner when you’ve already got a perfect one?
seriously
dude has some pop, and manuel can never say enough good things about him. i really think he can put up similar numbers to werth. extremely underrated.
lol
Jose Guillen would be the guy I go after if I’m Ruben. He’s likely past his prime but a part time role sounds perfect for him. Good defender, great arm, and good RH power bat built for Citizens Bank. Not to mention just 2 years ago he hit 20 home runs. He’s not the best clubhouse guy to have around, but a guy at his stage in his career and no rings would likely suck it up for a chance to win it all.
If he ever wins one, he’d prob get too drunk during the celebration and the players would have to shun him
I agree with some on here keep it with francisco and get some pen help. maybe a nice LOGOY since Bastardo will be getting his first full year of work without JC back there.
I think you mean loogy
maybe Jonathan Singleton???
jk but who knows maybe to Replace Raul in 2012?
link to phuturephillies.com
Too Soon buddy, too soon.
Bradley and a the half of his salary for Bastardo
How about NO.
please take Rivera
How bout giving Mayberry a shot?
I agree stick with what you know and have in stock. Go with Brown, Mayberry and Francisco. If possible find a way to dump Ibanez and bring back Werth to team with Victarino and the three young guys. They got talent, let them show it. The lineup is good enough to get through the growing pains.
I know he’s got about 3.5x the experience in left that he does in right, but I’m surprised to not see Marcus Thames on this list still.
If they strictly want a platoon partner for Domonic Brown then my top choice would be Matt Diaz. Being a Braves fan I know he absolutely crushes lefties, and if he is only platooning he wouldn’t really hurt the defense. I hope he stays with the Braves, but he would be a good fit in Philly. He gives it all he’s got and can take down fans in Red Spandex suits if needed…
Aaron Rowand could be on this list…
Bloomquist is out of that mix. Not dicing on Ben, but he is a 25th player pretty much at the start of the season and you want him around to play 7 positions and steal a few bases, nothing more. he is best suited at this point to be a NL type IMO and no disrespect towards him cause always liked the guy.
How about one Mr. Ross? You know…the guy who just destroyed us in the LCS. As the postseason hero and a fan favorite, Giants will definitely try to re-sign him, but he can play RF or LF and should be quite affordable at around $4M, and he’s only 29. I could see him platooning with Brown or Ibanez.
Milton Bradley “could be available” – haha You think?!
How about Pat Burrell? Victorino would have to cover half the earth between Ibanez and Burrell, but … Aaron Rowand might also be a pickup, if available. Of the ones listed, I like Francoeur the best and A Jones second. I know that both have slipped from their best years, but you’re looking for someone for 2 starts a week and some ph’s.
Why not do what is best for his development, like they did with Ryan Howard, and just keep throwing him out there against LHP until he gets better.
He probably won’t ever be as good against them, but if he can take them out of park, that’ll be good enough.
Why not do what is best for his development, like they did with Ryan Howard, and just keep throwing him out there against LHP until he gets better.
He probably won’t ever be as good against them, but if he can take them out of park, that’ll be good enough.
I’d see if David De Jesus was available from the K.C. Royals. He’s a free agent after the 2011 season, so perhaps KC would rather “get something instead of nothing” for him – so the Philies wouldn’t have to give up too much in a trade for him.
Ben Francisco is already part of this club and would improve with more regular playing time. No fuss no bother. He is going to be the platoon partner.
Raul Ibanez is aging and weakening. The platoon is going to include him, as well, I think, since there won’t really be a trade market for him.
Swap Ibanez for Rowand; the salaries more or less even out this season, then split Rowands salary for 2012 50/50…
Sadly I know that Ben Francisco will be the platoon partner with Dominic Brown. I say sadly because personally I don’t think anything but a bench player when I see him play the game. Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge Francisco fan. If I were to choose a player to platoon with Brown I rather choose Xavier Nady. Nady is a decent player with a little bit of pop in his bat. He’s a versatile player who can play the corner outfield positions and could even play first and third at times. I just hope the Phillies make the right decision this offseason and see what best fits.
I assume you’re a Mets or Braves fan.
I had no idea that Ben Francisco helps a team win that many games. When you have a player like Brown who is a superstar in the making, you should give him the opportunity to start everyday.
What! Andruw Jones is on Crack?