Per a team release, the Phillies have designated OF Aaron Altherr for assignment after activating OF Odubel Herrera from the 10-Day IL.
Altherr, 28, has shown promise since his 2015 debut, most notably slugging .516 en route to a stellar 121 wRC+ across 418 plate appearances in 2017, but has too often been dogged been inconsistency and a climbing strikeout rate. In 285 PAs for the club last season, Altherr slashed a meager .181/.295/.333 (75 wRC+) and didn’t bring much back on defense, where a -2.6 UZR in 427 right-field innings resulted in an ugly -0.4 fWAR.
Though he accrued just 30 plate appearances in his short time with the Phillies this season, the trajectory wasn’t encouraging: Altherr had already managed to worsen his hideous fWAR mark from the season prior, and hadn’t showed even a glimpse of the career-best plate discipline he’d flashed in ’18.
This’ll likely be the end of the line for Altherr in Philadelphia – 28-year-olds with the ability to play center field and multiple 120 wRC+ or better seasons (albeit in limited action) under their belt aren’t often designated, and he’d seem to represent a clear outfield upgrade for at least a handful of teams. The Indians, with a league-worst 69 wRC+ and a cast of scattered disappointments in the outfield, may already be hot on the trail.
Finally!!!!!!!!!!!
He is a good guy and a good teammate who forgot how to hit under Mallee. I expect him to bounce back to be serviceable bat and 4th OF elsewhere. Honestly though, the thing that saved him this Spring for the Phillies was Glass Quinn. The writing has been on the wall for a while but Quinn prolonged the wait. Good luck A-a-ron.
He didn’t hit last year, either. Nothing to do with Mallee.
shame it had to come to this. hope you like San Fran, Aaron! Thanks for the moments.
Baltimore is a more likely destination for him…
Wow. Makes sense but now whose the fourth Outfielder
Nick Williams. Swan Rodriguez and Scott Kingery can also play.
That Swan Rodriguez, he’s no ugly duckling… 😉
Swan Rodriguez is both an excellent typo and a pretty cool nickname.
Roman Quinn will be the 4th once he is back from the IL. Well, he will be for about 3 weeks until he is injured again. Loads of talent but he can’t stay on the field.
He and Lonnie Chisenhall are good players but have bodies that are not designed for the ML.
He’ll either go to the Giants Single A caliber outfield or fill in as an injury replacement for the Yankees then sustain an injury there
best thing to happen to him. Good defensive OF that can play all 3 spots. His only problem is inconsistent playing time. Phillies have a deep OF so he will get no playing time. this is the type of player a rebuilding team needs to take a chance on.
the next OF of the Toronto blue Jays
I’d rather have Brito as the 4th OF before Biggio is up
I’d rather see Shawn Green unretire than Brito.
I was thinking Miami would be his next destination.
Very doubtful he makes it to the Indians or any other AL club. Some NL team will claim him. I am thinking the Giants, but he could improve several other teams as well.
He’s not a good enough hitter to play for CLE.
I’d be surprised if he didn’t end up with the Giants or Orioles.
All NL teams would have to pass on him for him to get to the Orioles. No way that happens. Marlins or Giants will almost definitely claim him. If I was the Reds, I would claim him and DFA Matt Kemp, but I doubt that will happen.
He’s DFA’d. I’d be surprised if the waivers come into play. The fact that the orioles are in the AL likely means nothing in this scenario. The Phillies will get something in a trade like the Sox did with swihart. Altherr won’t be a Red. I don’t see any reason why they’d spend additional dollars and prospects on outfielders when they’re full already.
It’s wild that you posted this comment right before the Reds cut Kemp. It’s not necessarily like everyone expected that either, so well done.
Makes sense for Baltimore then they can send Rickard to AAA where he belongs
Agreed. Orioles desperately need a CF. Altherr is at least passable and the Klentak relationship with Baltimore is a good one. I’d be willing to bet Baltimore is his landing spot.
Giants guaranteed
Terrible player, currently a AAAA talent at most. Unless there’s major changes in his swing and defense, we’ve seen the best of him, and that’s a 1-2 WAR player (like most MLB players are, if given regular playing time). Like Swihart, he’s a name I’m so sick of reading about. Guys, let it go, their only hope at this point is to Muncy their game up.
Muncy was a AAAA type too, changed his swing, gained weight. A’s never gave him a legit extended chance, when he did he didnt hit. Also they attempted to make him a utility type playing 3rd base and outfield
Yeah, thats what “muncy their game up” means, making drastic changes in every aspect of your game (including changing teams) to go from AAAA to star.
I doubt Max Muncy’s weight gain helped him play better. It is likely coincidental to his offensive improvement.
Really hoping the indians pick him up.
Hes tall, athletic, has power and shown some ability to hit in past. Lomg shot but a team takes a chance and fixes him and he turns into the next jayson werth or jd martinez
Without needing a 40-man spot, I’d be fine with the Indians taking him. He has a little more upside than a 28 year old should. But since he’d require a 40-man spot and doesn’t have any options, I’d have to pass. They’d need someone who could step right on to the roster and contribute, which he wouldn’t do.
They have way too many outfielders that can’t hit as it is. The Indians shouldn’t be “hot on the trail.”
Altherr is the ultimate crapshoot,with a high ceiling and a low floor.I have always wished that the Pirates could have got him as their fourth outfielder,as he has extra base power which is what they lack.
He has never really received steady playing time,and when he did,he got hurt.
There are probably at least half a dozen teams that could use him and give him extended playing time to see what they have.
I wish him luck as I think that he is the type of guy who just needs a chance.
Phillies would be stupid not to pick up Matt Kemp for bat off the bench. May be an upgrade in LF
over McCutchen?
He is a good bat off the bench. He is not going to play in the field every day this far into his career. Cutch will stay in LF, if Herrera struggles cutch can go to center and Kemp in LF. Herrera is not the answer long term
Herrera is bad, sure. Mccutchen in CF is also bad. mccutchen in CF so you can play Kemp in LF is an abomination. Hard pass on that one.
I never said he would be starting in left. I like him off the bench instead of Williams though
Ugh, no. A good 4th OF needs to be a guy you can play if one of the regulars goes down with injury. Kemp hasn’t hit for 11 months and can’t play defense. Modern benches don’t have room for PH-only types.
wish the best to Aaron, but not too optimistic about his future.
will always remember taking my son to the game where he cranked that granny off of Kershaw- probably his top moment as a Phillie.
Mallee is pathetic. They should fire him just because.
Change of scenery candidate?
Japan? Korea? Taiwan?
Mexico? Antarctica?
MLBTR you are true gentlemen for not slipping his current BA into this piece… whoa Nelly
Hope the Mets grab him. Kid looked good early in his career and coming up through the minors. Something happened in Philly, maybe the answer wasn’t in ‘the binder’. He should receive multiple offers once he refuses his option. Probably just needs regular playing time. When a player misses time, it’s common place to send him down for regular at bats but we expect platoon bench players to hit when they get one start or two pinch hit appearances per week? Giants, Reds, Mets, Blue Jays, Royals, and 10 other teams should be all over him.
He had regular playing time for the first 2 months of 2018, and he lost the job. That’s more than a lot of guys ever get.
The Indians should take a shot on him. Relatively cheap and young. Can’t hurt any with that crap lineup they currently have.