The Phillies haven’t had center fielder Odubel Herrera since May 28, when Major League Baseball placed him on administrative leave after an arrest on a simple assault charge relating to a domestic violence incident. MLB has since extended Herrera’s leave twice, and while it’s unclear whether he’ll return this season, the Phillies are operating as if they won’t be able to count on him, general manager Matt Klentak said Monday (via Matt Gelb of The Athletic).
“I can tell you from a roster building perspective,” Klentak said, “we need to assume that we’re not going to have Odúbel anytime soon.”
In addition to dealing with potentially abhorrent off-field behavior from Herrera, the Phillies haven’t benefited from his on-field presence of late. Herrera was a valuable producer from 2015-17, a span in which he accounted for 9.4 fWAR and landed a $30.5MM contract extension from the Phillies. He could still earn another $24MM on the deal, including a combined $3.5MM in buyouts from 2022-23, which is hardly a crippling amount for the club. Still, the Phillies haven’t gotten what they’ve wanted on the diamond from Herrera, who has essentially been a replacement-level player since 2018. The 27-year-old came out of the gates this season with a paltry line of .222/.288/.341 (66 wRC+) and one home run in 139 plate appearances before going on the restricted list.
Shortly after Herrera went away, the Phillies saw Andrew McCutchen suffer a season-ending torn left ACL in early June. They then promoted outfield prospect Adam Haseley, who quickly went to the IL because of a groin issue. With those three not in the mix at the moment, Philly has deployed Scott Kingery and Roman Quinn – almost exclusively the former – in center over the past two-plus weeks.
The 25-year-old Kingery’s enjoying a fantastic season, meaning the Herrera-less Phillies shouldn’t necessarily have to upgrade center in advance of the July 31 trade deadline. However, because Kingery’s also still seeing time at third base, where Maikel Franco has fallen out of favor, it’ll give the playoff-contending Phillies room to seek help at either position in the next month-plus.
From the sounds of it, I think he might have played his last game as a Phillies. FO seems to be distancing themselves from him
As they should.
He has not been productive over the past year and a half.
Someone with much physical talent but who doesn’t hustle enough.
Did he take the money and run?
We shall see.
sucks they have to punt all the money, but enough is enough. bad player and evidently not a very good person either.
Somewhere Mike Schmidt is laughing his arss off!
Remember him, Phillies fans….yes he was the guy that you threw to the wolves after he made the comment that Odubel couldn’t be the leader of the team if he couldn’t speak English and/or communicate and all you “fans” that post absolutely crucified him for “special” Odubel! Mike was old, out of touch, and just didn’t understand todays game!
How special is Odubel in your minds now as either a ballplayer on your team, or as a human being?
I don’t think Herrera’s native tongue has anything to do with his production on the field or actions off of it.
But someone wanting to be a team leader should learn English . Look at big papi or Wilson Contreras for examples
I see the point you’re trying to make here, friend. You want us to know you’re a racist. It landed.
Agree. Learn the language. You’re making millions in this country.
So you bring the team together for a rallying cry, and eventually the translator relays the message to the team? I’ve never been led in that fashion before…
I don’t think it’s racist to ask someone to learn the primary language of the country one does business in. Is that really offensive to you? Grow up
How is saying someone needs to learn the primary language of the country they work in racist?
and yet, so many americans go over to foreign countries, never bothering to learn their language.
hell, most american’s can barely speak english even halfway decently (oh wait, i forgot, no one speaks english… only ‘MURKIAN!!!)
So many people claim racism and yet mfm420 probably has the most racist comment on here complete with a racial slur.
Seriously, replace his talk of Americans with any minority group or nationality and he would be banned for life. Racism is not a one way street.
Heywood is right. If an American player wanted to be a leader in Japan he’d have to learn Japanese. Media blew the Schmidt comments out of proportion because that’s what they do.
Would flag this comment if could on app.
If you can’t communicate, then you’ve got a problem being considered a “team leader”….does he lead by example and if so, you’ve got a bigger problem!
Depends. How many Phillies speak Spanish?
Good point! I looked at the roster and looks like about probably 30%
Doesn’t hit baseballs often enough. Hits people too often.
But, you think it’s English being his second language that is the problem?
Crow barring a well ground axe there.
Also, I don’t know him or his sense of humor, but I’m guessing that Mike Schmidt does NOT find DV arrests LOL funny.
You totally missed the entire meaning of my post….try reading it again…..Schmidt was condemned for daring to criticize this guy and totally thrown under the bus….has nothing to do with him finding or not finding DV arrests funny!
Geez, do I have to spell it out further for you?
Well, you can keep spelling out the same two unrelated things as if they are related over and over and over again, I guess.
A dozen others have tried to explain it to you, but I’ll try again as well…
Hererra’s fall from grace in the Phillies organization has to with his play on the field AND his alleged crimes off the field NOT his language skills.
I agree that communication is key to leadership and don’t think saying that is racist BUT it has NOTHING to do with why the Phillies are giving up on Herrera.
They are unrelated. And because they are unrelated, it does not validate or invalidate Schmidt’s comments. They are unrelated.
Schmidt would’ve said the same thing about dozens of other players who haven’t got in trouble with the law. You’re trying to connect things that are unrelated.
Another brain surgeon totally missing the point!
No one is missing your point. You just are making a very poor one.
Just because one or two people don’t think he’s making a good point, does not mean that he’s not making a good point.
Except he isn’t. Schmidt was wrong. This is totally unconnected.
Odubel Herrera is Arerreh Lebudo backwards.
So you agree with Mike Schmidt that only bilingual or trilingual ball players can be team leaders?
Schmidt was and is still wrong. Literally nothing changed that.
Actually an opinion cant be wrong
I was just kind of thinking that as well actually. This is more of a personal opinion. But it is a very misinformed opinion on Schmidt’s part.
I disagree. Schmidt played about 20 years and was in a big league clubhouse . I believe he would know more on the topic than you or I would.
Can you name any current or former team Capitans that had to relay team messages through a translator ?
Exactly. I’d suggest an English speaking player learn Spanish if he played in the Mexican league with majority of the team’s first language is Spanish. Schmidt knows what’s up.
I don’t think that matters. I couldn’t really name a current team captain anyways. I think if a Latino or Asian who can’t speak English, but plays the right way, sticks up for his teammates, and discusses baseball in the clubhouse, why can’t he be considered a leader? Isn’t a leader just someone you want your young guys to model their game after? Honestly, why does it matter if advice comes from the players mouth or a translators?
Carlos Delgado, Yadier Molina ….. Sammy Sosa hahaha
Sammy Sosa very famously might I add …
This really is kind of a fascinating debate because there is no right answers. Schmidt wasn’t or isn’t able to have a foreign language leader? Ya I guess that’s ok. But 100’s of other players can.
This will be interesting in a decade or so as well. I’m pretty sure the Phillies has 40 percent of their roster occupied by Latinos at the time these comments were made. With the way those number are rising, North American players may soon not be the overwhelming majority. I can guarantee the vast majority won’t be learning Spanish though when this is the case lol. Not there’s anything wrong with that. Or if Montreal gets a team. I’d bet only a couple give it the time of day to learn French.
Actually its rig hur around the league average 29% Hispanic and a good portion of those guys speak English
Yes that was the Phillies number at the time. I’m pretty sure 29 percent is on the way up though last time i checked.
“Schmidt wasn’t or isn’t able to have a foreign language leader?”
Great example of fake news, because that is not what Schmidt said or implied. Your previous argument also perfectly described a player leading by example when playing the right way, sticks up for teammates etc…Every team could use a truckload of those guys.
When a team goes through tough times, play below expectations or need to get themselves right off the field to put forth a better effort on the field, which player do you want taking that stand/be the voice of reason? The one speaking directly to teammates with a clear message, or an edited, watered down message from an interpreter?
No it’s beenaround that number for almost 20 years . I know you hate the fact most of the players are white
Here’s the point. Herrera is an imbecile no matter what language he speaks. He is a lazy bum with a minuscule baseball IQ. Now he’s woman beater. That is why he can’t be a leader.
The Phills could make a swap for the Pirates excess. Even some of their guys at AAA may be able to help.
it sounds like, after reading this article, that the Phillies might need another OF
This is well said
Call Toronto for Grichuk. May as well ask about Stroman and Giles too.
Domingo Santana is available and would be affordable. Jerry’s dealin’, and he will not be undersold.
Musing my own thoughts here, I for one think it best to not see Goofy back in a Phillies uni again..the plans would skewer him..his play was below expectations and while I think he would have figured it out, the total package just doesn’t fit in the PHL.
Needs are pitching…at the start of the season , I was lauding that pen saying it was one of the best in the game..ouch! The starting rotation has been sub par including Nola. This team is giving up home runs at an alarming rate…might set a record this year..4 last night…
I see auto correct put plans where I wanted “phans”!
He hasn’t been found guilty of anything. No one knows the facts or details. Sure, he wasn’t hitting up to his abilities. Now he is treated like Franco was until the last two days! Give me a break. It’s like a bunch of fat old ladies gossiping. He was popular with his teammates. Remember “little bull” and all that. Didn’t Kapler get divorced? Did he hit his wife?
The Phils as a team are owed an adjudication on this. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles to this case. If Manfred isn’t up to the job, he should hang ’em up. I’m not a big Odubel fan and I don’t condone what he did. But jerking around a player impacts a team in contention. I do my job far better than Manfred does his.