Since 2015, the first season in which Maikel Franco received extensive major league action, he has been the Phillies’ top option at third base. However, Franco’s now in the throes of the second straight season in which he has fallen out of favor with Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, Matt Breen of the Philadelpia Inquirer observes.
After appearing in 150-plus games in each season from 2016-17, Franco dropped to 131 last year and has ridden the bench of late this season. The 26-year-old was almost the Phillies’ sole option at third base into late May, but he has lost his grip on the job since then. Scott Kingery, Sean Rodriguez and the just-acquired Brad Miller have begun eating into Franco’s playing time recently. Franco sat again Saturday in favor of Miller.
It’s not that surprising the Phillies are fed up with Franco, who’s coming off more and more like a one-shot wonder. While the 26-year-old looked like a foundational piece in the making at the outset of his career, his production has fallen flat since then. Thanks in part to his horrid .205/.275/.371 showing in 247 plate appearances this season, Franco has slashed .248/.300/.429 with a 90 wRC+ in 2,357 major league PA. Worsening matters, Franco hasn’t made up for his below-average offensive output with stellar work in the field, having accounted for minus-31 Defensive Runs Saved and a minus-7.8 Ultimate Zone Rating at the hot corner in his career.
With Franco failing to contribute to their cause, the Phillies are a disappointing 39-37, putting them five games behind the NL East-leading Braves and a game and a half out of a wild-card spot. Third base may be a priority position entering the July 31 trade deadline for the Phillies, though they could move the versatile Kingery there on a full-time basis and acquire an outfielder instead. Either way, after an aggressive offseason, it’s clear the team’s not in an ideal position at the start of the summer.
Trade Franco to the Mets.
Hard pass. We have too many infielders as it is. Plus he’s garbage.
Don’t think he’s garbage totally. He’s only 26, looks primed for a change of scenery. May never live up to his first 1/2 successful campaign but could fill a nice 3b/1b 250/300pa role for a 2nd division team or a stopgap starter for a rebuilding one…?
Still odd for me to think his ceiling may be lower than his old running mate Freddy Galvis.
Franco is completely undisciplined at the plate. He repeatedly makes adjustments in batting practice and can’t take it into the game. Zero patience at the plate. He is the king of rolling over outside pitches to the left side for easy outs usually early in counts and frequently for double plays. The ability is there, but the mind isn’t. Great kid though and not a problem. Every year he goes on a 1-month tear that gives major hope only to be followed by a 2-month slump that would have demoted him if he had options.
For Todd Frazier. Contract for contract. Then see how the chips fall.
Frazier is actually playing well.
Franco stinks
Give Bohm 2+ months in AA, then bring him up to split time w/ Kingery. On days Bohm starts, Kingery goes back to CF -OR- begin the replacement of Hernandez at 2b….Both Franco and Hernandez are not part of the future.
Kingery, Bohm, Hasely and (add when healthy caveat) Quinn are…
The current iteration of this team is not flowing…..make changes or it will be a long summer in Philly.
Kyle Seager for Franko straight up no monies. U get a superb 3rd baseman w power bat we get the salary off the board and a shitty player. Win win
Well even thrown in felix.
Why not also give them Gordon and Leake?
Well first off, Seager hasn’t been a major contributor since 2017. Second, good luck finding a taker for the remaining salary owed to Felix without throwing in money.
It’s the Phillies. If someone was good 4 years ago, the Phillies don’t care how much they cost. I’m shocked they haven’t offered Hoskins and Kingery for Miggy.
I just don’t understand why the Phillies don’t start him. Guys like Rodriguez and Quinn are significantly worse offensively. I get that Franco is not the answer at third in the future, but right now Franco at 3rd and Kingery in the OF gives the Phillies the best of a bad situation.
As for next year, yeah. They need another solution.
I agree 100%. I would have much rather had Franco up 1st and 3rd with 1 out today
id take S-Rod any day
Franco is horrid. He’s undisciplined at the plate and lazy in the field. He doesn’t hustle. A change of scenery with a manager who knows how to handle players will probably turn him around.
Yea playing Rodriguez is much better
I’m not sure what the Phillies were thinking putting Rodriguez (.173 vs Chen) and Knapp (equally inept as s pinch hitter) out there to bat! The problem is that they haven’t got a bench! They have Brad Miller who the Yankees had in the minors! How pathetic! I wonder what will happen when they catch the Nationals on the way down?
If he was on the Hiants, he’d be they’re top offensive player. :/ Sounds like a Sam Dyson/Franco trade would be a good match up lol
Are you high? Why would you want Franco?
Franco is not a good fit for the Giants. Longoria makes too much money, and Belt is at IB until he’s traded. Franco really can’t play the outfield, although the Giants have tried like a zillion guys there this year, so how much worse would Franco be?.
He’s a righthanded. There is no way he makes it into the lineup.
Franco has always been streaky. He plays defense better than the other alternatives including Kingery who should be at second base. Trade Hernandez while they still can. I wouldn’t be so quick to give up on him. I’d rather give up on Kapler.
Agree. Franco will hit one of his hot streaks eventually and then others in this board will agree too.
When you have NOBODY
You play Franco not play utility players.
Kingery in CF until you get another OF or
Kingery on 2B ( Hernandez time to go has been seasons in the making ). Franco on 3B.
“With Franco failing to contribute to their cause, the Phillies are a disappointing 39-37, putting them five games behind the NL East-leading Braves and a game and a half out of a wild-card spot.” Really? You’re putting the Phillies struggles on Franco? What about their bullpen who has been struggling? What about the rest of the Phils lineup who has scuffled since McCutchen got injured? What about the lack of starting pitching depth? Then, there is Kapler’s inability to handle a pitching staff & his stupid defensive alignments. Sure Franco’s struggles haven’t helped, but he’s hardly the sole reason the Phils have struggled.
Wholeheartedly agree with you, Eric. If you had told me back in March that, come the third week of June, the Phillies biggest problem would be Franco not hitting, I would have assumed all the other pieces of the puzzle were properly placed and performing as expected.
JMHO, but I think the Phillies biggest problem is Kapler. I don’t believe the players believe in him and his computer. This won’t happen, but I’d bring back good old jolly Chollie. You know Chollie ain’t gonna get wrapped up in all this analytical nonsense. He’d just put the players out there and let them play good old fashioned country hardball like they did when they were all kids.
The timing would be right, because according to Chollie, “It’s now hittin’ season!”.
He’s become a poor man’s Alexei Amarista.
Brad miller had played 3rd base twice. You guys have to relax with some of this stuff.
Like I said, the scapegoat should not be Franco, who incidentally Manuel has always said has great potential, but Kapler. Why is Gabe always shown as the great manager? His phony gravitas? His gravel voice and beard? When did he ever show leadership?