The Phillies have non-tendered second baseman Cesar Hernandez and third baseman Maikel Franco, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia was among those to report.
Neither outcome is surprising, but the non-tenders will nonetheless bring about the end of an era for the Phillies’ infield. Both Hernandez and Franco had been mainstays for the Phillies over the past few seasons. The switch-hitting, high-on base Hernandez was the more valuable of the two, as he was a 2.0- to 4.0-fWAR player in each season from 2016-18. Hernandez’s numbers took a step back this year, a 1.7-fWAR season in which he hit .279/.333/.408 with 14 home runs across 667 plate appearances. He’d been slated to receive a $11.8MM in arbitration thereafter, but that was too rich for the Phillies. They’ll now look for another solution at the keystone.
Philly’s also now on the lookout for a new third baseman after cutting Franco, whom the team once viewed as its long-term answer there. But Franco, despite his prodigious power, seldom lived up to the billing after an impressive rookie campaign with the Phillies in 2015. The 27-year-old’s now coming off a season in which he batted a miserable .234/.297/.409 with 17 dingers and minus-0.5 fWAR over 428 PA. He looked like an obvious non-tender candidate thanks to those numbers, and with a projected $6.7MM coming his way in 2020, the Phillies went the expected route and cut him loose.
Rendon to Phillies?
Phillies made their big offseason addition when they hired Girardi
Oh, you think so?
I hope not,but I’m a little worried that they could believe that change is all they need to do.
With as many quality plauers being nontendered as there has been today, I dint think the Phillies really have to make a big splash to round out their roster..
They could take a chance on a couple of starters like Taijuan Walker and Alex Wood, sign Peraza/Brock Holt/Culberson as their utility guy.. Those could be a few low risk moves to rojnd out the edges of their roster..Then, just sign a 3B..
The Phillies do not really need all that much..A quality UT guy, some depth for their pen, another MOR starter, and then they just have to replace Hernandez and Franco..
Non of these moves have to be really splashy for the Phillies to succeed, or for them to make the playoffs next season. Healy or Shaw could easily replace Franco at 3rd, and for 2nd they ahould take a long look at Scooter Gennett as a strong bounceback candidate..Then, they will need another bench piece as a super utility guy, and Culberson pr Brock Holt would fit perfectly for them..
Two of Aaron Sanchez, Betances, Diekman, Treinan, and Hultzen could be considered to round out their pen, and then they should strongly look at one of Julio Teheran, Jordan Lyles or Michael Penada, and then take a risk on either Taijuan Walker or Alex Wood..
It would not cost all that much to complete all seven of those moves, but if they do, then I think the Phillies could be right there with the Braves and the Gnats competing for the Division..
The Gnats can ultimately replace Rendon with Kieboom, if they cannot resign him, but they’re still going to have to fix their pen, replace Kendrick and Strasburg, and then smooth out their rough edges finalizing their roster..As things stand right now, I feel like the Gnats have more to do than the Phillies to consider them a playoff caliber team..
Phillies might not need to sign Cole,but they need to do better than the starters you mentioned.Nola is the only reliable starter on the roster,and they don’t have enough in the pen to backup an unreliable rotation.
I know I’m jumping the gun a bit being skeptical this early.But you’re also looking at it from a very optimistic perspective.
They just created two gaping holes…in addition to the 4 in the rotation and at least 3 or 4 in the bullpen…Unless they plan on going over the Lux tax, I can’t see them being able to get quality pieces to plug all the holes effectively…
2 gaping holes? They already have filled the 2nd base “gaping hole” with a younger, higher war player. The other “gaping hole”was a negative war player who spent time in the minors. Not gaping holes in the least. And 4 starters? Lol
Yeah they created holes. I see you assume that it will be KIngery at 2nd…I’m not sure that’s what happens. Segura might end up there as it’s rumored they might be kicking the wheels on Gregorious…I would hope that they don’t blow there wad on both Didi and a third basemen. I don’t trust Klentak when it comes to evaluating pitching. And which of the guys behind Nola looks like anything but a number 5 or AAAA.
False
Until they do something,its true
Probably Donaldson unless they go for a big name shortstop (moving Segura to 2b) or center fielder (moving Kingery to 3b).
there isnt a big name CF available, and i doubt they are trading assets for Marte.
I don’t see the Phillies paying both Harper and Tendon even with Middleton’s “stupid money.” I think Todd Frazier is a more reasonable signing for them. His hometown of Toms River is slightly closer to Citizens Bank Park than Citi Field. As a Met fan, I’ll miss him, but he doesn’t fit with all the infielders needing time next year.
Rendon even. Stupid autocorrect…
No news coming out of Philly. Meanwhile several teams Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers, White Sox being aggressive. Reds and Pardres will be too. Who have the Phillies met with?
Why Hernandez?
Because his salary outstrips his production)
Set to make 11 million. That’s a lot considering we’ve been trying to cut ties with him the past few offseasons. Kingery needs to place 2B everyday. Cesar has been solid for us but it’s time to move on
Maybe it’s because with the youth movement we start watching this players years before they’re even in the majors but it seems this year more than ever we have seen high profile names being non rendered, continuing with the analytical approach with strictly numbers rather than banking on a players name or past. Still crazy to watch these biggish names pop up though
It is not just that, it is also the fact that teams value players differently than just counting stats for pitchers and power numbers for hitters, which is what drives up a player’s price in arbitration..
That fact, plus the reasons you stated above, those are the primary reasons why we are seeing so many prominent names getting nontendered..
It is insane how many starting quality players are getting nontendered today!! I have never seen anything like this!!
On the bright side though, as fans, we are definitely in for what is certainly going to be an introguing off-season. It is going to be interesting to see how each of our favorite teams fill out their rosters, and with players coming cheaper, there are going to be alot of GMs capitalizing on todays moves..
Bittersweet. I enjoyed watching Cesar play but the Phillies need to make a change.
he was an OK player, but usually found him more vexing to watch, than enjoyable.
I’m not mad about this but I feel disappointed
Agreed. They should have been able to find a trade partner sometime in the last couple years.
That’s part of my disappointment yes but I am mostly disappointed Franco was such a bust here. Years ago I was a big hype man for him and expected big things from him. Sad to see him go, but sad to see him go for nothing
i know all the other Phils fans here will disagree, but i hope they can resign Franco to a minors deal.
I agree with you Dark….I hate to see them wasting any money at 3rd when they need to go all out on pitching. Franco could be vexing at times but his power in the 7 or 8 hole would be a plus if the rest of the lineup does their job. His D at third wasn’t as bad as made out to be, in fact it could be really good at times. I would like to see him get a shot with a real coaching staff and some maturation. If he ends up latching on to another club, I’ll be rooting for him….
The Nats need a short term solution for 2B
They should have grabbed Villar. Guess they’re hoarding dollars in an attempt to sign Stras and/or Rendon?
Franco had a lot of promise. We gave him chance after chance. He had his moments but wasn’t consistent enough. Caesar would have just cost too much. Plus I think they plan to utilize Kingery as the everyday 2B.
Kingery could play everyday at 2B, SS, 3B and CF (probably LF and RF too), 2B seems overrun with FA options, I think Kingery could be better used elsewhere.
Phils should definitely look at Gennett to man 2B, he would fit in perfectly in their lineup..As a bounceback candidate, especially for cheap, it almost makes too much sense for them..
With that being said, I hope someone else scoops him up..lol
I don’t think the Phils gave Franco a fair shake, particularly last season. He struggled and was sent down, but the rest of the team struggled and kept their jobs. Franco is a guy who will do really well with another club, but he just doesn’t fit with the Phils.
He got 4 years after a rookie campaign to show he deserved the accolades he got as a rookie…..to little and inconsistent production on both sides of the ball.
Moving on, he may just be “another guy” that finds a roster spot until he shows the same somewhere else
I don’t disagree, but he had flashes of brilliance in 2019 on both sides of the field. The potential is there, but the Phils have to move on. It isn’t working. Hernandez is another issue as he was one of the team’s best hitters.
i get your point compared to other guys, but Franco got 2500 at bats, played a mediocre third and never really got himself in shape.
Hernandez another guy who’s wayyyy better than Profar, Preller is so dumb.
Profar can play in more spots than Hernandez so might work better on that team either way
Interesting. Philadelphia has even more holes now. They gonna get Didi for sure tho
Hernandez put up solid, but inconsistent numbers. Franco was never given a fair shake, but desperately needs a change of scenery. These moves were both expected, but as of now, the 2020 Phils look worse than the 2019 Phils. I expect that to change soon, but moves need to be made.
sad to see Cesar go. it needed to happen, granted, but it’s a whole 2 years too late.
Someone is gonna get a really good 2B
Little surprised here. Not shocked.. but definitely surprised
Cubs should sign César Hernández, it could be his 2B and first bat next season
A leadoff that doesn’t walk.
To STL, replace they guy who was wearing Kolten Wong’s jersey last year.
Hernandez = Cleveland?
think this would be an ideal move. Should be cheap enough, and his floor would be higher than a Kipnis reunion
Franco must be happy he signed that big deal way back when for a share of his future earnings
Todd Frazier to the Phillies
Please no!!!
hes done
Hernandez would seem to be an ideal fit for Cleveland. Not only is 2B a position of need, but the hit tool along would play on this team
Some team will really appreciate having either of these players. Franco got railroaded by Kapler and the philly press. All the guy did was play every day and give you 20/80 as the #8 hitter.
Hernandez was a completely solid player, every day, consistent player. I think both end up on a contender. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Mets or Brewers sign Franco.
Consistent and Hernandez do not belong anywhere near each other.
McNeil is the Mets third baseman in 2020.
Franco had four years to prove himself, and it just never happened. On those sub-par Phillies teams, yes, Franco seemed like quite the bright spot and his 20/80 would suffice. Now, though, the Phillies are pushing to WIN NOW and in a game with SUPERSTARS like Rendon, Donaldson, Bryant, Suarez, Arenado, Machado, Bregman, Chapman, Devers, etc, you gotta find a way to get more production from that position.
franco was to be a 3 or 4 hole hitter. he never panned out to do that. a 3b shouldnt be that far down the order. they are to be run producing players. sorry to see him go but their is better options out there
I recall a guy named Pedro Feliz on the 08 team….If other guys do what they should it doesn’t matter if you have an all star at third…and Franco is already better than Feliz was…and I think he’s about the same as Dave Hollins on the 93 team. Money should be spent on pitching. Now we just give away a quality 2nd basemen in Hernandez and a serviceable Franco for nothing, to spend money on infielders. IMO….Could have won with those two in the lineup with decent pitching….
Man, you just don’t know what you’re talking about. Franco is better than Feliz? By what measure?
Yep. You must not remember Feliz well. Look at the stats for his time in Philly. My point is that they need pitching much more than anything else. Franco was not the reason the team struggled. No reason to waste money on another bat when the rotation is Nola and the 4 number fives….
Harper/Hoskins/Realmuto are 3/4/5 you needed him to be your #6 not #8. He slumped too much that’s the problem.
This opens up sooooo many possibilities now!!! I love it!!! More rumorrrrsss!!!
Raise your hand if you think either is back on a very cheap deal?
With Moose of the board, you have to think they go internal options versus spending on more hitting with a rotation as bad as theirs. Sign a utility veteran, put Kingery at 2B, Bohm after a few weeks is promoted. Focus on trading Garcia, Medina, Moniak, etc… for pitching or focus $ on pitching. Ryu and Keuchel would be solid NON-QO options. Ultimately they need to sign Cole or Strasburg to even be considered a contender next year. Otherwise it’s a wasted year. They also need to figure out what they are doing with Bruce, pretty sure his legs are cooked for OF, will have to spend more time at 1B or PH. And they need to bite the bullet and use Odubel in CF when hes reinstated. They do not have a legitimate in-house CF option. McClutch/Hasely in CF until he returns and McClutch/Hoskins/Bruce in LF with Hoskins/Bruce also splitting 1B.