The Phillies have signed outfielder Travis Jankowski to a minor league deal, the team announced. Jankowski receives an invitation to the Phillies’ big league Spring Training camp.
Jankowski can play all three outfield positions and has graded out as an average-to-plus defender (as per UZR/150 and Defensive Runs Saved) at all three spots, which could help him win a job amidst a lot of competition. Jankowski will head to the Grapefruit League to battle with Adam Haseley, Roman Quinn, Matt Joyce, and Mickey Moniak for a backup outfielder role, and if he doesn’t make the team, Jankowski would be a useful depth piece in the minors.
A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Jankowski has signed on with his local team after spending five seasons with the Padres and the 2020 season with the Reds. Jankowski didn’t see much action with Cincinnati, receiving only 17 plate appearances over 16 games. Between last season and a 2019 campaign that included a long IL stint due to a broken wrist, Jankowski has appeared in only 41 MLB games in two years after getting semi-regular playing time with San Diego in 2016 and 2018. The 29-year-old has hit .238/.315/.313 over 994 career plate appearances.
Always liked him with the Pads. Sneaky speed and underrated defense. Stolen base threat. Not a starter but valuable off the bench.
Padre fan thought he was real player
But can he pitch?
A good 4th or 5th Ofer for sure. Sneaky power too. I saw him hit 2 HR in a spring training game in 2019. Reminds me of a Willie McGee type – great guy in clubhouse and fan favorite.
WoW… 2 HR’s… lolol, Willie McGee type was a very good EVERYDAY player brother.
Unless you have hit 2 HR in a game against MlB pitching, check yourself.
Ah yes, the old “well he’s better than you” logical fallacy argument.
It’s not an argument. It’s pointing out a fact that is indistputable. To qualify as an argument, there has to be 2 or more sides that are subject to different outcomes. My point that unless the poster had also hit 2 HR in a game off MLb pitching – just fact not argument. I only made a positive comment about the player and it was a fact. I didn’t say he was a game changer – just he is what he is and didn’t see the point in bashing him for that.
The point is you’re trying to discredit his argument by saying he hasn’t, as far as we know, hit 2 home runs off of professional level pitching. That’s a logical fallacy.
Pointing out a fact would have been saying “you haven’t hit 2 home runs off of MLB pitching”. You said “Unless you have hit 2 HR in a game against MlB pitching, check yourself”, arguing that he shouldn’t be criticizing Jankowski because the OP hasn’t hit 2 home runs off pro pitching.
the “you’re not better than a professional athlete” tactic has always been the lazymans argument
He wasn’t making an argument – read his post – “WoW … 2HR’s…lol”. That isn’t an argument it is an unnecessary negative comment. My response was very appropriate and wasn’t “lazy”. It was 100% on point to address a couch critic who only had a negative comment to make.
Every player in the majors, even the 26th guy on the worst team, is actually a really good baseball player. So it’s all relative. The average person probably wouldn’t be able to make weak contact against a guy regarded as a terrible big league pitcher.
He disagreed with you and you rhetoriced back. That is the definition of an argument: “an exchange of diverging or opposite views, usually a heated one”.
Not saying the OP was overly negative, but you’re using a logical fallacy, discrediting his argument based on he hasn’t hit major league pitching in his life rather than backing up your claim of Jankowski is a “A good 4th or 5th Ofer for sure” with more evidence.
How is “WoW … 2 HR’s … lol” an expression of disagreement? He never referenced the part of my comment stating he is a good 4th or 5th OFer. You just brought that in to the conversation for the first time.
It was pretty clear he was disagreeing if you don’t take things for just face value. Again, not saying he is not being overly negative, but trying to devalue his assessment that McGee and Jankowski aren’t similar by just saying “well you’re not as good as him” is a logical fallacy.
Agai , you add things never before referenced. I didn’t respond to his Willie McGee comment. I actually agree with him that Willie McGee was a good everyday player. Thus, no response to that part of his post. His WM comment did not change the fact that as I said, I saw Jank hit 2hr in a spring training game. WM was a better player overall than Jank. My mention of WM was specific to what I referred to as “sneaky power”. Just pops up and hits a couple when you need them (I recall WM hitting some post season HRs when he may not have hit one all year is where I’m coming from on that). I never tried to compare the 2 players on an a overall and that is why I didn’t disagree that WM was a good overall player. Stick with what is said.
so did David Olmedo-Barrera
would have been perfect for pirates will work for low salary
Minor league depth. Why not? Nothing more to say.
Pennsylvania Dutch country. Miss the awesome smorgasbord restaurants.
Shady Maple ftw!!!
OMG, I love that place. Then I go to the store and buy 10 bags of pretzels. No wonder I have to run 4 miles every day.
Never thought I’d see people raving about the great Shady Maple here!
Miller’s is another quality smorgasbord, and the Good and Plenty is a classic.
We were at Shady Maple a couple months ago. Gloves and masks until you return to your table but still great. 4 trips up then an hour ride home.
my stomach got bloated just reading the words Shady Maple.
Wow, never thought I’d see a mention of Shady Maple at MLBTR! Brings back memories. They probably still let you eat for free on your birthday, too! Spent my college years in and around that area. Beautiful country.
Yes we went for my Birthday. They said if you’re Birthday occured while they were closed you’re out of luck. Great pulled pork there.
I mean he aight
I remember watching some Padres games in 2016 and thinking this guy could be a star for them. Didn’t work out. But still, 30 SBs in 2016, 24 SBs in 2018, and those in a part-time role, nothing to overlook. Even if he comes in late as a defensive replacement or a better runner on the base paths, could be a decent pick up. Plus Roman Quinn will get hurt by May 1st if he makes the opening 26 man roster.
Quinn’s instincts in center are horrible. I’m hoping Jankowski makes the team over him. Although Quinn has no options left so that might give him the inside track.
like Quinn personally but not understanding really why he’s still here- not just lack of instincts in the field- just remembering Larry Anderson losing his mind last year when Roman came to the plate hacking against a guy who was walking everyone.
id love to see VV and Quinn shipped to someone for some random RP. gets rid of salery, guys without options, and fills a bigger need imo.
Trade VV, sign Tony Watson. Major upgrade for less money.
that’s my hope really. I think you can do much better for less. rumors said he was a guy with trade intetest few months ago. perhaps there is still some out there.
Absolutely what I’m saying. He is not a guy that is changing the franchise but he is good pick up for what he brings to the table. I was watching him during that time thinking the same and probably, if he could have avoided an injury (wrist, I think) he would have had a chance on a bad padres team. People don’t stop and think how a player of his caliber is really only maybe 2 hits a week away from being considered a “good” not great, player. How many of us posters wish we could be that close! So many posts just attack the bad in a guy for no reason.
One thing you can say about Travis Jankowski is that he’s a better version of Matt Szczur who recently signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals. Jankowski has some speed and can be a useful 5th OF type or pinch runner. But there are a lot of mouths to feed in the Philly OF. He’s not much of a run producer having only 29 RBI with the Pods in 682 AB in 2016 and 2018. But he did score 97 runs, so there is that. By the by, in May 2019 Szczur hit for the cycle with the Reno Aces during the same game that Yasmany Tomas belted 4 HR. Kevin Cron was a mere footnote after hitting 2 HR, driving home 6, and scoring 5. A cycle and 4 HR in a game only happened one other time for the Yankees in 1932 when Lou Gehrig hit 4 bombs and Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle.
I wanted Tomas out of Cuba.
Arizona signed him RELEASED HIM and NOW he’s a Nat…
I was way off on scouting him
well we’re all glad he’s out of Cuba.
I wanted the Phils to jump on Eddie Rosario when he became available. He’d be more than a typical 4th-outfielder / bench bat–more likely would take some playing time away from Cutch, but let’s face it: Cutch is only going to give you average production at best over the course of a full season.
Eddie’s making a decent ammount for what would be bench bat.
Jankowski did ok as a Padre. Good speed and decent defense. My daughter had a huge crush on him, lol. She was about seven at the time. He just got pushed aside when the Padres started improving and brought in better players.
A Freddie sighting!
I’m rooting for him to make the big Club!
Herrera > Jankowski > Kingery > Haseley > Quinn > Moniak
some of those need to be traded
Haseley gets the Opening Day nod.
Girardi wouldnt dare do that. anything to keep him from getting regular ABs.
Herrera is washed up and Jankowski cant hit. Its more like Haseley > Kingery > Quinn > Moniak > bupkiss
The intersting thing in this article is it says Jankowski is battling Haseley, Quinn, Moniak, and Matt Joyce for a backup OF job. Does this mean the Phillies know who the starter in CF is going to be? Is it Herrera? Kingery? Has DD signed JBJ and no one knows about it yet?
Most likely, Kingery or Haseley starts in CF. Janokiwski isn;’t exactly an offensive threat, so I would guess that the assumption is that he would be the glove off the bench type.
What exactly has brought on the Herrera love recently? He was hardly a fan favorite when he start, and was mentally shot before he was suspended/exiled to the minors. Plus he hasn’t played organized baseball in over a year at this point.
I don’t think there is much “love” for Herrera. But he is under contract and eventually they will have to do something with him
Honestly, I just assumed they would leave him in Allentown until the contract runs out. He has very little trade value – possibly negative value with the potential for controversy – and it would be a PR nightmare, at least initially, to call him up.
they can and will if he does anything less then stellar in spring so they can justify releasing him to the union as a matter of play rather then anything else.
Just realized this kid went to my college in NY. Good stuff.
Truthfully, I think I would rather have Travis Jankowski, coming off my bench, than Roman Quinn. I still think the Phil’s should package Herrera, and Quinn together in a trade for JB jr.
JBjr is a FA. No need to trade him. Just sign him.
I see the Phillies are inviting Herrera to ST. I wonder if they are serious about bringing him back or are showcasing him for a trade, even if they throw in $ it’s lost $ anyway. Maybe pick up a lottery ticket and get rid of a headache.
He reminds me of a David Eckstein type of player. He won’t wow you a its his numbers but when he plays its at the next level of effort.
Is there a category for effort above replacement (EAR).
His style of play helps win games.