In reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper – a two-time winner of the award – the Phillies have a solid base for putting together a top-shelf outfield. Of course, they still need two more bodies (or more) to help Mr. Harper patrol the grass, and the list of available names is about to start dwindling quickly. Already, in fact, they’re dealing with a depleted free-agent pool.
But it’s not barren, and there’s time yet for the Phillies to construct a competent trio in the outfield of Citizens Bank Park. By all accounts, they’re on the hunt for Harper’s next running mates. Nick Castellanos is the top pure outfielder remaining, and the Phillies have indeed checked in on him, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network (via Twitter). Morosi notes that Phillies president of baseball ops Dave Dombrowski ran the show in Detroit when Castellanos was drafted, so there’s certainly some history there.
Castellanos – a first-time All-Star with the Reds last season – would certainly bring much-needed thunder to a lineup that ranked 13th in MLB by the measure of runs scored in 2021. The former Tiger, Cub, and Red hit .309/.362/.576 with 34 home runs and a clean 100 RBIs last year, good for a robust 140 wRC+.
Of course, defense was a bit of a bugaboo for Joe Girardi’s club, and Castellanos isn’t traditionally known for his merits in that department. The DH would be an option, though Rhys Hoskins is already a candidate for that role. Furthermore, Girardo will almost certainly want to earmark some of those ABs as a means for keeping Harper and J.T. Realmuto fresh.
In addition, the Phillies have been in recent contact with their on-again-off-again centerfielder Odubel Herrera, per Jim Salisbury of NBCSPhilly (via Twitter). Herrera posted 1.8 rWAR/1.1 fWAR last year as a regular in center, logging 492 trips to the dish across 124 games.
Herrera doesn’t walk a ton (5.9 percent walk rate), and his power clocks in below-average (.156 ISO), but he put the ball in play at a career-best rate last year, striking out in just 15.7 percent of his plate appearances. All in all, his bat was seven percent below average, which is absolutely palatable for a decent gloveman in center – and Herrera was that in 2021.
The Fielding Bible credited him with 2 total runs saved, while he rated decently in other systems as well (2 DRS, -1.2 UZR). Even if Herrera just holds the line in center, that might be enough for the Phils to seek a reunion. There are very few options on the free-agent market, and leaguewide, centerfield has become one of the more difficult positions to fill.
Without Herrera and Castellanos (or other additions), the Phillies have just unproven youngsters like Mickey Moniak and Adam Haseley on the roster. Roman Quinn has departed, while other members of Philly’s 2021 offense Andrew McCutchen and Brad Miller are still free agents. Utility players Johan Camargo and Luke Williams are internal options, but not realistically for regular playing time.
Elsewhere in the organization, 25-year-old Matt Vierling might be a game-by-game option in the grass, while the top prospective minor leaguers on the depth chart are non-roster invitee Justin Williams and 23-year-old prospect Simon Muzziotti, who has just 50 plate appearances above High-A.
My good friend Aaron Hicks is available. Could you give me a prospect in your 12-15? He plays excellent defense and can play centerfield or left field and can switch hit.
I don’t think the Phillies need their own version of Jed Lowrie. Aaron Hicks is the most overated player in the league. Hes always “hurt”
Aaron Hicks isn’t fetching a prospect. If anything, he’ll go the other way with a prospect attached.
Agreed. Hicks has a multi-year contract, if I’m not mistaken. I believe it would be very difficult for the Yankees to part ways with him.
It’s the same reason the Phillies aren’t calling my Cubs for J-Hey. “We want outfielders, but not yours. We’d rather have no outfielders than an albatross.”
I’d actually pay to see an actual albatross roam the outfield. It would have pretty good range, but a lousy arm.
Well played! LOL
Easy, how about Roman Qui……..never mind.
I fail to see how this team is improving at all. A struggling bullpen accompanied by terrible defense is a combination we’ve seen for sometime now. It’s completely deflating.
Keep faith. Usually your posts are more positive about this team. If you’ve lost hope then we are truly in for a rough season.
They fact that they’re seeking a Herrera reunion tells me they’re giving up.
Plus Wheeler being weeks (?) behind.
Maybe something big is coming. I would love to see them sign Bryant and hope for a bounce back by Bohm and Didi.
I’m surprised the article missed Bryant. The Phillies must be too close to the CBT threshold to splurge.
They have some room, and more importantly, they can easily afford a first-time penalty.
Von;
As you know I thought the Phillies would win the NLE in 2021 – although I thought they’d get bounced in the first playoff series. From there I felt the ML team would have to get younger – something Bryce Harper voiced shortly after the end of the season.
I agree with you about their moves so far. This is the stuff the Yankees do – which Andrew Friedman (Dodgers Baseball Ops head) once referred to as: “shoveling more coal in the engine only to find that the train not only doesn’t run faster, it gradually runs slower and slower.”
I believe that DD is following the dictates of the (frustrated) owner. The points you’re making about the poor defense and poor bullpen are spot on. They have to make their own players better, stay within the luxury tax, and slowly give youngsters more playing time. So far, that doesn’t appear to be what they’re doing.
“DD is following the dictates of the owner”
Dumbroski follows no owner’s dictates. Hence, the reason he was fired in Boston. He will gut the Phillies farm system, and put the salary cap in a critical state.
When he took over the RS team, he had the number one farm in baseball (https://www.mlb.com/news/best-minor-league-systems-in-baseball/c-142897918).
When he left, it was the dead last farm system (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2852665-re-ranking-all-30-mlb-farm-systems-at-the-end-of-the-2019-milb-season)
Here’s what he did to the salary situation.
2019 $243,653,717 ( 1) (DD is fired in Aug)
2018 $239,481,745 ( 1)
2017 $191,888,422 ( 6)
2016 $204,012,716 ( 5)
2015 $199,491,005 ( 3) (Dumbroski takes over in Aug)
2014 $185,922,329 ( 5)
By the end the Red Sox were in maximum salary cap penalty and didn’t have enough money to re-sign Mookie Betts.
He will field some good teams, because with that much spending/gutting how could he not. And hopefully you’ll win a WS as the Red Sox did in ’18. But the team will hurt for years to come after he leaves.
DD has won everywhere he goes.
I think a better indication is how the team fares in the years after he leaves. If AA were to leave Atlanta in 2022, Atlanta would be setup well for the next 3-5 years.
Can’t really say the same for a team DD runs.
You can literally point to the Marlins. The DD generalizations are ridiculous. He’s been successful in a variety of different ways.
Not much top-shelf farm to gut. Two barely removed from high school pitchers , neither ready to contribute before 24. Then there ‘s the shortstop who might be better off at 2B. We do have catchers though…
Not sure what the budget in Philly is, but I’d think Conforto would be a decent option.
I came here to say that too. He would love hitting in that tiny park…and seeing the Mets 19x.
Castellanos is the guy. The universal DH alleviates some defensive liabilities.
I don’t see him as a great fit for reasons the articlr states. Phillies defense already stinks. That would be doubling down and give us multiple hitters who cannot field. This team is looking significantly worse than last year. The fact that they’re considering a Herrea reunion is troubling. Absolutely wasting Harper and Wheeler’s prime. You either go big or blow it up. This straddling the fence is awful.
Why not go after Conforto? Hurt a division rival and help yourself.
How does it hurt the team that let him go?
“Absolutely wasting Harper and Wheeler’s prime. You either go big or blow it up. This straddling the fence is awful.”
B I N G O !!!
Take a step back Von……
Their long rebuild was a complete failure. So the owner went to the other extreme and decided to buy a contending team – and brought in DD to do it. Currently they don’t have much of a farm system along with major structural defects on the roster.
They need to do what the Jays did for years (while their fans complained that they weren’t; signing major FA’s) and the Yankees are now doing – wait out the overpaid veterans contracts and begin developing a young core in the minors. However, that’s not something that Harper and Wheeler will be happy about as their prime years will be wasted.
They need to get youngsters to be contributors in 2022 – in the bullpen as well as position players that do both O and D.
If the Phillies fall out this year, we may well see a fire sale – possibly at the trade deadline a happened with the Nationals last year.
@VPH
I think the bat he carries outweighs the glove he doesn’t. Protecting Harper – or vice versa? If anyone else chips in offensively? That’s a huge obstacle to face 4x a game for opposing pitchers.
There aren’t a lot of 5 tool guys available…who’d you rather have? Heyward? Great D and probably gets royalties for the 4-6-3…or Casty, a run producing machine who misjudges fly balls from time to time?
I’m oversimplifying, but you get the point.
Phillies already have 2 defensively liabilities who benefit from DH. No sense in bringing another one on board even if he improves the lineup. If NC is DH that means Rhys and Bohm have to play defense – not ideal. This team needs better/serviceable defense.
I agree. The whole head office and training part is abbreviated. They better just sign who they need and do so quickly. It’s okay for them to take a bath on the cap for a few years, they can afford it.
@30 Parks- Seriously? When I suggested Castellanos to the Phillies I was made fun of by your loving fans. Aarons Hicks for Mickey Moniak? Lmk
You’d have to take on a large chunk of that salary to move Hicks.
@ham77- aren’t you guys trying to get rid of Didi? Hicks for Gregorius and a prospect. Who says no? One problem for the other.
Phillies are not giving up a prospect for Hicks.
Bringing back abuser Herrera sounds about right for this pathetic leadership team. We can assume getting Bauer will be next. Any other beaters they can pick up? So sad.
I gonna have to agree with you here. We don’t need the baggage.
We just signed abuser Familia. The Phillies are doing their best to be despised by their own fans.
Toronto will be pleased to trade Grichuk for a reliever
If I were in charge of the Braves, I’d try to do anything to get the Phillies to take Ozuna. They are one of the few franchises that don’t really care about the PR hit. They kinda sorta need him, and although I don’t expect them to take on his entire contract, they would prob be the team willing to take the most compared to others. Hate to play against him, but he can’t be a brave
Braves are going to need Ozuna’s bat after Freddie walks later today
I thought the most likely scenario was signing Schwarber and trading for Kiermeyer?
I figured Philly would want to trade for Kiermaier or Margot. I’d prefer to trade Margot. He might command more in trade, and I would rather keep the best defensive CF in MLB.
Not crazy about Schwarber, but he fits, and KK should already have been done.
The Phillies should blow it up and rebuild. Worst farmsystem in the majors. The Braves, Mets, and Marlins are set for now and the future. Joe Girardi is really the only thing thats keeping them afloat
That’s a bit of an exaggeration. The Phillies finished in 2nd place last year and had a chance to pass the Braves at the end of the season. I know both the Braves and Mets look poised to improve this year, but the Phillies have some top talent. They’re just missing the pieces around that talent. A few creative moves fix everything. I just haven’t seen those moves at all. Even before the lockout, the Phillies have been very quiet.
Reds will give them A-Aquino for free. Please.
Former Reds announcer Thom Brennaman said this about Herrera in 2016:
“This Herrera is a guy who will frequently get a letter from the league about his pace of play in the batter’s box… 29 seconds for Hererra to get into that batter’s box. Stephenson was standing there waiting on him… This is a ridiculous situation. I mean really, it’s ridiculous… You don’t let the Odubel Herreras of the world determine how fast we’re playing games. He’s gone swinging. Thank God!”
Didi Gregorius for Randall Grichuk. A bad contract swap that actually helps both teams. Who says no?
So, it’s nice to think baseball again.. I still think they get Swarber or Bryant. If they do not trade for Kiermeyer (sp), then I can see goofy coming back..While I despise what he did, keep in mind, he did everything he could to right his ship. At what point does he get redemption? I would prefer a non bat like Kiermeyer (sp) but if not, I’d take goofy in center..
While Harper doesn’t get good grades in right, I felt his D was better than expected.The big iron gloves are at 1st and 3rd.
I wish they were more aggressive. They need to sign Bryant because he can play a lot of positions. Get a couple more arms for the bullpen. Maybe sign another starter like Tyler Anderson.
Don’t sleep on Justin Williams making a serious impact if he makes the team considering the lack of 40 man options out the roster.
Trade for Kiermaier and Meadows from the Rays. Get the GG CfF’er they need along with a big LH’ed bat for LF/DH. Meadows is average at best defensively but holds his own especially with KK next to him. Makes him more suited to rotate DH with all the other Phils options there. They both are going to be cheaper than Castellanos.
Phillies can’t afford to trade prospects from an already-depleted farm. They can afford to spend money. DD even stated so in today’s press conference. So they should be signing help.
If I waited 99 days for them to conclude that Odubel Hererra is the answer in CF I will be beyond pissed.
@bucketbrew35
Best comment so far. Hard pass on Herrera. People outside the Philadelphia viewing area see his stats and say he is average. Wrong!!! He stinks, acts childish and goofy on the field as well as comes with off field baggage. I think the Phils should be doing their best to get away from him at all cost.
At some point, this team has to trust the kids with some role – they don’t have the money to spend their way through every hole. Maton, Williams, Monikak, and Vierling need to be trusted at some point. Are they as good as a free agent? No. But this team needs to pick a spot and give the young guys the keys. Maybe at center. Maybe in left. Maybe at short. Maybe third. Something to take thr pressure off signing free agents for everything.
Young guys have higher upside potential and play far cheaper.
I like what I saw in Maton last year. He played a decent SS and a very good 2B. He can play 2B with Segura moving over to 3B (Segura is a better 3B than 2B), and that so-called hole will be plugged.
Hopefully the Mets can sign Brad Miller as a bench guy because he kills the Mets when he plays against them
Most teams have too many outfielders. This should be an easy “problem” to solve. Forget the free agents. Go offer to pay Kiermaier’s and Wil Myers’ contracts and get them for almost nothing. Both useful, solid outfielders (especially defensively) both off payroll next year.
The Rays aren’t giving anybody Kiermaier for salary relief. He’s too valuable as a premier defender at a skill position with acceptable offense. And you know the Rays will identify some overlooked player in your farm system who they can turn into a solid major leaguer.
Trading with the Rays is typically like playing a game of wits with the Dread Pirate Roberts. “I know the guy they’re going to ask for will end up being good, so I should say No on the first guy they ask for. But they know that I know, so the first guy they ask for won’t be the guy they really want. But they know that I know that they know, so…”
Dombrowski needs to be more aggressive. So many holes on this team. 2 outfielders , at least , starting pitcher, bullpen , infielder or two and a backup catcher are needed
It’s been an extremely baffling offseason. Very quiet and then a 6 million dollar overpay for Familia. I’m totally confused and frustrated.
“Girardo”
River Ave Blues.
Trade Didi, Bohm, Hasely & Moniak to Oakland for Matt Chapman & Stephen Piscotty. Didi and Piscotty offset salary, while filling a need for both teams. Hasely and Moniak are both from the west coast and if anyone can fix them, it’s probably the A’s. Hasely actually missed half the year on the restricted list because he was homesick. Phillies get the all-world defender at 3B that they are accustomed to and the A’s get three young, controllable players with upside. Basically Bohm for Chapman, is anyone offering better than Bohm and two former top 10 draft picks for Chapman? Sign Bryant to play LF and trade for Kiermaier from Tampa Bay. Now you have the best fielding 3B and CF on the planet. Opening day SS: Bryson Stott. Kevin Stocker anyone?
1. J. Segura 2B
2. K. Bryant LF
3. B. Harper RF
4. R. Hoskins 1B
5. J. Realmuto C
6. M. Chapman 3B
7. K. Kiermaeir CF
8. M. Vierling/B. Miller/S. Piscotty DH
9. B. Stott SS
This may seem far fetched, but it’s really not. Chapman is going to be traded and so is Kiermaeir. Phillies have just enough salary flexibility and trade capital to make those moves.
Re-sign Brad Miller, can DH vs. RHP and be that 6th INF/OF’er he’s been the last couple years. They could also sign Brad Hand & Tyler Clippard, (two guys that have pitched in multiple relief roles) to major league deals and maybe even bring in a few more vets on minor league deals- Travis Shaw, Sean Doolittle, Greg Holland guys like that where maybe one or two find some gas left in the tank. Todd Frazier, Billy Hamilton & Jesse Biddle would be interesting spring invites to compete with younger players like Luke Williams, Nick Maton & Simon Muzziotti for the final roster spot.
Defense is improved but the bottom half of that projected lineup is flat
Being back in “contact” with Odubel Herrera tells you all you need to know
Can I interest you in a nice and shiny former #1 overall pick in Justin Upton? Lol
We have no farm hand to bring up.
Vierling is a 4th outfielder, love hos game.
Schwarber/Vierling in LF
GREAT defensive CF,
Bryant at 3b, or LF, CF, DH
Give Camargo a shot at left field
Bryant has to be the obvious move wanting to stay under $230M they should have about $40M (including/depending upon Odubel and Familia signings). I gotta think they are gonna bring in at least one $20M+/yr hitter. I don’t want Schwarber for that money. I’ll take Bryant Casty or Story
Got no probs with Dubes. Need to now sign Bryant and Soler. Play ball!