The Phillies entered the season with an unexpected question mark at first base. Rhys Hoskins went down with what’s likely to be a season-ending ACL tear during the final week of Spring Training. That pushed Darick Hall to the top of the depth chart, at least against right-handed pitching.
Hall started five of Philadelphia’s first six games before suffering a thumb injury on Wednesday. The Phils announced this morning the left-handed hitter tore a ligament in his right thumb and will require surgery. Matt Gelb of the Athletic writes that Hall could be out for around two months, which’ll leave the club dipping further down the depth chart.
The first crack will apparently fall to Kody Clemens. Acquired alongside Gregory Soto in a trade with the Tigers over the offseason, Clemens was recalled to make his team debut this morning. He got the nod at first base against Reds righty Hunter Greene. Manager Rob Thomson told reporters the Phils plan to use the lefty-swinging Clemens as their primary first baseman against right-handed pitching (link via Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer). Against southpaws, it seems likely the Phils will slide Alec Bohm over from third base while turning to Edmundo Sosa or Josh Harrison at the hot corner. Non-roster player Scott Kingery hit well in Spring Training to potentially put himself in the mix for a multi-positional bench role as well.
Clemens, 27 next month, has primarily been a second baseman. He’s regarded as more of a bat-first player, though most prospect evaluators have suggested he’s better suited for a utility role than playing every day. Clemens got into 57 big league games with Detroit last season, struggling to a .145/.197/.308 line in 127 trips to the plate. He’d been far better with their top affiliate in Toledo, where he had an above-average .274/.327/.535 slash with 13 home runs in 60 contests.
While Clemens has a solid offensive track record in the minors, it’s an obviously suboptimal situation for a team that expects to contend in what should be a difficult NL East. Gelb writes that Philadelphia explored potential trade possibilities in the immediate aftermath of Hoskins’ injury but couldn’t find an available external option they considered a significant enough upgrade over Hall. It’s possible they reexamine that market in the wake of Hall’s injury, although it’s not a typically active time for trades. If the Phils were to go outside the organization in the short term, it’d likely be for a player towards the back of the depth chart rather than an impact acquisition.
My prediction? Pain.
Von;
Not so much.
I wrote when Ryse was injured that Bohm would play more 1B. With Hall down that will continue to happen. It’s not as if Sosa and Harrison can’t hit RH pitchers. And as someone mentioned at the time – JT can play some 1B as Stubbs is an excellent catcher and familiar with the pitching staff.
It’s a long season. The Phillies simply have to stay with the pack till July or so. If it’s the back of the pack, that’s fine. They’ll give multiple guys playing time opportunities. Maybe pick up a player that becomes available (Hosmer?) or promote someone from the minors that we don’t know much about (as they did Hall in 2022). The fact that Bohm can play both 3B and 1B gives them lots of options.
Von,
I’d make a move for Eric Hosmer (Cubs). Would cost zippo (Literally.) to acquire since the Padres are still paying 99% of his cheese. He’s a good defensive 1B, doesn’t strike out a lot, and maybe hitting in a more hitter friendly park like CBP, will lead to more pop. Petco did him no favors in that department.
The knock against him is that he’s a pull hitter who hits too many balls on the ground. But with the new anti-shift rule, perhaps in 2023 a fair number of those grounders will find green grass and not brown leather?
We ain’t gonna succeed if Clemens is our primary 1B, any more than we’d succeed with Pache as our everyday CF. Thankfully, the latter shouldn’t be around much longer. Not a bad roll of the dice by Dombro, but I’d prefer Kingery or Sosa as Marsh’s platoon partner.
Harper can’t get back soon enough for me.
My guess is that D D will give Clemens a ” trial period”, as the lefthanded hitting platoon ( with Bohm), at first. If he doesn’t hit in maybe 2 weeks or so, Hosmer would be a good trade candidate to take a flier on. The only other good option, would be trying to trade for Cron. He would be quite expensive, if available at all.
I’d be contacting Miguel Sano’s agent. I mean why not
He’s worse than Cody Klemons?
Clemens could barely hit in the minors. Nothing suggests he’ll hit at the major league level
I don’t hold high hopes for anyone named Clemens. His father is arrogant and a steroid user. Doesn’t mean he can hit by name.
That being said, Cano can never stay on the field and is slower than molasses.
I think Phillies are more overrated than people think. Maybe they can take Bobby Dalbec off our hands.
From the Red Sox pov, the return would be small. Lets face it Dalbec has little value. Why would the Red Sox help out the Phillies after DD and the owner of the Phils badmouthed them right before the World Series?
Not going to happen.
Arrogance, steroid user, and top 5 all- time best pitcher. Did he bag you mom or something?
Arrogant, steroid user, and top 5 all- time best pitcher. Did he bag you mom or something?
As stated in this article, he has above average minor league offensive numbers. Which means he can barely hit in the majors, but can definitely hit in the minors. Sano isn’t much better.
Let’s not put the sins of the father onto their son. That’s ridiculous.
Any return would be small for Dalbec but he really doesn’t have a place on our team. I’m sure we could get something back if we test the waters.
By the way, I misspelled Sano. Not Cano.
No, I just don’t care for the roid users. Long time Sox fan and I think Manny is as bad as A-Rod. But I have no problem with Jeter.
I’ve seen Clemens speak. He’s arrogant as ever. Give him his medals, fine, he doesn’t win character on my team.
Good point. I just wanted to make it clear that he shouldn’t be regarded in high favor because of his father
I dont think the Red Sox have made a deal with DD and the Phillies since his firing in Boston. I doubt a small return for Dalbec would be the deal that changes that relationship.
Also, until Casas starts to hit, I doubt Dalbec goes anywhere. Casas (.497 OPS) although a small sample has looked terrible so far in 2023. Dalbec is the number one candidate to take over, if he continues hitting like that.
Dalbec probably isn’t going anywhere til they see if Tristan Casas can hit consistently at the MLB level.
There are guys out there they could get for relatively nothing. Matt Adams from Washington, Lewin Diaz or Ryan O’Hearn from Baltimore, Mike Ford from Seattle, Kevin Cron from Oakland, Matt Beaty from San Francisco all could probably be had until the Phillies decide later on that they need a big ticket acquisition
I agree Dalbec isnt going anywhere, but your list is garbage. A strong contender wouldn’t be interested in any of those other names as a long-term starting solution for 1B.
They are but as i said, later in the season they may decide they need a bigger acquisition. You’re probably not getting C.J. Cron in the middle of April
Daniel Palka from the Red Sox. He has done his time waiting for another opportunity in the big leagues, and would be a nice addition if he works out as a pinch hitter. Some pop. Good eye.
Palka had a decent spring but is basically a AAAA player. Could hit big in Philly though
If he’s AAAA then how is hitting in Philly any different than Boston? There’s no logic to that.
For a LH pull hitter Philly would be a better hitters park
Having Miguel Sano on the Phillies will be like having two Greg Luzinskis on the roster. (Sano literally weighs twice what Luzinski weighed in his playing days.)
He hit 30 HR two years ago. He K’s all the time but it’s better than Clemens
Put up a 139 OPS+ in 2019. And he’s only 30.
Look what he did last year. Guy can barely walk.
And that’s the thing. It’s two years ago. The guy has been around for awhile and barely has a good season. It’s rare. Sano also can’t stay healthy.
Not possible.
Jesus Aguilar OAK
Dominic Smith WSH
Matt Duffy KCR
Any other trade options? Not a great pool so early in the season.
Juan Yepez
Carlos Santana
Yepez would be pricey.
Yepez is only in the MLB because of an injury right now and is in a weak side platoon at DH. He is not gonna be pricey.
They aren’t going to just give a 25 year old 1B away.
That agent is bemoaning his loneliness to the Maytag repairman right now
I’m not saying they’d give him away but people are also overvaluing how much Yepez would cost. He’s a defensive liability that will only stay in the league if he can hit
CJ Cron COL
DET Jonathan Schoop plays 1B and 2B well enough.
WSN Joey Meneses seems like the type of player DD would target but IMO Dominic Smith would be the ideal 1B on this team because he is a good defensive 1B.
Always loved Dom Smith. Wasn’t gonna supplant Panda at 1B in New York, and he isn’t an outfielder. having a good glove at 1B will be a novelty for the Phillies. A run saved is as good as a run scored.
DiDi Gregorius played 1B at the WBC.
Eric Hosmer, Cubs. He’s just keeping 1B warm until Max Mervis arrives. Plus you get him for the minimum salary since the Padres are still paying 99% of his cheese. Doesn’t strike out a lot, and this line up could use another bat without big K totals.
If the Phillies are in tbe mood to gamble
Why not take a flier on DJ Stewart
I always thought he could hit like Rhys Hoskins, not sure if he can play first base though
He had a hot spring. He’s currently on a minor league deal with the Mets though so he would need to be traded for.
He did have a hot spring
And he had a few hot streaks with the Orioles big league club
But he was injury prone or had weird things happen to him
But I always felt he had some potential
I’m not sure anyone available really beats out having Bohm at first and Sosa at third.
If you get a new 1B, Bohm can stay at 3rd. Sosa’s value is as a utility guy not an everyday player. Bohm has developed a lot at 3rd and should probably stay there.
Sosa is a better player than Alec Bohm in almost every way.. If Sosa has a comparable hit tool (look at the numbers), is a better fielder, is more versatile, and is a better base runner, why is his value as a utility player? Bohm has improved, but he is barely a position player.
iamrightyouarewrong;
Bohm is maturing into an elite MLB hitter. He can play both 1B and 3B. My guess is that he’ll continue to be moved from one to the other.
Throw out the depth chart – it’s no longer relevant. Look how MLB has been played for years now. Quality players often play multiple positions (look at how successful the Dodgers were for years moving Turner and Muncie around).
Bohm has much more potential than Sosa. He showed strides in the playoffs. He started off this season hitting pretty well. He was a ROY candidate a few years ago. People often correctly complain about the Phillies inability to develop talent, but then when they’re doing it properly, they complain that it’s taking too long. This is a make or break season for Bohm. He started off really well. Let the kid play and see if he turns into the future star some experts project him to be. He’s been solid so far this year.
Bohm is the bomb. Sosa is so-so.
Sosa is a very good utility player. To say he is better than Bohm, overall, shows you either don’t watch the Phillies games on a regular basis, or you can’t evaluate what you watch.
I would say the same of you. How can you have watched the Phillies over the last three years and feel that Bohm is major league caliber third baseman? Yes, he’s improved. Improved to adequate. Don’t always fall for the conventional wisdom and the hype surrounding a player.. The organization wants their first rounder that they have invested in to succeed. That doesnt mean that he is better than Sosa, Sosa is better at baseball than Alec Bohm. If you watch the games regularly and really dive into the numbers you would see that.
They’re both kids. Sosa and Bohm are the same age. They have different draft pedigrees that have created the labels that are attached to them. “utility player”, “rising star”, respectively.
Elite MLB hitter? Whoa there.
Bohm has improved substantially in the field at 3b. He hit .280 last year. Bohm puts the ball in play, and hits to all fields. He put on 15 lbs of muscle in the off-season. That should translate into 20 -25 hr’s this year, without a drop in his batting average.
I like Sosa quite a bit. He has never been a regular everyday player in his young career. Whether or not he can hit enough to play anywere but ss, is yet to be determined. The same can’t be said for Bohm. He has proven ( to D D ), that he is an everday player in the Phillies line-up for the foreseeable future. Like it or not, that is the reality.
“Elite MLB hitter?”
What I wrote:
“Bohm is maturing into an elite MLB hitter.”
Comprehension problems will really put you in chains….and
you won’t even know it till it’s too late.
“The organization wants their first rounder that they have invested in to succeed.”
iamrightyouarewrong;
No more than any other young player.
Dombrowski and his administration were not there when Bohm was drafted. They want to bring along all players that can help the team get to – and win – a World Series. That’s what they’re paid to do.
If you cannot see the ability that young man has, then you may be watching the games, but I’m not sure you understand that a player with 2 full seasons of ML experience at age 26 is hardly a finished product.
I like both players quite a bit. Bohm has shown that he has a great deal of potential with the bat, and although I wouldn’t say his defense is great at third, I will give him credit for improving that part of his game as well.
Sosa is the kind of guy all championship teams have. He could probably start for a couple of other teams. He does a lot of things decently, and he’s not a guaranteed out.
Things aren’t ideal, but that’s part of what makes a season exciting.
Accept your fate and sign Ruf for a reunion.
The Giants just signed Ruf. It looks like Clemens will get a shot on a short leash, as the lefty platoon with Bohm. If Clemens doesn’t hit, I would expect D D will make a trade.
Darin Ruf just hangin out
First time I can recall reading something on Kody without referencing his father
Phillies send Josh Harrison to the Pirates for Ji-man Choi
Heck no.
No, no Choi! Likeable character, but don’t need a .220 hitter.
There has got to be a really good joke about Clemens replacing Hall, but I just cannot fit the pieces together. Any help would be appreciated.
The only Hall that ushers in a Clemens is named Darick.
Spot on. I knew it was there. Kudos sir.
Phillies suck so far this year
1-0 against NL teams. World Series bound. My statement is intentionally ridiculous. It’s early. Everyone needs to relax. Phillies win this series and they’re fine.
#VonPurpleHayes
My comment was intentionally ridiculous too, sort of. We all know that realistically the Phillies will probably be just fine
Man, how bad does Sano have to look right now to not even get a sniff of a shot with someone as desperate as the Phillies??
If this is the same (Roger) Clemens kid that played in the Jays system, he did play 1st a bunch, was blocked by Tellez (now in Milwaukee) and Vlad. Never got a sniff of even the upper minors in Toronto
Assumed it was a gratitude pick because of Rogers (Clemens) time in Toronto and the whole corner the market on former MLB HOF/All Star kids playing on the team
Curious to see how he does, all you need is an opportunity
The Clemens sons have similar names (like Koby and Kody), but the Phillies one had been drafted by the Tigers and has never been with the Blue Jays. He wouldn’t be my first idea as replacement 1B either, though…
Gruß,
BSHH
The Pirates have no place to put Ji-Man Choi. Santana has the everyday job at 1B and they seem to have more than enough guys to DH. Send a pitching prospect over for him.
Aaron Hicks could hold down one of the corner OF spots while Schwarbs or Casti man 1b. I make you good deal.
Put who there? I don’t know.
Clemens is awful.
Terrible
Os Mountcastle for McGarry, Estanista and Rhys plus Phillies eat $20 mil of Rhys contract.
Rhys will be the Os future at 1st. For this year, get Henderson a first baseman’s mit and leave him alone. Between Baltimore and Norfolk there’s is a log jam of infield talent, moving him to first frees FO to evaluate all this talent at “the show” level.
IMO, Orioles are still a year or 2 away from year in, year out relevancy. Use this year to see what you’ve got.
Phil’s get a proven league hitter with control left and still cheap. Plug and play ready!
Rhys is a free agent after this season. So one would not trade for a player who is out for the year.
Good morning Von.
I dunno know?! Rhys coming off a season ending injury will opt out of a $60 mii, 4 yr deal? I know Boras is his agent, but I’m thinking even he wouldn’t recommend an option out in this circumstance?
That’s a fair point, but I still think that’s too much risk for a trade.
Yes, absolutely agree. Definitely some risk there for sure. That said; amateur GM me would still pull the trigger. LOL!
And, full disclosure, I do have a bit of a bias. If Rhys would become a Bird, I would probably be inclined to attend my first Os wives bake sale. Dawg!
I could see them making a play in FA.
C Yards Jeff;
Your trade proposal is going into territory that years ago the Padres were in and that the Guardians and Orioles are in now…..
Teams only have a 40 man roster once players become eligible for the Rule 5 draft.
Watching Orioles games this year I see Mountcastle, Mateo, and Santander make plays and get big hits. Then think how fans on social media want to trade them for prospects and wonder who it is that will replace that production. If they’re approaching their walk years and their salaries are high that’s one thing. But they’re affordable, under control, like playing with the O’s, and their teammates like them.
I do believe the O’s can make the playoffs this year. It’s a long shot, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they finished 2nd or even 1st in the ALE….of course they could finish 5th as well. But it’s a young mans game. The O’s are overloaded with quality youngsters and can survive injuries better than any team in the ALE.
Hoskins does not have an opt out. He is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. The only purpose of trading him would be to dump his salary, which the Phillies definitely won’t do
Sam. Good morning.
What’s the old saying “You gotta trade something of value to get something of value in return”. IMO, Mountcastle is that guy; a proven MLB hitter, lots of control and cheap. And I believe the O’s are a year or 2 away from year n year out relevancy. I consider McGarry, Estanista and Hoskins being wise investments to achieving this period of success. I may be off on my talent evaluation of these 3 Phillies but something like this in return for Mounty. That’s me.
All said, if trying to win this year, I feel ya. Mountcastle for a league level 2 who’s having a solid year; with both of them being the key players in multi player deal. Cheers.
Geez. Guys. My bad here. Miss read an SI.com article. Thought 4yrs and 60 mil was a reality not a projection. UFA after this season making $12 mil. Ugh.
@roiste; the Phillies are about winning now. They have an unexpected void at 1st base. IMO, they would definitely trade for a Mountcastle to fill that void.
How ever you wanna say it, “UFA”, “opt out” or something else. Rhys can definitely seek out of his 4 year, 60 mil deal. And, he definitely has an agent who has encouraged other clients to do just that. I dunno man. Thought the Phillies overpaid here and Boras is grinning from ear to ear over it. Can’t believe even Boras would advise to leave it for supposed greener pastures.
@roiste; ugh. My bad here. Miss read an SI article in regards to his actual salary vs projected. Your point taken. Cheers
You guys tryin to tell me that when Nick CASTELLANOS volunteered to work out at first base post Rhys injury; that he DIDNT win the job? With those fleet feet?
Maybe they will look into trading for Joey Menses
And usher in a new period in Phillies history
Jonathan Schoop from the Tigers?!
The Tigers are playing their “kids” to see who is in their plans long term.
Scoop is a veteran 1B/2B who is highly rated on defense, hits and has power.
He had an “off year” in ’22, but look at his ’21 stats.
His Defense is excellent also!
youtube.com/watch?v=jUjA6hErmlw
A few mid to upper level prospects and/or “lottery tickets” could get a deal done with Detroit.
mlb.com/player/jonathan-schoop-570731