2019-2020 Phillies Offseason News and Speculation

[julio]

A possible option for the backup middle infield job:

Jim Salisbury on Twitter

[xogfog]

Meh...

[julio]

Phil Gosselin and Josh Harrison, both non-roster invitees at this point. Statisically, not a lot to differ - either of them could serve as the bench backup middle infielder.

[zambonir]

I think they should sign a back-up middle IF who plays a strong defensive shortstop and puts up an .800 OPS while batting .300 as a pinch-hitter for major-league minimum. But there's so many to choose from that I wouldn't know where to begin!

I don't think it was ever in doubt that Gosselin would return to the organization. The bigger question is if Miller rates a major-league deal. None of them are especially strong at SS but with Segura and Kingery both able to play it, surely they won't carry an actual back-up SS all-glove guy.

[julio]

None of them are especially strong at SS but with Segura and Kingery both able to play it, surely they won't carry an actual back-up SS all-glove guy.

Agreed. But they need somebody who can man one of the 2B/3B/SS positions, both to provide needed rest days for the starters, and in case of injury. I'm doubtful that will be Brad Miller - not because he couldn't do the job, but because I expect somebody will give Miller a job that promises more playing time than backing up the Phillies infield.

[zambonir]

I'm not convinced of that (re: Miller). He bounced between three organizations last year and had started spring training on a minor league deal. He showed well for us, but, SSS. But the Phillies were quite happy with him. If they want to offer him a guaranteed contract relative to his pay last year (which I believe was an even million) he'd probably do it. And his bat fits (he can replace Kingery at 3B on days Kingery replaces Haseley against LHP; he can also replace Segura). I'm not sure there is really a team out there willing to offer him everyday (or even heavy-platoon) ABs.

[mdougherty12]

I'm not convinced of that (re: Miller). He bounced between three organizations last year and had started spring training on a minor league deal. He showed well for us, but, SSS. But the Phillies were quite happy with him. If they want to offer him a guaranteed contract relative to his pay last year (which I believe was an even million) he'd probably do it. And his bat fits (he can replace Kingery at 3B on days Kingery replaces Haseley against LHP; he can also replace Segura). I'm not sure there is really a team out there willing to offer him everyday (or even heavy-platoon) ABs.

Miller hits from the left side (and has the expected platoon splits), you don't really want him starting regularly against LHP.

[zambonir]

Yeah I suppose so. He could still back-up Kingery and Segura in a strict platoon but I guess you'd rather have Quinn play CF against LHP if they're still looking to limit Haseley's exposure there. The question there really becomes who is worse, Miller or Haseley (but we don't really have any data on Haseley and in the long run you certainly hope he can play every day).

In theory Miller and Harrison could both be on this team though. Miller a LHB who can play SS. Harrison a RHB. They can both play OF corners. Plus Bruce (lefty bat, LF/1B/DH), Knapp (or Grullion), Quinn (the 26th man if bullpen remains 8). Plenty of double-switch options against relievers. Not sure they're gonna find a better extra OF and a glove-first, SS-specific guy still seems unnecessary.

It seems unlikely they would pursue anyone better/more expensive than Miller for the bench, though there are plenty of people they could sign instead. Those millions will go to pitching. Ditto catcher, there's no $2 million guy out there who would be that much better than Knapp when they need pitching. Also I assume if Knapp were to be optioned (as some have speculated) his $700K major league salary would still count against the cap, as he's past rookie minimum/into arbitration-eligibility. If he's not the guy you trade or cut him.

It's all or nothing, IMO. Sign or trade for a 3B or CF who also considerably strengthens your bench and the other position (by putting one of Kingery or Haseley on it most days) or this is it.

[DurhamBull]

Sign or trade for a 3B or CF who also considerably strengthens your bench and the other position (by putting one of Kingery or Haseley on it most days) or this is it.

Yes, this is where I'm at too. I think Haseley, Segura, and Hoskins could easily take a step forward. For Haseley it would be ordinary development, for the other two it would be a return to established form or in the case of Hoskins established expectations. If 3 of 8 position players take a step forward offensively and the others maintain, that's a big boost.

[Squire]

I would absolutely like to see them bring Brad Miller back. It was SSS but like 140 PAs isn't irrelevant either. Guy liked hitting here and mashed righties. How expensive could he be?

[Philsmania]

With with two positive stand-up guys in Gregorious and McCutchen, the Phillies should have good leadership in the clubhouse. Plus, Girardi should create a better, more professional atmosphere. Bringing Miller back to keep things light--in addition to being a useful sub, of course--might not be a bad idea.

[Philsmania]

Phillies sign Cape May native and one-time Villanova star Matt Szcur to a minor league contract.

Phillies to sign outfielder with championship past on and off the field

[zambonir]

There's your minor-league emergency CF depth I guess.

One has to wonder if the Phillies are prepared to sign any position player to a major league contract at this point. If they signed Miller today they wouldn't be able to sign a pitcher (though obviously there will be other deletions from the 40). As a known quantity MIller is attractive, but is he $1.3 million attractive when, by definition, you can always find another Brad Miller on a minor league deal? Also you have to wonder how much the major league half of Harrison's deal is. Still entirely possible the 5th bench spot does go to a utility guy making minimum, whether it's Gosselin or Szcur or TBD. Ideally we don't see any of those guys unless or until Quinn gets hurt though. The tragedy is we don't have a single current minor leaguer on the 40 to battle for the spot (unless you went with Gamboa. Or Williams).

I still think Herrera gets released or traded but if he somehow stays, there's really no reason to send him to Allentown.

If they can get him, Miller does still make more sense than Harrison, with our 2B and 3B both being RH.

[andyb]

They can only release Herrera for baseball reasons. I think he gets sent to AAA if they don't find a team that will take him with the Phillies paying 90% of the salary.

That is probably a good thing. He plays poorly and he is gone. He plays well and recovers a bit of value.

[zambonir]

I think they have already clearly laid out the baseball reasons. He's been bad and he lost his job to Haseley and Quinn is a better choice for the bench. At that point a demotion or a release is really their choice, and Herrera is less likely to protest the latter. They could also argue they need the 40-man space, which they may well might.

It comes down to the PR stuff though. Every indication from the media is they have no interest in entering that swamp. A grievance from the MLBPA is preferable to a domestic violence advocates protest making the cover of the Morning Call. And after what happened in Houston during the playoffs, I don't think they will put "we need get something for this asset" over the PR consideration (even if it's not 100% sincere).

Even more cynically, I'd say they'd happily release him and pat themselves on the back for making a statement about domestic violence, except the rules don't allow that!

[bkeich]

Szcur is not a bad signing at all. Quinn is most likely to be AVAILABLE for about 50 games, I suspect he is done with AAA other than rehab assignments, so we do need a backup CF (assuming Herrera isn’t it). Szcur can hit and has a nice split, which means he can be teamed with Haseley easily.

Nice low cost signing in my opinion.

[zambonir]

Quinn can't be sent to AAA, same as last year, so yeah, only rehab.

I guess eventually we'll find out if any of these guys have opt-outs (maybe Harrison. Probably not the others). But still a ways to go for bench and AAA depth I'm sure.

Villanova football sentiment aside I don't know that Matt Szcur is actually better than Gosselin (or Sean Rodriguez) incidentally. Didn't play a game last year, only barely plays CF (56 career appearances), and isn't getting any younger. And where does it say he can hit? Sure, platoon split is there, but still only .706 OPS against LHP (Rodriguez .756 over a much longer career. Gosselin .715). And BA, forget it.

Anyway, ideally neither Gosselin or Szcur is in Philadelphia on Opening Day. Perfectly fine for depth. Gosselin has to still intrigue them because he did well as a PH, even though that's a SSS that's not projectable/sustainable.

[allentown]

I don't think we know the end of Quinn's tale yet. He could be like Dugan or even Tyson Gillies and never get truly healthy for a season, or he could be like Hamels, who for quite a while looked like he wouldn't stay healthy enough to make it. Gowdy is a more severe case than Hamels, and this is likely the year which tells that story.

[bkeich]

I don't think we know the end of Quinn's tale yet. He could be like Dugan or even Tyson Gillies and never get truly healthy for a season, or he could be like Hamels, who for quite a while looked like he wouldn't stay healthy enough to make it. Gowdy is a more severe case than Hamels, and this is likely the year which tells that story.

Quinn has finished his 8th season as a professional, and the most he has ever played is 77 games I believe. That is nothing like Hamels who had a few seasons in the minors that were near lost (and at least 1 of them was due not to injury but stupidity).

I honestly can't think of anyone who has ever had Quinn's injury history that overcame it. I hope he does, I like his game and you have to respect his determination, but it is just hard to believe that he can manage to string together more than a few weeks.

[zambonir]

At this point Quinn's limitations are also his value - he's cheap for two more years and probably longer, and his injuries make him de facto optionable. The question is will Haseley succeed this year with 135 starts, if Quinn can't even give you 30 (last year it was 23, the year before that 31). Otherwise you're back to AAAA guys or Cutch.