2019 Phillies Season Discussion

[julio]

unless they plan to resign Dickerson (hard to convince him to stay if you bench him).

There's no place for Dickerson to play next year unless they intend to trade Bruce.

Dickerson will test free agency, and seek the longest contract he can get. It would be irrational for the Phillies to sign him to such a contract. He's not going to be the CF, and they have better (and costly) veterans in LF and RF (this assumes McCutchen returns, but that seems... likely, at least).

To Austinfan's comment - the Phillies cannot "plan" to re-sign Dickerson, even if they want him back. He will be a free agent. Given the reality of the Phils' roster (e.g., Harper, McCutchen, Quinn, Haseley) - why would he want to sign with the Phllies? He didn't choose to be here. He'd be foolish to choose to return next season.

[DurhamBull]

Even if you want to say you expect the pitching to struggle, I expect an offense powered by Segura-Harper-Hoskins-Realmuto-Kingery to be more consistent then it is.

Oh, it's been pretty consistent, unfortunately...

[zambonir]

If for some reason the Phillies really wanted Dickerson I'm sure they could make him an offer and also trade Bruce. Just doesn't seem terribly likely, or a good use of payroll given what Bruce actually costs.

Still think Bruce could become an issue though. Supposedly Klentak asked him if he was okay being a bench player for the rest of his contract when they got him, but then he became a starter and now it sounds like he'd still prefer that. Being the LH platoon partner of another thirtysomething player coming back from an ACL tear is probably not a bad situation though.

It will be interesting to see if Harper, Quinn, Haseley, Cutch, Bruce actually is our OF next year. I look at that and still think you kind of need a guy who can play CF in case Quinn gets hurt (hey, it could happen) or Haseley hits a wall. Of course they have to resolve Herrera too.

[julio]

If for some reason the Phillies really wanted Dickerson I'm sure they could make him an offer and also trade Bruce. Just doesn't seem terribly likely, or a good use of payroll given what Bruce actually costs.

Sure, they could make Dickerson an offer. But given McCutchen and Harper, I don't see how they could offer him any likelihood of being a regular starting outfielder. I mean, even if they "promised" him something like that, he'd have to be a fool to believe it.

I don't think trying to keep Dickerson makes much sense. But even if they wanted to, it would irresponsible for them to plan to keep him - because they don't control that.

[zambonir]

Well, you're just quibbling with AF over language here. He should have said "unless they plan to TRY and re-sign Dickerson." Heck, in AF's meaningless September games scenario it's even possible they would give him more playing time than he deserves just to evaluate him further.

More importantly, we're not there yet (even if it sometimes feels like we are). I don't think they will be putting out any white flag rosters before September 15 or so. Hopefully later (or never).

[Taudawg]

Dickerson is going to get about $10mil + per season, even if it is just for one season. No way the Phillies should be paying that sort of money for a fourth outfielder, or left fielder pretending to be a center fielder.

LF and RF are set, and we still have Odoubel's contract on the books. Haseley for CF 2020 with Bruce and Quinn as 4 and 5. If Cutch is healthy, that's a solid group.

[flyers19rw]

Unless the Phillies know that the NL will have the DH next season?

[Taudawg]

Well if there is a DH in NL next season, Dickerson at 10mil might make sense. Everything I have read seems to indicate the DH will be a bargaining item for the next CBA with the earliest installment of 2022. Personally I prefer the DH

[zambonir]

Yeah there's no chance of a DH next season. Not even a sure thing in the CBA though that seems the most likely outcome (along with expansion and realignment. After the strike, of course ).

I think Dickerson will have to choose between a raise or a longer contract. But it doesn't seem a sure thing he'll get paid more next year than he did this year, even on a one-year deal.

[Taudawg]

The number of impact outfield bats hitting free agency this offseason are pretty few. Castellanos might be the only better bat, and Dickerson is a better fielder. Ozuna I guess, but he wants to stay with the Cards and he could get QO. I think Corey will get 10 and perhaps a 2 or 3 year deal.

[BostonRoss]

Haseley’s back. Never mind.

[DurhamBull]

Haseley’s back. Never mind.

This would be a bad B movie if it wasn't real. Bruce is having elbow trouble. I'm sorry he's hurt, but glad to see Haseley back! I hope he can pick up where he left off and the last 48 hours is just a bad dream.

Bruce (elbow) back on IL; Haseley recalled

[BostonRoss]

Someone, I think Allentown, suggested sending Bruce out for rehab, and maybe someone would be hurt in a few days and Haseley could stay. That’s sort of what happened.

[allentown]

Yes, but I wasn't expecting the injured guy to be Bruce. It really made zero sense not to have Bruce shed his rust on a rehab assignment for 5 days. So, apparently he never was healthy. Just another example of the Phillies extreme deference to vets. Nice to have Haseley back, but little point for the double coast-to-coast.

[BostonRoss]

Well, at least he got some frequent flyer miles.

[zambonir]

It's a new injury for Bruce. "Healthy" is all relative isn't it?

The funny thing is Haseley isn't even the guy who replaced Bruce, Williams was. Haseley was already up, taking Sean Rodriguez's spot (and then Miller got hurt right when Rodriguez came back. Then Williams lost his spot to Dickerson.)

[julio]

Well, at least he got some frequent flyer miles.

Apparently he didn't. The linked article says Haseley had not left the West Coast:

To replace Bruce, the Phillies canceled optioning outfielder Adam Haseley to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. That move proved to be convenient, since Haseley had not left the San Francisco area.

[zambonir]

He had 72 hours to enjoy the Bay Area, after all.

[Austinfan]

Since they have Dickerson, and Bruce next year on a low cost deal, I'd shut down Bruce indefinitely and make sure he's healthy, he's not a good enough player to have value at 80%. Better to make sure he's healthy and do nothing that could impact his performance next season.

[zambonir]

For all the Haseley love, I am not really seeing this as a good thing. Bruce isn't even going to throw for two weeks so he's probably out until September. Not that he was going to save the offense, but they needed his thump. No reason to shut him down though.

Oh well, Dickerson trade doesn't look so superfluous now (just like the Bruce trade looked a lot less superfluous when Cutch got hurt).