Is there a decent CF available through trade

[phillychuck]

If Herrera is not going to play for quite a while (if ever) in Philly, and if it becomes obvious that Kingery is a better IF than CF, are there any teams with CFs they are likely to want to trade? I honestly can't think of any, but I might not be aware of a decent CF being displaced by a hot prospect somewhere...

[bkeich]

With Haseley now in AAA, maybe we only need a 1 year rental. I have to assume some team that will be out of the playoff picture would be willing to unload a CF for a prospect or two, even non-elite (kinda all we have).

[phillychuck]

I don't think Haseley is quite good enough defensively to be a top-tier CF. I hope to be wrong.

[nycphils]

I think it depends on if you prioritize defense or not - if so, someone like Jarrod Dyson from AZ may be available...if memory serves, he can go get it in CF and probably still can even though he’s in his mid 30s, but he never could hit much. Dee Gordon from the Mariners maybe along the same line if he gets off the DL, but probably costs more.

Maybe Randall Grichuk is an option...Blue Jays are almost certainly out of the playoffs, Grichuk is having a poor season but has a history of being pretty good though not great with the stick and maybe they’re willing to unload the 4yrs/$43m remaining on his deal, but don’t know that we really want to take that on.

[julio]

I don't think Haseley is quite good enough defensively to be a top-tier CF. I hope to be wrong.

PC, you have to decide whether you want a "decent" centerfielder, or a "top tier" center fielder. I really don't think these two are synonymous.

For example: Garry Maddox. Duh. But Shane Victorino? Doug Glanville?

[Lawman]

These guys, as per MLBTR, are all free agents after the season, if you wanted a short term rental:

Peter Bourjos (33)
Jarrod Dyson (35)
Billy Hamilton (29) — $7.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Austin Jackson (33)
Jon Jay (35)
Adam Jones (34)
Juan Lagares (31) — $9.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Starling Marte (31) — $11.5MM club option for 2020 with a $2MM buyout
Leonys Martin (32)
Chris Owings (28)

[Lawman]

Also from MLBR, reasons why we may not want to rely on Kingery long term:

The Importance Of Scott Kingery

So far, the sophomore version of Kingery is trumping his Year 1 numbers through 72 PA. However, his .328/.375/.567 slash (148 wRC+) looks as if it’s built on a house of cards. Having drawn a meager three walks against 20 strikeouts, Kingery is getting by on a sure-to-plummet .432 batting average on balls in play and a power surge that also looks unlikely to last. With three homers, Kingery’s fly balls are leaving the yard at an 18.8 percent rate – a figure he only approached once in the minors (in 2017). As a Double-A player that season, Kingery recorded a .295 ISO. Coming into this year, that was the only time Kingery had even neared a .200 ISO, let alone blown by it. With that in mind, don’t bet on Kingery maintaining his current ISO (.239).

[zambonir]

A lot of guys on that list don't look any more viable than McCutchen (and maybe not Kingery either). Adam Jones, for instance, and he's probably one of the best choices! I think you either give up the defense (for which you also get more out of Williams) or you wind up with someone who can't hit. The good news is Herrera wasn't really doing the hitting thing either.

I'm not convinced we won't just see Herrera again. Urias is playing. Osuna played before his legal case was over (albeit after a trade). Russell is playing, and the Cubs already chose to trade for Chapman too. I'm glad to see the sports world saying this is unacceptable but I can also easily imagine Kapler - especially given what we've read about the LA incidents - talking about family and growing and learning, the kind of thing we hear on sports broadcasts all the time, where the athlete who did the bad thing is positioned as someone overcoming adversity, instead of centering the victim.

But I also understand why the Phillies would not want to just release him or accept a bad trade. Anyway, just from a practical perspective, if he's suspended between 30-50 games, retroactive to the beginning of his leave, he's back before the trade deadline (or he gets traded). There's no way under the CBA for him to not be on the team if they don't trade or release him, once the suspension + 21 days is over.

[zambonir]

Also I would note that the MLBTR article makes the case that the Phillies might need a 3B too.

[phillychuck]

I don't think Haseley is quite good enough defensively to be a top-tier CF. I hope to be wrong.

PC, you have to decide whether you want a "decent" centerfielder, or a "top tier" center fielder. I really don't think these two are synonymous.

For example: Garry Maddox. Duh. But Shane Victorino? Doug Glanville?

I should be more precise when I write. I believe there is speculation that Haseley's CF defense would not meet minimum MLB acceptability levels, although he's shown a great work ethic and the desire to work on it so I hope that speculation is way wrong. By top-tier I meant MLB, rather than AAA.

[andyb]

The question for Haseley might be whether his defense is better than McCutchen's in CF. I assume the team can trade for a good defensive CF rather easily. Michael Taylor from the Nats could be had for very little for instance. But if some combination of Haseley and Quinn and Kingery were at least average defensively and offensively then they might be able to get by.

Then one could think of our high OBP lineup if we stuck Rendon in the middle of it.... Still think it is more likely we trade for pitching, but it is hard to see where the market goes now.

[phillychuck]

Maybe Randall Grichuk is an option...Blue Jays are almost certainly out of the playoffs, Grichuk is having a poor season but has a history of being pretty good though not great with the stick and maybe they’re willing to unload the 4yrs/$43m remaining on his deal, but don’t know that we really want to take that on.

I think I would take Grichuck if the Jays would trade him for a lottery ticket or two. Low OBP, but solid power. Hits around .240 which isn't great but his defensive numbers seem sort of MLB average. Defensive numbers being what they are, I'm not sure he's an upgrade on Cutch... Maybe keeping Cutch in CF and looking for a corner OF better than Williams (or hoping Williams puts it together) is the best option, with Haseley as a hopeful back-up plan.

[Lawman]

Yeah, but if you think the above list of CF possibilities isn't much better then what we have, I won't bother posting the 3B list.

[teabag259]

If Haseley has a month or two in LHV like he did in Reading he will probably get his shot with the big club right around the trade deadline.

[Squire]

My personal preference is to exhaust ALL in-house options first.....Kingery, McCutchen, Quinn and Haseley

[zambonir]

Derek Dietrich!

But also Kingery. That's the real answer, if you find OF help and get him out of CF.

Seems like this thread is already split between short-term needs and next year's needs. I don't seriously see Haseley or Quinn as answers by July 15. We have that long to see how Kingery, Cutch and Williams work out but if they don't I doubt calling up a guy who's been in AAA for six weeks is going to be the answer.

[bkeich]

I am going to get laughed at for this... but I would call about Billy Hamilton.

He has utility. He is shockingly fast and he is an excellent CF. That alone is value, he can play a couple games a week if Kingery doesnt work out (or if, more likely, Kingery is needed at another position), he would be a very good defensive replacement and when you are down a run in the 9th inning having him come in to PR might win us a game or two during the year. He is one of the fastest runners IN BASEBALL HISTORY.

I know Hamilton doesnt get on base enough to take advantage of his skills, but he isnt being brought in to save the team, just to be our worst starter a few days a week and be a respectable bench player. He is a guy that would be really nice to have on the bench especially with Altherr gone and us lacking a backup CF (or even a starter now). He adds the utility of keeping guys like Cutch, Harper and Kingery out of CF in clutch late game situations.

He should be virtually free.

(NOTE: I lived in Pensacola when he was setting the all time SB record, so I have a bit of fascination with the guy, I admit it. He was a great player to follow for that summer)

[julio]

I am going to get laughed at for this.

Ha-HAH!

[Actually, I don't have an opinion one way or another on Hamilton at this point... ]

[nycphils]

I have no issue with a defense first replacement...if Quinn could ever stay on the field he’s actually perfect, but I do think someone who can cover that much ground is better than what we have, especially if Kingery is needed at 3rd base.

I would love to get and then let Kingery play CF every day if he can continue to hit at all, but with Franco performing terribly, I think the price will be way out of our range with a sort of depleted system (especially in the high minors), and the Nats may never trade him anyway.

[zambonir]

You would love to get....?

Rendon, I guess. Yes, I doubt the Nats will trade him to us anyway. I'm not sure they can afford to let him go either but if he's not taking an extension and they're going to blow it all up....

I wouldn't not ask about Billy Hamilton. Can you get Quinn or Herrera (with Phillies picking up $) included in the deal?