Kind of a curious - and perhaps incomplete - analysis of how they might replace Harper temporarily. But in a nutshell it would seem to be: sign a SS, move Hoskins to DH (most of the time), move Bohm to 1B, let Sosa play everyday (I still happen to think Sosa can match Bohm's WAR day-to-day, just more in the field than at the plate).
No mention of Hall. But that doesn't get you any additional LH hitting (since all the SSs are rightys too). If they don't sign someone I still see a role for Maton here: he can play 3B, LF, RF.
Filling Harper’s spot in the immediate is easy. The Phillies are a team overloaded with outfielders and DH types. Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber are at the ready.
“When we originally made the Schwarber-Castellanos signings, the idea was that one of them would be the DH the majority of the time and one would play in the outfield,” Dombrowski said. “Well, they both played in the outfield. So it does open up the position that you could have some flexibility with who you DH for a short time period.”
If Harper is forced to miss the first two months of the season, it’s likely the Phillies would rotate players through right field and the DH spot. In that scenario, Alec Bohm could play first base and Edmundo Sosa could play at third base.
“Sosa could probably play anywhere. But I think by playing him at first base, you’re limiting his true value. And that’s being able to run around,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “I’d probably put Bohm at first base and put Sosa at third — if Sosa’s not our shortstop.”
