Is Kevin Frandsen the Philadelphia Phillies 2013 Third Baseman?

Who will be the Phillies next third baseman?

At this point, all the Phillies fanbase can do is speculate.

A trade? A free agent signing? Or could the solution be solved in-house?

Kevin Frandsen came out of nowhere this season to become one of the biggest surprises in an otherwise dismal 2012 Phillies season.

In 195 at-bats—approximately one-third of a regular season—Frandsen batted a team high .338 with an OPS of .834.

Frandsen does not possess the power the Phillies would like out of a third baseman, but if they cannot make a big splash in free agency, the Phillies could give Frandsen a chance to be an everyday player.

Another upside to playing Frandsen is that he will come cheap. Much cheaper than any free agent signing or acquisition by trade. This would free up money to sign a quality outfielder and make serious changes to that Phillies’ bullpen.

Kevin Youkilis has been a name tossed around Philadelphia. He will turn 34 in March and made $12 million in 2012. You can expect Youkilis to look for a two to three year deal at around eight or nine million per season.

Youkilis finished the season batting .235 with 19 home runs and 60 RBI. Not terrible, by any means, but do the Phillies really need another player hitting below .250, who strikes out more than 100 times in a season? 

When you would have to overpay for mediocre numbers, acquiring Youkilis doesn’t seem like the best fit with the current Phillies lineup.

 

 

Chase Headley may be available via a trade. He’s one of the best third baseman in the game, coming off a great all-around season—.286 average, 31 home runs, 31 doubles, and 115 RBI.

He also stole 17 bases and played in 161 of 162 games this season. The Padres will have to be blown away by an offer the Phillies make to even consider moving him.

It is doubtful that GM Ruben Amaro will clear the farm system again. Acquiring Headley seems more like a pipe dream of Headley wearing Phillies pinstripes next season.

The Phillies also have two third baseman in the minor leagues that are both a year or two away from contributing at the major league level.

Cody Asche hit .300 with 10 home runs in a half season at Double-A.

Maikel Franco batted .280 with 14 home runs and 84 RBI in Single-A Lakewood.

It will be an interesting off season for the Phillies, but by next spring don’t be surprised if Kevin Frandsen gets a chance to start for the Philadelphia Phillies. 

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Picking the Philadelphia Phillies’ All-Postseason Team

Well, this feels strange. 

For the first time since the final day of the 2006 regular season, there will be no postseason baseball in the city of Philadelphia. That’s right. Two teams from the National League East will be heading to the postseason and neither of them will be the Philadelphia Phillies. 

A third place finish here in 2012 will effectively end the Phillies’ string of five consecutive NL East titles and force them on the outside of the window looking in. 

But those five consecutive titles produced some excellent moments and highlighted a number of big time performers. They added to the Phillies’ rich postseason history and pushed most of this club’s core into Philadelphia sports history. 

Since there won’t be a postseason in Philadelphia this year, we’ll take a look back instead. We’ll use each of those postseason moments and other great games in Phillies’ history to build a 25-man roster of this team’s greatest postseason performers. 

Follow @Greg_Pinto

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Philadelphia Phillies: What Might Roy Halladay Be in 2013?

The Phillies have plenty of excuses ready for their just-finished 81-81 yard sale of a season. To hear Jimmy Rollins tell it, if they had been healthy, the Phillies would have won the division again.  

Well, Jim, we are not sure what season you just watched, but it is pretty hard to imagine that a full season of regressing stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley would have meant 17 more wins. For that matter, JRoll, you yourself stayed healthy all season, which was a shock in and of itself.

Besides, the Phillies season was not decided by the games its stars missed. It was decided by what their stars did when they actually played.

Cliff Lee finished with a record of 6-9. Make your own joke.

Rollins was the only player with enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title. He thus led the team in batting average by hitting .250. As a leadoff man.

Utley hit .256. Howard hit .219.

And then there was Roy Halladay.

Fresh off winning the National League Cy Young Award in 2010 and finishing runner-up in that voting last season, Doc posted this line: 11-8, 4.49 ERA, a half-dozen starts missed and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.67, his worst since 2007.

The Phillies will pay Halladay $20 million next season, when he will be 36 years old. What will they get for that money?

Let’s look at some big-name pitchers and how they fared in their age-36 seasons.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Mediocre Season Leaves Unanswered Questions

Well, Phillies fans, it is finally over.

This disappointing season full of underachievement, heartbreaking losses and what-ifs came to an end earlier today, when Michael Martinez’ fly ball landed in the glove of Nationals‘ left fielder Corey Brown.

The five-time defending National League East champion Phillies ended with an average 81-81 record. They took a 21-game tumble from their remarkable 102-win season last year. There is not one big reason for this, but there are plenty of small ones.

Nobody expected Roy Halladay, a baseball god in the last two seasons, to put up a 4.49 ERA. Cliff Lee‘s numbers normalized, as he ended the season with a respectable ERA of 3.16, but the guy just didn’t pitch like himself in the first three months of the season, run support or not.

The Phillies’ offense as a whole scored 684 runs, for an average of 4.22 runs per game. This was by far the lowest total of any of Charlie Manuel’s Phillies teams, and the lowest offensive output for a Phillies team since 1997. This isn’t surprising when you consider that their leadoff hitter led the team in home runs and RBI.

We can officially start pondering the question that will haunt us all winter: Is the Phillies era of excellence over or was this season an aberration of bad luck with players having bad seasons at the same time?

I will attempt to construct an argument for both possibilities. First, I will take the negative side.

It is not impossible that the Phillies have reached the point of regression. Let’s face it, the Phillies are an old team. The reason for this? The Phillies were buyers from 2009 to 2011, and they chose to try to win at the moment rather than look to the future.

The acquisitions of Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence sacrificed pieces that would now be useful to build a younger team.

The good news? All of these moves gave the Phillies a better chance to win the World Series, and they definitely made the team more exciting to watch for a couple years. The bad news? The Phillies never did win the World Series after their youthful 2008 season, and those moves are coming home to roost now.

Roy Halladay may never be the same. Roy Oswalt is buried in the ashes of his career and will be retired next year. Hunter Pence is playing on the other side of the country now. In an ironic twist, Oswalt and Pence both have a chance to win the World Series this year, but neither with the team that acquired them for that very purpose.

As it stands right now, the Phillies are possibly a rebuilding team without a farm system, an extremely unenviable position for a baseball franchise, and, often times, a recipe for years of malaise and irrelevance.

Now that all of you are flatly depressed, let’s take a look at the more optimistic possibility.

It is certainly a possibility that there were just too many things that went wrong for the Phillies in 2012 for this to be a sign of things to come.

As I mentioned earlier, Roy Halladay had about as un-Halladay of a season as possible. While he may never be at his Cy Young-level of 2010 again, it is nearly impossible to imagine the hardest-working man in baseball having two terrible seasons in a row.

While Vance Worley may have overachieved in 2011, I don’t think his mediocre 2012 season was his true form, especially knowing about the bone chips. Ruben Amaro learned a painful lesson this year and he certainly will not go into 2013 with a bullpen composed of minor leaguers.

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard will not both miss the first half of the season again. Yes, they are both more injury-prone now than they were in the past, but the odds of both of them missing so much time at once are astronomical.

Having Ryan play 150 games and Chase play 140 will give this offense a different identity, and having a 30-35 HR presence in the lineup is something the Phils sorely missed for all of 2012.

So what is my opinion?

While I agree with parts of both arguments, I am more inclined to fall on the side of this season being somewhat of a fluke.

Remember, while it did not feel like it for most of the season, the Phillies didn’t finish that far off this season. They were still an 81-win team. St. Louis clinched a playoff berth with 87 wins.

With all the crazy idiosyncrasies of this odd season, winning six more games this year wouldn’t have taken too much of a drastic difference.

Do I think the Phillies are going to reach the 102-win dominance of 2011 next year? No. They are not that team anymore.

Do I think that with a couple big signings at third base and the outfield, a few smart moves in the bullpen and expectedly better luck next year could net the Phils between 88 and 90 wins? I don’t think think it’s unreasonable.

The 2012 season is mercifully over. The 2013 offseason has begun, at least for the Phillies and their fans. The organization will now begin to look for answers, because there is no certainly no shortage of questions.

Goodnight, Phillies.

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Philadelphia Phillies Fans Should Be Excited About Prospect Darin Ruf

Going into the 2013 season, the Philadelphia Phillies do not have one legitimate starting outfielder on their entire roster. Yes, I’m talking about Domonic Brown, John Mayberry, Lanyce Nix, Nate Schierholtz and Juan Pierre. None of which have the skills at this point in their careers to start for a championship-caliber team.

Insert Darin Ruf, a first baseman by trade, who is now in the process of moving to left field in order to earn a chance to play for the 2013 Phillies. His 2012 campaign has been a remarkable one to watch, he even blasted two home runs last night against the NL East Champion Washington Nationals, providing all of the Phillies’ lackluster offense. When is the last time another Phillie hit two home runs in a game? I couldn’t even tell you.

Between Double-A Reading and the major leagues, Ruf has hit 41 home runs and driven in 113 runs in 520 at-bats. Man, the Phillies could sure use those kind of offensive numbers in 2013, especially because they have no idea what they are going to get out of sluggers Ryan Howard and Chase Utley next season.

Ruf can provide a spark to an offense that none of the above mentioned Phillies’ outfielders can. Even if his defense is sub-par, having another bat in the lineup that can drive in 100 runs and hit over 30 home runs will be instrumental in rebuilding a dominant Phillies offense of years past. Besides, none of the other current Phillies outfielders are by any means a Gold Glove candidate. If the Phillies can win a ring with Pat Burrell in left field, why not Darin Ruf?  

In the 30 at-bats we seen so far from Ruf, an observant eye can tell you he is having quality major league at-bats: not swinging at bad pitches, getting ahead in the count and having total control of the inner half of the plate. It seems every time he step in the batter’s box, he has a plan on how he wants to attack the pitcher.

The Phillies are in desperate need to interject some talented youth into their organization. The Washington Nationals are full of young, hungry, players. In order to compete with them over the long haul, the Phillies are going to need a spark that will lead them back to the top of the NL East. That spark may just be the power-hitting Darin Ruf.

Ruf will play winter ball this offseason to work on his defense. Look for Ruf to takes names, and someone’s job come 2013 spring training.  

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Final Regular Season Grades for All 25 Philadelphia Phillies

“Disappointing.”

That’s a word that you are going to hear a lot over the next couple of weeks when people talk about the Philadelphia Phillies, and it isn’t just going to go away after that time. Whenever the 2012 Phillies are discussed, that’s what they’ll be associated with—disappointment. 

It surely is not unjustified. This is a team that came into the regular season with the highest payroll in the National League. If you include Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Roy Halladay, they were a team with an All-Star at seven different positions. Carlos Ruiz would later make it eight. 

Of course, counting Howard, Utley and Halladay isn’t easy. All three of those players missed a significant amount of time in 2012 and I don’t think it is unfair to say that not one of three performed up to their own, personal expectations. 

It’s hard to win when the middle of your lineup and the ace of your starting rotation are shelved, but when you refer back to that payroll, Plan Bs should be in place. Someone has to shoulder the blame. 

So while there were certainly some bright spots and pleasant surprises this season, without a doubt, the Phillies’ grades must reflect the one overarching emotion that fans are going to feel until spring training opens in February of 2013—disappointment. 

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Free Agents the Philadelphia Phillies Should Pursue in the Offseason

It’s been a season of flux for the Philadelphia Phillies this year, to say the least. Last year, though eliminated in the NLDS by the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phillies were the best team in baseball with a 102-60 record. This year, the tides have changed.

After having posted nine consecutive winning seasons, the Phillies are in jeopardy of not achieving their tenth straight season with a record above .500. If they plan on doing so, they have to win two of three in their upcoming series in Washington against the Nationals. Anything less, and it’s either .500 or a losing record, and either of the two ends the streak, which is the third-longest (second-longest if it persists) of its kind in the majors.

The attitude around Philadelphia concerning the Phillies has ostensibly changed. Last year, it was win the most games in franchise history and then the World Series. Now, it’s just to finish the season with a winning record.

However, there is one thing about the Phillies that has remained constant from last year to this one: they’re still a big market team. The Phillies have recent winning seasons on their side and their lack of a playoff appearance this year can at least somewhat be attributed to injuries to Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Whether or not any baseball fans can be led to such persuasion is one thing, but perhaps baseball players looking to sign somewhere, such as Philadelphia, will feel the same as I’ve mentioned.

The Phillies’ free agency shopping list is no doubt comprised of the following: center fielder (possibly a corner outfielder as well), third baseman, and potentially a relief pitcher. A starting pitcher could also see his way into the fold, though that’s less likely given the Phillies’ internal options of Kyle Kendrick, Tyler Cloyd and possibly even Jonathan Pettibone. This list will focus on some options at those positions who will be free agents this offseason and could be a fit for the Phillies.

Let’s get to it.

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Why B.J. Upton, Cody Ross Are Not the Answer for the Phillies’ Outfield

Everybody has an opinion about how to fix the Phillies. Many of those views involve the outfield, which features John Mayberry Jr., Domonic Brown, Nate Schierholtz, Laynce Nix and Juan Pierre, who is a free agent this offseason.  

Phillies fans and the front office know that this is not an acceptable outfield for a team that expects to compete for the World Series.  

There is a fairly strong group of talented free-agent outfielders that the Phillies should target. However, two of those names, B.J. Upton and Cody Ross, would not be the answer that the Phillies so desperately need.

The Phillies would like a strong right-handed bat in their lineup, and Ross could be viewed that way. But instead of settling for an average right-handed hitter, the Phillies should pursue switch-hitting outfielder Nick Swisher.

Swisher and Ross are both 31 years old, so age isn’t a factor. Statistically, they are fairly similar, with Swisher driving in more runs due to the Yankees‘ loaded lineup.

Ross is hitting .267 with 22 home runs and 79 RBI, while Swisher is hitting .268 with 24 home runs and 92 RBI. But the number that stands out is on-base percentage, where Ross is at .328 and Swisher at .358. 

By acquiring Swisher, the Phillies would be adding a guy who can get on base and drive in runs.

 

Although there are reports that Swisher will be seeking a Jayson Werth-type contract, it seems more likely that Swisher would sign a three-year, $45 million deal or a four-year, $60 million deal, both of which are manageable for the Phillies.  

Swisher and his free-spirited personality could be a great fit in Philadelphia. Bringing in a personality like his can breathe life into a team that needs it.

Ross would be a bargain, but Swisher would be more of a valuable asset.

As mentioned before, Upton has been a popular name thrown around by people who are trying to fix the Philadelphia outfield.

People have been waiting for years for him to have a breakout season. But instead, he puts up average to below-average numbers year after year.

Since hitting .300 in 474 at-bats in 2007, Upton’s average hasn’t topped .273. He’s hitting .247 this season, and his on-base percentage is .299, the lowest of his career.

Upton will be getting a big contract this offseason based purely on potential. The 28-year-old has tremendous upside, but his performance has not been even close to what is expected of him.  On top of that, there are questions about his work ethic.

 

So, if not Upton in center field, then who?

The answer is prototypical leadoff hitter Michael Bourn.

He enters free agency reportedly looking for a five- or six-year deal at $15 million per year.  If the Phillies could get him for around $13.5 million per year, he could be worth pursuing.

If you compare Bourn to Upton, there isn’t much of a comparison.  Bourn is far superior in just about every category except age. Although Bourn isn’t old (he’ll be 30 at the start of next season), he’s a lot less appetizing from an age perspective than a 28-year-old.

Acquiring Bourn would give the Phillies a proper leadoff hitter.  Bourn has an on-base percentage of .349 this year and has stolen 40 bases. The Phillies’ current leadoff man, Jimmy Rollins, has an OBP of .316. A leadoff hitter like Bourn would change the Phillies’ lineup for the better.

If the Phillies are going to go big this offseason, they need to do it right.  Don’t settle for Ross and Upton when you can go after Swisher and Bourn.

 

Follow @TimStoeckle on Twitter 

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Philadelphia Phillies’ Free Agency: Updated Targets & Rumors

With the Philadelphia Phillies officially eliminated from playoff contention, the team must now fully turn their attention to the upcoming offseason and creating a game plan that gets them back atop the National League East standings as soon as possible.

That’s easier said than done.

The Phillies entered this season with the highest payroll in the NL, and were able to shed what was left of the salaries of Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence and Joe Blanton through non-waiver and waiver wire deals.

The team will also gain back flexibility if players such as Placido Polanco, Ty Wigginton and Jose Contreras are bought out.

How will the team’s roster look next season?  Which current players are being included in long-term plans?  Which positions will the team focus on through free agency, trades or both?

Here are the latest targets and rumors for the Phillies as they head into the offseason.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why Philly WILL Target Free Agent BJ Upton

While Ruben Amaro has been coy about his offseason plans, even telling Todd Zolecki of MLB.com that he has no clear “number one priority” for the offseason, the Phillies GM has made no secret about his desire to upgrade the club.

After trading away several veteran players—most prominently Hunter Pence—the Phillies have both avoided paying the luxury tax this season and freed up salary space for 2013. With a payroll already slated to approach (and perhaps exceed) $160 million to begin the offseason, the Phillies have under $20 million to spend before crossing the luxury tax threshold.

With several holes on the team—the outfield, the bullpen, third-base and someone to fill in for Chase Utley for a month or two—they obviously will be unable to fix everything through free agency. Both their budget and the scarcity of available players at those positions make that impossible.  With a number of cheap(er) options for relief help, and the lack of any free agent third-baseman of value on the market, the odds are that the majority of free-agent dollars the Phillies spend this offseason will be spent to address the outfield situation.  

However, that does not mean, nor should it mean, that the Phillies will exhaust their entire budget to land the biggest target on the market.  Even though their recent history shows they tend to go after the biggest and boldest name on the market—Roy Halladay in 2009, Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee in 2010, Pence in 2011—it’s doubtful they will be going after Josh Hamilton.

It may not make perfect sense, and probably will end up causing more issues than it solves, but the player the Phillies will target this offseason is BJ Upton.

Here’s why.

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