Phillies Offseason Activity: Pitching, Infield Logjam

PHILADELPHIA, PA — General managers from all 30 Major League Baseball teams are gathered this week in Orlando, Florida for their annual meetings.

While discussions like the potential trade of Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton are gathering headlines, there are many other moves which make much more sense for the Phillies, and the details of these moves could be getting underway this week.

The biggest deals usually occur during the more widely celebrated Winter Meetings in December, also in Orlando. But the GM meetings often lay the groundwork for the rest of the offseason. For the Phillies, this could mean finding out what players are and are not attainable via trade, which could significantly impact their free agent signings.

As has been noted before, no free agent makes more sense for the Phillies than Cubs ace Jake Arrieta.

Beyond Arrieta, the Phillies could still pursue a bona-fide number two to three starter on the free agent market. Either Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn are both consistently very good, if not quite elite starters that would make the Phillies rotation (behind, potentially Nola and Arrieta) something fearsome. If the Phillies were looking for someone more affordable, Rockies hurler Tyler Chatwood could be a nice underrated, and cheaper, addition to fill a number three to four spot. What has been missing for the Phillies, as they evaluate the potential of their stable of young arms, is consistency; one or two of these names, along with Nola, would mean that the Phillies would only need to fill one or two spots at the back of their rotation with an unproven - however promising - pitcher.

However, it's entirely possible the Phillies would want to implement a left handed pitcher into their righty-only rotation. Adam Morgan is the only leftie on the Phillies staff, and the last leftie to start a game for the Phillies more than a year ago. Free agent options include the oft-injured but talented Jamie Garcia, CC Sabathia, Jason Vargas, and the oft-injured but talented Brett Anderson. Signing one of these pitchers would almost certainly depend on if the Phillies are able to trade an infielder or two, instead.

The Phillies have more to worry about than just signing another starter, however.

Most obviously, with top prospect Scott Kingery primed to knock down the door at some point next spring or early summer, the Phillies have six starting-caliber infielders to fill four positions: Rhys Hoskins and Tommy Joseph at first, Kingery and Cesar Hernandez at second, Freddy Galvis and J.P. Crawford at shortstop, and Maikel Franco at third.

The Phillies could, hypothetically, enter 2018 the way they ended 2017: playing Hoskins in left field when one of the outfielders needs a rest, and maybe getting Joseph, who has established himself as a solid power bat, two or three starts a week at first. They could delay Kingery's call up until summer, start Hernandez at second most days, and rotate third between Franco, Galvis, and Crawford, since the latter two have proven they can play the hot corner well.

General Manager Matt Klentak suggested the possibility of such an arrangement in an interview with Philly.com this week from the meetings, describing the benefits of "positional versatility." Indeed, it's the blueprint the Cubs have rode to three straight National League Championship Series with players like Ben Zobrist and Javy Baez; the Astros did much the same this year with Marwin Gonzalez and Alex Bregman, who both wound up starting full time. The Indians MVP candidate Jose Ramierez started things off this way as well. Chris Owings of the Diamondbacks and Chris Taylor of the Dodgers are two other notable examples that come to mind of players who began the season as part time players but became full-time, borderline stars by virtue of their ability to shift from shortstop to center field.

However, the Phillies employing this strategy would be a part time fix which only somewhat delays the inevitable; once Kingery comes up, decisions will need to be made.

Of course the obvious trade candidates are Joseph, Galvis, and Hernandez. It’s a difficult position for the Phillies no matter how the cards fall, as those three represent some of the most experienced players on a very young team, and Galvis in particular has emerged as a veteran leader. But they each could fetch a very productive return.

If the Phillies trade two or even all three of them for a starting pitcher, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. And if they feel that they have a good chance of putting a deal together, it could at least limit what free agents they try to sign.

Top tier starting pitchers from rebuilding teams that could become available via trade include, according to The Sporting News, Gerrit Cole of the Pirates, Chris Archer of the Rays, and Marcus Stroman of the Blue Jays. While the Tigers have expressed no interest in trading budding star righty Michael Fulmer, he would surely fetch a serious return. In the case of any of these names, the Phillies would probably also have to part with one or more of their top prospects, in addition to one or more of their infielders.

A much more realistic and likely option is that the Phillies seek out a middle of the rotation arm from a team with noted infield need. Teams with at least one notable infield hole include the Mets (second and first), Blue Jays (shortstop), Marlins (shortstop), Brewers (second), and Angels (second and third, possibly first). That list could also include the Tigers, if they successfully deal All Star second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Of those teams, the Mets, Blue Jays, and Angels probably have the most significant need, and since the Phillies might be reluctant to deal a long-term piece like Hernandez to an in-division rival, the Angels and Blue Jays stand above the rest as trade partners. Joseph, Galvis, and Hernandez would all make sense for the Angels, who have big question marks at first, second, and third, and who could use someone with the ability to play the outfield to back up their three stars, as well.

As far as possible return, 26-year-old lefty starter Tyler Skaggs would make the most sense for the righty-heavy Phillies. The Angels have another 26-year-old lefty starter, Andrew Heaney, who is more unproven but who has a higher ceiling. On paper, dealing one or both of Galvis and Joseph for one or both of Skaggs and Heaney makes sense for both teams, assuming the Angels have faith in their pitching depth to fill the gap left behind.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, could use Joseph in a platoon with Kendrys Morales and Justin Smoak at first base and DH. They could also use someone like Freddy Galvis to spell the oft-injured middle infield duo of Troy Tulowitzski and Devon Travis. Again, Galvis' positional versatility would come in handy on a team with questionable outfield depth.

As far as a return from the Blue Jays, the Phillies would surely love to have Stroman; if he wasn't available, they could pursue promising 25-year-old righty Aaron Sanchez.

Image via Wayne Heinze