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Phillies Rumor: Cesar Hernandez Trade Value Continuing to Rise

By George Stockburger

Apr 7, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez (16) prior to the home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez (16) prior to the home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Hernandez is proving to be a rising player for the Phillies, but could his tenure in Philly be limited?

Prospects are on their way to Philadelphia, and log jams could become a major issue very soon. The biggest will be at second base, where the clubhouse leader in batting average Cesar Hernandez is blocking the way of Scott Kingery.

Rumors of Hernandez being traded last offseason were common, including a potential swap with Detroit involving outfielder J.D. Martinez.

While Hernandez’s bat at the top of the lineup is deadly for the Phillies, and his glove at second is adequate, is it enough to hold off Kingery?

Kingery has reached base safely in all nine of Reading’s games this year, and has a seven-game hitting streak. His .439 OBP would’ve been the second-best in all of baseball last year, only to Philadelphia heart-throb Mike Trout.

Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies /

Philadelphia Phillies

Assuming you can’t move Hernandez to the outfield, where he’s made 22 appearances in center, the Phils could be forced to trade Hernandez to make room for a highly touted prospect.

Can the Phillies get a package of players similar to the Ken Giles trade with Houston? Absolutely, and maybe even more.

Giles, the flamethrowing, fan favorite closer, got the Phillies Vincent Velasquez, Mark Appel, Thomas Eshelman, Harold Arauz, and Brett Oberholtzer. That’s an incredibly generous return for a reliever, and forces the mind to jump when considering Hernandez’s value.

Would a young ace be comparable to that package in return for a second baseman with the potential to compete for a hitting title? In my opinion, absolutely it should. We’d be talking Cubs

We’d be talking Cubs Kyle Hendricks, Mets Noah Syndergaard, or Carlos Martinez of the Cardinals.

The Hendricks/Hernandez scenario intrigues me but is likely a pipedream.

But would a top pitching prospect such as Lucas Giolito or Tyler Glasnow be out of the question? I wouldn’t put it past general manager Matt Klentak to ask.

Next: Can Bryce Harper Handle Philadelphia

Regardless, Hernandez will become an annual candidate for the trade block, and if he makes an All-Star team this year those talks will be heightened to remarkable levels.

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