The Phillies’ infield is a giant question mark for 2018 as all of the four current infielders could be out of the picture next season.
On Opening Day this season, the Phillies started Tommy Joseph at first base, Cesar Hernandez at second, Maikel Franco at third, and Freddy Galvis at shortstop. Opening Day next year it’s conceivable that the starting infield could be completely different.
It’s a consensus that Rhys Hoskins will take over the job at first base from Joseph. Joseph has been the worst first baseman in the league this year according to fWAR and wRC+. Meanwhile, Hoskins has a .383 on-base percentage and five home runs through his first 11 major-league games. The hope is that Joseph can be traded, but that possibility is up in the air.
From there, it’s a whole bunch of question marks. Franco has been just as bad, if not worse, compared to Joseph as the worst qualified third baseman in terms of fWAR and wRC+ as well. While there aren’t any third-base prospects pressing for Franco’s position, a positional change or a free-agent signing could move out Franco.
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The middle of the infield is where things get really confusing. Galvis and Hernandez are both solid contributors this season. Galvis is continuing to be a strong defender and is having the best offensive season of his career. Meanwhile, Hernandez is an above-average defender at second base and his on-base ability is valuable at the top of the lineup.
The problem the Phillies have two prospects gunning for Hernandez’s and Galvis’s spots.
J.P. Crawford is having a resurgence after struggling for much of his time in Triple-A and Scott Kingery‘s stock is rising quickly thanks to an offensive breakout this year. Both of them could push for a spot in the starting lineup next season.
To help them get in the lineup, both Kingery and Crawford are spending time at third base. That means either of them could make the major-league roster next year as the team’s third baseman if they are ready to move on from Franco.
Another variable in this equation is if Hernandez gets traded. Speculation has already begun about a winter trade for Hernandez considering his value as a leadoff hitter with above-average defense at second base. It helps clear up the logjam and nets the team some more young talent.
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Crawford or Galvis could move to second in place of Hernandez if Kingery sticks at third or if the team isn’t ready to move on from Franco just yet. This would leave Kingery in Triple-A, but he won’t be on the 40-man roster so they may want to delay his service time.
If the team goes with a complete youth movement in the infield, Galvis could serve as the team’s utility man in the Andres Blanco role. It probably isn’t what Galvis wants, but it may be a good role for him.
Considering all these different possibilities, the Phillies infield could look very different next year. Here’s just a few combinations, going around the horn:
- Hoskins-Hernandez-Galvis-Franco
- Hoskins-Kingery-Galvis-Crawford
- Hoskins-Galvis-Crawford-Franco
- Hoskins-Hernandez-Crawford-Franco
- Hoskins-Hernandez-Crawford-Kingery
Next: Eflin potentially injured as Lively joins rotation
Whatever happens next year, something is almost certainly going to be different.