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Phillies: When is it time to give up on Maikel Franco?

By John Town

SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 15: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies is hit with a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 15, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 15: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies is hit with a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 15, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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Maikel Franco is in the midst of another unproductive season with the Phillies. When is it offcially time to move on at the third base position?

The Phillies have shown some potential this season at certain positions, but one position that has lacked much production is third base. Maikel Franco has taken another step backwards, and time may be starting to run out for the 25-year-old.

In 123 games this year, Franco has a .223/.277/.391 line with 18 home runs, 61 runs batted in, and 51 runs scored. While his strikeout and walk rates of 6.8 and 14.8 percent, respectively, are both decent, his positive stats are and few between. His 71 wRC+ and -0.7 fWAR are both league-worst among qualified third baseman while his on-base percentage is fifth-worst among all qualified hitters.

Last year Franco’s performance was considered a disappointment, and he has done even worse this year. His lone area of success has been with home runs, hitting 18 of them this year with a 12.9 percent home-run-to-fly-ball rate.

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However, his HR/FB rate is 94th among 155 qualified hitters this year and Franco is one of 100 hitters this year with 18 or more home runs. His power is a part of a larger upward trend of power in baseball (cough, juiced baseballs), so it’s not as valued of a tool as it used to be.

With his struggles only continuing, it may soon be time to move on from Franco at third base. The Phillies have tried both J.P. Crawford and Scott Kingery at third base in Triple-A this year.

With Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis firmly entrenched in the middle infield, Crawford or Kingery could move over to third next season to get them in the lineup.

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There are also options on the free agent market if the team opts to go that route. Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas is a potential target and he could have success in Philadelphia. After injuries cut his season short last year, he is having a resurgence this year with a career-high 35 home runs and an .874 OPS in 116 games this year. If the team does want power from the third base position, Moustakas brings it and then some.

The ultimate free agent target is Orioles third baseman Manny Machado. We here in Philadelphia have been gnawing at the bit waiting for the 2018-19 free agency period.

Some of baseball’s biggest stars, including Machado, will hit free agency. Him and his 28.2 WAR through his first six seasons would certainly be welcome here, although he will definitely garner one of, if not the largest, contracts in MLB history.

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All these options mean Franco’s time in Philadelphia could be coming to an end. He has shown little potential since his rookie season and there are simply better options available.

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