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Phillies rumors: Cesar Hernandez to the Brewers a fit?

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 29: Cesar Hernandez #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a triple in the eighth inning during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on July 29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 4-3 in 11 innings. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 29: Cesar Hernandez #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a triple in the eighth inning during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on July 29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 4-3 in 11 innings. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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A major trade with Milwaukee would shake up the Phillies infield

One half of the Phillies double-play duo has already been traded with Freddy Galvis heading to San Diego. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez, perhaps the Phillies most valuable commodity, remains on the Phillies 25-man roster as well as the trade block.

Several teams have been linked to Hernandez this offseason, whose price is reportedly high. The Mets, Angels, and Brewers have been among teams to have rumored interest in Hernandez, who carries several more years of team control.

Milwaukee is currently starting former Phillies prospect Jonathan Villar, whom the team traded to Houston for Roy Oswalt. Still just 26 years old, Villar is coming off a down season hitting .241 with 132 strikeouts in 122 games. Sixty-two stolen bases the season prior led all fo baseball, but the bat hasn’t caught up to Villar.

Hernandez would be an upgraded version of Villar as a purer hitter with speed and defense.

Milwaukee has the prospects, particularly pitching, to pull off a potential trade for Herandez. Phillies general manager Matt Klentak has set the price high for Hernandez, which could mean multiple bluechip prospects coming back.

Here’s what Klentak could be dreaming of in a Hernandez deal with the Brewers.

This haul would be impressive for the Phillies considering Ortiz and Burnes are rated as the organization’s number three and seven overall prospects. Both are due to make their major league debuts in either 2018 or 19 with the potential to be number two starters.

Ernesto is further down in the Brewers top prospect rankings after signing as the 14th-ranked international free agent during the last signing period. Just 17-years-old he’s projected to be a high-average hitting switch-hitter with speed and some power.

Derby is a reliever in the Brewers minor league system pitching 16 games in Double-A, just two being starts. With an ERA under 3.00 and 46 strikeouts, Derby could be a middle reliever in the big leagues.

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Label this particular trade as unlikely to happen considering the price teams put on pitching prospects. I struggle to see the Brewers giving up two of their top arms, but if they want to make a push for the playoffs next year they could use a leadoff hitter like Hernandez.

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