That Balls Outta Here
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Ten things for Phillies fans to look forward to in 2018

By John Town

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 29: Jorge Alfaro #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Odubel Herrera #37 after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on September 29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Mets 6-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 29: Jorge Alfaro #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Odubel Herrera #37 after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on September 29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Mets 6-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 10: Carlos Santana #41 of the Cleveland Indians bats against the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth inning at Progressive Field on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Orioles 3-2, (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /

Carlos Santana joining the lineup

The Phillies made one of the first big signings in free agency this offseason, picking up first baseman Carlos Santana on a three-year, $60 million contract with a fourth-year option. With a first baseman seemingly in place in Rhys Hoskins and a poor 2017 record, Philadelphia wasn’t considered in the Santana market. However, they were able to pay, and now Santana is a Phillie.

Santana isn’t just a veteran bat; he’s a good veteran bat. He finished with an OBP above .360 in five of the last six seasons. In 2017, he hit 23 home runs, drove in 79 runs, scored 90, a 13.2 percent strikeout rate, 14.1 percent walk rate, and 3.0 fWAR.

Santana is expected to be another centerpiece of the lineup with Hoskins. He is certainly getting paid like one, so the hope is he can continue to produce like he has in recent years. There is no reason to think he can’t, and his bat should be a worthwhile addition to the lineup.

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