That Balls Outta Here
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Are the Phillies about to start rebuilding the rebuild?

By Jim Bahm

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: Matt Klentak, right, Vice President and General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies talks with Peter Bourjos
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: Matt Klentak, right, Vice President and General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies talks with Peter Bourjos /
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Do recent Phillies rumors mean that the cornerstone pieces of the rebuild will now be replaced with new players and the start of a new rebuild?

In the last couple weeks, there has been so much speculation surrounding the potential signings of the top two free agents, outfielder Bryce Harper and infielder Manny Machado. As we get closer to the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, scheduled for early December, much of the talk has shifted to the Phillies making trades instead of signing marquee superstars.

Rumors have abounded that general manager Matt Klentak is ready to trade everyone not named Rhys Hoskins or Aaron Nola.  Does this mean that the cornerstone pieces of the rebuild will now be replaced with new players and the start of a new rebuild?

Odubel Herrera, Cesar Hernandez, Maikel Franco, Nick Williams, and Scott Kingery have all been implicated as trade pieces in various articles. Aren’t they core members of the rebuild?  Not to mention the underperforming J.P. Crawford and Jorge Alfaro.

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So, are we going to replace this group with another new class of major league ready prospects or are we going to get some seasoned veterans and give it a go right now?

In order to sign Machado or Harper, Klentak would have to convince them that the 2019 Phillies are close to contending. Even a second-tier guy like Michael Brantley may have some reservations about coming to a team with so much uncertainty.

Klentak could cite the decent numbers that the pitching rotation put up last year, but the truth is there is a big drop-off after ace Nola.

Supposedly, veteran relievers Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter are also being shopped.  If they too are traded what will the bullpen look like next year aside from Seranthony Dominguez?

And what do we do with the under-performing $60 million-dollar man Carlos Santana, who has dominated the trade talk the last two weeks?  Could they even get a quality prospect in return? Is he movable or would they have to eat too much money to do so? It is also safe to say that the overly confident GM is not in a hurry to admit that signing Santana was not the best move.

I wonder if a great amount of this trade buzz is just the brass trying to drum up the fan base to make it look like they are ready to wheel and deal.  Honestly, what teams are going to be knocking down their doors to acquire a nucleus of players that are not good enough for the under .500 Phillies?

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It seems Klentak will certainly have his work cut out for him.  Even if he signs Harper or Machado, he will have to address the middle infield problem as well as adding a left-handed starter and some new faces in the bullpen. That could make them contend but it is not going to get them very far in the playoffs.

The sad truth might mean waiting until next year and signing Nolan Arenado and convincing the Los Angeles Angels to trade Mike Trout.  The biggest problem will be trade chips.  What quality prospects will they have to offer for such an elite talent?  It is quite possible they may have to wait should Trout decide to become a free agent in 2021.

Next. Phillies free agency profile: SS Freddy Galvis. dark

If all this trade talk is accurate then it could mean the team will be rebuilding the rebuild for at least a few more years.

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