That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies: Bryce Harper domino effect could last decades

By George Stockburger

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 14: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals rounds second base to score on Daniel Murphy #20's (not pictured) game winning double in the tenth inning during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on April 14, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The Nationals won 3-2 in ten innings. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 14: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals rounds second base to score on Daniel Murphy #20's (not pictured) game winning double in the tenth inning during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on April 14, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The Nationals won 3-2 in ten innings. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 22: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on August 22, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Maikel Franco is traded to San Diego

Morosi specifically mentioned the Padres as a team who have coveted Franco for years, and those reports are well documented, dating back to the trade deadline.

San Diego and Philadelphia worked out a deal involving Freddy Galvis last year that netted the Phillies Enyel De Los Santos, now one of their top pitching prospects.

The Padres aren’t using Wil Myers at third base and have tried to trade him, and they currently have Ty France listed as their starter on MLB.com.

Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies /

Philadelphia Phillies

San Diego has two of the top infield prospects in baseball on the way with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Urias, but neither are pure third basemen. Tatis Jr. has eight minor league games at third and Urias, a second baseman, has 55 minor league games at second.

Adding a third baseman makes sense, and Franco would complement the young infield core in San Diego going forward.

The Padres are constantly on the border of rebuilding and trying to contend, though they haven’t won more than 77 games in the last eight years. Franco can help San Diego win and build towards the future as he enters his age 26-27 season.

Franco has this year plus two more years of arbitration eligibility before hitting the free agent market. Three years of control for a third baseman many have said has untapped potential is enticing.

Franco won’t net a major prospect, but San Diego has plenty of young arms to offer up despite trading De Los Santos last year.

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