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Phillies: How is this year’s team different than last?

By Seth Humeniuk

CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 25: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Aaron Altherr #23 after Franco's two-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at Spectrum Field on March 25, 2018 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 25: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Aaron Altherr #23 after Franco's two-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at Spectrum Field on March 25, 2018 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The Phillies made some big moves in the offseason. How does this roster compare to last year’s and what will it look like Opening Day?

The Phillies made a lot of changes to their roster this offseason. Here are some new guys they acquired, some old guys at new positions, and some old guys that are no longer here.

They landed most sought after prize of the offseason in Bryce Harper, and also managed to sign Andrew McCutchen.  Odubel Herrera, Nick Williams, Aaron Altherr and Roman Quinn are all still here. The Phils only loss in the outfield was Jose Bautista, who left via free agency.

Carlos Santana was traded to the Mariners (and then subsequently the Indians), allowing Rhys Hoskins to move from left back to first base. J.P. Crawford also went to Seattle in that deal, and the Phillies received Jean Segura in his place at shortstop.

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Cesar Hernandez looks set to play second if healthy. If not, Scott Kingery will most likely take over. Maikel Franco will most likely start at third. Manager Gabe Kapler said there would be a competition between Scott Kingery and Maikel Franco at third, but Cesar Hernandez‘s injury changes things for the time being.

After getting picked up at the trade deadline last summer, Justin Bour and Asdrubal Cabrera have also departed.

The Phils look very different at catcher, as Wilson Ramos left via free agency, and Jorge Alfaro and two prospects were traded to Miami for J.T. Realmuto.

The starting rotation remains largely unchanged, as Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta are set to return to the top of the rotation, with Jerad Eickhoff, Zach Eflin, Nick Pivetta and possibly Vince Velasquez rounding out the starters. There have been rumors the Phillies are interested in adding a lefty, possibly Dallas Keuchel.

The team did make several bullpen moves both in free agency and via trades. They signed righty David Robertson, traded Luis Garcia to the Angels for lefty Jose Alvarez, and acquired righty Juan Nicasio and lefty James Pazos from the Mariners as part of the deal for Segura. Aaron Loup and Luis Avilan, both trade deadline additions last year, left via free agency.

Nola should get the start on Opening Day, with Realmuto catching. The infield will probably be Hoskins at first, Hernandez at second (if healthy), Segura at short and Franco at third, with Kingery sliding into the utility role.

The outfield will most likely be McCutchen in left, Herrera in center (if healthy), and Harper in right. A strong spring from Roman Quinn could push Herrera to the bench, but his injury issues could prevent that.

The starting lineup should look something like this:

  1. Hernandez, 2B
  2. Realmuto, C
  3. Harper, RF
  4. Hoskins, 1B
  5. Segura, SS
  6. McCutchen, LF
  7. Franco, 3B
  8. Herrera, CF
  9. Nola, SP

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This lineup compares very favorably to last year’s on Opening Day.

  1. Hernandez, 2B
  2. Santana, 1B
  3. Williams, RF
  4. Hoskins, LF
  5. Altherr, CF
  6. Crawford, SS
  7. Franco, 3B
  8. Knapp, C
  9. Nola, SP

Last year’s starting lineup (excluding Nola) posted a mean batting average of .230 and 127 homers total. The projected starting lineup for this year (again excluding Nola) hit .263 with 178 homers.

The four new additions to the lineup this year were worth a combined 12.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) last year, the seven that left were worth 8.2.

Philadelphia made significant additions at pretty much every position and should be improved across the board. They added two former MVPs in the outfield–although Andrew McCutchen is on the downswing of his career–an All-Star shortstop, and arguably the best catcher in baseball. They’ve improved in the outfield, infield and even in the bullpen. Only the starting pitching should be the same as last year.

Next. Phillies now a top-ten MLB team with Bryce Harper. dark

With all of these moves and the potential for at least one more, it should be an exciting year.

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