Phillies: 5 options to play at third base in 2020
The Phillies will have a couple of options to play at the hot corner in 2020.
After landing marquee free agents Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, and David Robertson last offseason, a new era seemingly begun for Philadelphia baseball. John Middleton and his “stupid money” were planning to buy this team back into the playoffs.
With that notion of free-willed spending understood, one of the prize jewels of this upcoming offseason will be current World Champion Anthony Rendon. Similar to Harper, Rendon is represented by Scott Boras and will no doubt attempt to land what could be the largest contracts for a third baseman in baseball history. Manny Machado got $300 million over 10 years and Nolan Arenado got $260 million over eight years.
Rendon was absurdly good for the Nationals in 2019; he slashed .319/.412/.598 and set a career high in almost every single major batting category. Rendon also led MLB in doubles, led the National League in RBIs with 126, was selected to his first All-Star Game, and came in second in the 3B NL Gold Glove voting.
Rendon’s dominance didn’t stop there either. He continued his hot hitting right into October as he hit .400+ in both the NLDS and the NLCS, and drove in an impressive eight runs during the World Series.
If it wasn’t for Nats’ ace Stephen Strasburg, we’d probably be talking about Rendon as the WS MVP as well.
Rendon is without a doubt the best offensive player on the market this offseason. Considering that he has reportedly already turned down an offer worth $210 million over seven years from DC, his price tag is going to be quite hefty.
Rendon and Harper have a strong relationship and Boras and Middleton have done business in the past. The potential for landing one of the best players in all of baseball is there for the taking.
Blockbuster Trade: Kris Bryant
Trade rumors have swirled around Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant for just over a year now. After a disappointing 2018 season which was plagued with injuries and a Cubs team which massively underperformed this past season, it should come as no surprise that the Chicago front office is officially listening to offers.
Bryant is still a really good player don’t get me wrong. In 2019 he was selected to his third career All-Star game, hit 31 homers, drove in 77 runs, and recorded an OPS of .903. His consistent play at third base this season is one of the major reasons the Cubs hung around the playoff picture for so long.
However, the Cubs have some tough decisions to make in the near future. With Cole Hamels likely leaving this winter and Yu Darvish seemingly beyond fixing, their need for pitching this offseason is through the roof. With a plethora of ace-caliber talent available on the market, Chicago could look to spend some serious cash on their rotation.
With that in mind, Javier Baez and Bryant are BOTH due for new contracts following the 2020 MLB. With the Cubs most likely investing heavily in pitching this current offseason, the general mindset is that they’ll have to choose between Baez or Bryant when it comes to handing out a huge new extension in 2020.
Enter Philadelphia. Not only do the Phillies desperately need a new third baseman, but they have a few positive links to Bryant. First, Harper and Bryant are extremely good friends. Second, Scott Boras is also Bryant’s agent, so it’s likely Boras himself could push for a trade to Philly knowing he could get his client a fat new extension with the Philly front office.
Above all else, Bryant is simply a superstar. A former MVP, Rookie of the Year, and World Champion (2016). The Phillies front office has shown willingness to pull the trigger on big time trades before (see JT Realmuto and Jean Segura), and this could be the biggest of them all.
A Placeholder: Josh Donaldson
The Phillies front office caught a lot of flack this past season for standing pat with Maikel Franco at third base despite there being other options out there. While many will point to a guy like Mike Moustakas as a potential bridge to Alec Bohm, I’d like to steer your eyes towards someone else, someone in the division.
Josh Donaldson was signed by the Atlanta Braves this past offseason to hold down the 3B job and to provide some pop in the middle of the lineup, and he did exactly that. The former Blue Jay and Athletic launched 37 homers along with 94 RBIs. He also knocked in 20 doubles while walking 100 times (7th best in the MLB).
Donaldson is what I like to call a “pro’s pro.” He’s a guy who can enter any clubhouse at any time and instantly contribute. He brings along with him a winning mentality which should only help some of the younger guys in Philly. With nine seasons of experience and 39 total playoff games, he adds a much needed veteran voice to a Phillies team that has struggled with leadership in the past.
So what exactly is a “placeholder” in baseball? And why do the Phillies need one? Well in case you haven’t heard, the Phillies #1 minor league prospect at the moment is 3B Alec Bohm. At 23 years of age he absolutely lit up the AA scene this past year, however, most analysts agree he needs at least one more stint in the minors before he’s 100% ready.
This is where a guy like Donaldson comes into play. Turning 34 in December, he’s obviously not the long-term solution at the hot corner. However, he could absolutely agree to a one year deal with Philly (similar to his Atlanta contract) and hold things down until Bohm is ready.
Donaldson played on a one-year $23 million deal for Atlanta. After a very productive 2019 season, he could command something in a similar range, if not slightly more if it’s only a one-year deal.
Just Play the Kid: Alec Bohm
You know what’s better than a placeholder? Actually having the real thing.
Despite the general notion that the Phillies need someone to take over the third base position for a year, the harsh reality is that minor league phenom Bohm is already 24 years old.
To put that in perspective, the Nationals just won a World Series with Juan Soto (21) batting clean-up and the Braves just won the National League East with four of their best players being 24 or younger (Soroka, Acuna Jr., Albies, Riley).
As previously mentioned, Bohm absolutely tore up the minor leagues this year. Over the course of a combined three different levels, Bohm hit .305 with an .896 OPS. He also saw a sharp rise in his power moving from A to AA as he hit 14 of his 21 homers in Reading.
Bohm also participated in the Arizona Fall League this year and saw his productivity jump yet again slashing a ridiculous .361/.397/.528. Bohm’s seemingly linear progression throughout each level of the minor league system is what has so many coaches and scouts raving about him.
At 6’ 5” and 225lbs Bohm is an absolute monster of a human being. While this obviously translates to raw power for the young righty, it’s a potential liability when it comes to defending the hot corner. Major league third basemen, for the most part, tend to be some of the most athletic players on the diamond (see Nolan Arenado).
Bohm’s size leads to a lack of overall mobility, leading him to be somewhat of a defensive liability even in the minor leagues. His poor defending is one of the major reasons the team seems unlikely to call him up for opening day despite his obvious batting abilities.
A Familiar Face: Scott Kingery
Fans might not like to hear it, but this is probably the most realistic option heading into 2020.
Scott Kingery was used in a hyper-utility role for the majority of the 2019 season. With the roster ever-changing due to injuries and general sloppy play, Kingery found himself rotating consistently between the outfield, third base, second base, and even some shortstop.
Initial day one starter Franco essentially hit rock bottom in the month of May, batting sub .200 throughout. This horrid performance from the right-handed slugger led Kingery to be given third base duties for the majority of the year.
Kingery was and is a solid option at third base. His general athleticism and strong arm are plenty good enough when it comes to the defensive side of things and his pop off the bat are must needs in the Phillies lineup going forward.
However, Kingery is not a natural third basemen, and his talents would be massively wasted there. A former minor league Gold Glove winner at second base, Kingery has the potential to really excel on the right side of the infield.
While I personally have more faith in newly hired Joe Girardi to make the right personnel decisions come March, at the end of the day it may be out of his hands. If Phillies general manager Matt Klentak can’t acquire a free agent at the position, or won’t turn it over to Bohm, Girardi may have limited options.
When it’s all said and done, having a young, developing, athletic option at 3B who has a career OPS creeping near .700 isn’t the worst thing in the world.