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Phillies 2020 Opening Day roster early predictions

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Phillies general manager Matt Klentak of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on September 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Phillies general manager Matt Klentak of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on September 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – APRIL 14: Jean Segura #2, Rhys Hoskins #17, Cesar Hernandez #16, and Scott Kingery #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies wait during a pitching change against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on April 14, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Starting Infield

The Phillies could shake up their entire starting infield this offseason with trade rumors circling nearly every starter from 2019.

The most likely player to be evicted from the roster is third baseman Maikel Franco, the former top prospect turned erratic hitter. Franco has had ample time to prove he’s a starting major league third baseman, now having over 2,500 big league at-bats. A career .249 batting average won’t keep Franco in Phillies pinstripes, and he very well could be non-tendered.

Mike Moustakas, Josh Donaldson, Todd Frazier, and top prospect Alec Bohm are potential starters at third base.

Cesar Hernandez is also expected to be traded, but we’ve been saying that for two seasons now.

Hernandez has never been more than an average player with a career average of .277 with an on-base percentage of at-least .333 over his last five seasons. Oakland, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburg, and Cincinnati are just a couple of potential landing spots for Hernandez, who is playing his last season under team control.

Rhys Hoskins is likely coming back, but his batting average continues to plummet and his extra-base hits took a hit under hitting coach John Mallee. Philadelphia has Hoskins under team control through the 2023 season, so he’s a very cheap, controllable piece for a team ready to spend stupid money.

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Philadelphia would love to see the National League implement the designated hitter role. Hoskins could easily slide into that job if top prospect Alec Bohm doesn’t pan out as a third baseman, as some scouts profile him to be a below-average defender at the hot corner.

For now Hoskins stays, but if the Phillies need a starting pitcher and Hoskins doesn’t play well under Joe Girardi’s coaching staff, his time in Philadelphia could be short.

Shortstop Jean Segura came under fire for his horrendous defense and base running errors, one of which led to Andrew McCutchen’s torn ACL. He’s under contract for at least three more years with an option for a fourth season, so they’d likely have to eat some money to trade him. It’s hard seeing them eat that money and then sign someone like Didi Gregorious.

Segura could also move to second if Hernandez is traded and Scott Kingery plays either third or center.

Prediction: Rhys Hoskins, Scott Kingery, Jean Segura, Mike Moustakas

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