That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Building the team through baseball cards, pt.2

By Bryce Turner

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 20: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies high fives Rhys Hoskins #17 after scoring during the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on August 20, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 20: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies high fives Rhys Hoskins #17 after scoring during the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on August 20, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros in action against the Miami Marlins during a Grapefruit League spring training game at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on February 25, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros in action against the Miami Marlins during a Grapefruit League spring training game at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on February 25, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Narrowing down a list of players the Phillies could use was a tough one. Of course, these players have teams, but imagine the non-Phillies in these two packs of baseball cards were free agents and the team could have its picks.

For hitting, Yordan Álvarez is a young talent. He’s a left fielder and designated hitter with the Houston Astros.

Team scandal aside, Álvarez’s impressive early-career stats are notable. While the Phillies don’t use a DH and already have a pair of star outfielders, the left-handed hitter would still be a good addition.

Álvarez made his major league debut with the Astros last season, hitting 27 HR, 78 RBI, .313/.412/.655 and being walked 52 times in 87 games.

In four minor league seasons, he had 56 HR, 218 RBI, 134 walks and batted .311/.395/.561. Notable numbers mean that he’d be a notable addition.

An area where the Phillies could improve is their infield and one of the players in George’s collection of cards that would be a good fit is third baseman Rafael Devers.

Devers hit 63 HR, 211 RBI and .282/.335/.501 across three seasons and 335 games with the Boston Red Sox.

He has postseason experience and a World Series ring with the Red Sox (yes, they’re also under investigation by the MLB), with three HR, 14 RBI and a .311/.373/.511 slash line across four playoff series.

Continuing with the trend of young talented hitters, a card that can’t be overlooked is Pete Alonso, first baseman for the division rival New York Mets.

Alonso took home Rookie of the Year honors last season with an MLB-best 53 HR to go along with 120 RBI and a .260/.358/.583 slash line.

The early career success and infield role makes Devers and Alonso players the Phillies could use.

Sticking with hitters but flipping from rookie to veteran, another player of note is infielder Daniel Murphy.

Murphy spent seven seasons with the Mets, two plus seasons with the Washington Nationals and part of a season with the Chicago Cubs before landing with the Colorado Rockies last year.

He has 135 HR, 719 RBI and a .298/.343/.458 slash line in 1,412 career games. An impressive career batting average in particular.

Last season, he hit 13 HR, 78 RBI and .279/.328/.452 with the Rockies. The respectable .279 batting average was actually his lowest since 2009.

Still, decent stats despite it being his 11th season in the majors and his spot as an infielder would make him a good addition.

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