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That Balls Outta Here

Phillies: 5 potential left field candidates for 2021

By David Esser

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares for a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch on February 26, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares for a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch on February 26, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 08: Michael Brantley #23 of the Houston Astros in action against the New York Mets during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 08: Michael Brantley #23 of the Houston Astros in action against the New York Mets during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

“Smaller” Free Agent

If McCutchen’s play has in fact started to decline by 2021, and the Phillies don’t feel comfortable shelling out the big bucks or turning things over to a rookie, targeting another short-term veteran in free agency would be the next best thing.

While next year’s free agency class is obviously headlined by Betts, there are still plenty of cheaper outfielders worth keeping your eye on. Names like Marcell Ozuna, Josh Reddick, Adam Eaton, and Michael Brantley are just a few of the higher-rated players at this position. While none of them are necessarily all that exciting, bringing in another stop-gap while Moniak continues to figure things out is a solid backup plan.

Ozuna launched 29 homers as a starting outfielder for Cincinnati last year, Reddick and Brantley were obviously a part of the American League winning* Astros team, and Eaton of course was an everyday starter for the Washington Nationals in 2019. Every single one of these options has at least proven to some capacity that they can be a reliable piece to a playoff contending team.

The one catch with turning to another veteran via free agency is the fact that likely none of these names will be interested in taking any sort of pay cut. Ozuna is the perfect example, commanding an $18 million dollar price tag from the Braves this past offseason as he signed a one-year contract with them.

The Phillies would save next to no money by going from McCutchen to a different outfielder, so going in this direction would have to solely be about production. If the Phillies feel they are in a spot to contend, but McCutchen is proving to be a limiting factor, swapping him out for a younger (and more expensive) veteran is the correct play.

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