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Phillies: Three potential Free Agent bargains for 2021

By Bryce Turner

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Keone Kela #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on September 12, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Keone Kela #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on September 12, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 16: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in action during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 16: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in action during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

A look at three potential free agent bargains who the Philadelphia Phillies could sign as replacements or additions for next season.

With plans for a 2020 MLB season changing by the day, it’s never too early to take a break from it all and look ahead to next year, with lots of change possible for the Philadelphia Phillies over the next off-season.

J.T. Realmuto, Didi Gregorius and Jay Bruce are slated to become free agents, while the Phillies hold club options for Héctor Neris, Jake Arrieta and David Robertson.

Realmuto has been a big addition for the team and it would be no surprise to see the budget revolve around paying whatever it takes to keep Realmuto.

There aren’t many free agent shortstops. While there are options, if the Phillies elect not to re-sign Gregorius, they could move Jean Segura back to shortstop as Alec Bohm makes it to the big leagues at third base.

Looking at other positions, here are three potential free agents that the Phillies could sign without breaking the bank.

LF Joc Pederson

Leftfielder Joc Pederson is set to become a free agent. His pre-pandemic 2020 salary of $7.75 million ranks below several of the potential free agent outfielders. He’s not an everyday starter and the Los Angeles Dodgers tried to trade him pre-season, so the Phillies may be able to get Pederson at a decent price.

Pederson has a low batting average, .233 in six seasons, but makes up for it in home runs and RBIs. He hit 36 HR, 74 RBI and .249/.339/.538 in 149 games last season after hitting 25 HR, 56 RBI and .248/.321/.522 in 148 games in 2018.

Pederson is a left-handed hitter and posts better stats against right-handed pitchers, prompting the Dodgers to give him more playing time against righties than lefties. Last season, all of his home runs and all but one of his RBIs came in 401 at-bats versus right handers, where he recorded a .252/.349/.571 slash line. In 49 at-bats against left handers, he hit only one RBI, with a .224/.240/.265 slash line.

While the Phillies still have leftfielder Andrew McCutchen under contract for next year, Pederson can be signed as a replacement for Jay Bruce, where he can enter off the bench or start some games in place of either McCutchen, Adam Haseley or Bryce Harper, with Pederson having experience at all three outfield positions.

The Dodgers even tried Pederson at first base in 20 games last season, so he would be a great occasional starter to give other players rest.

Bruce and Pederson have both posted better HR and RBI numbers than averages the last couple of seasons. With Bruce’s 12 years of experience, there’s age and a higher salary to consider (at $14 million for 2020).

Pederson would be a good replacement for Bruce, a leading candidate to make occasional starts and a go-to option off the bench. He could be a good free agent bargain heading into next season.

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