Phillies 2021 Spring Training Preview: Position Players

Previewing spring training for Phillies position players

With Philadelphia Phillies pitchers and catchers reporting on Tuesday, spring training has arrived — which also means the regular season is not too far ahead. We preview the 2021 season for 16 Phillies position players — from lock Opening Day starters to prospects who will probably be up at some point during the season.

Outfield

Andrew McCutchen

McCutchen is entering the final guaranteed year with the Phillies after signing a three-year contract, a little more than two years ago. While Cutch has a 15 million dollar option for next season, it would be very unlikely to see the Phillies accept that option given his age and torn ACL ending his 2019 season.

In 57 games last season McCutchen had 10 home runs, .324 on-base percentage (OBP), a .433 slugging (SLG), giving him an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of .757 which made him a slightly above-average hitter in 2020 win an on-base plus slugging plus (OPS+) of 102. Which was down from his 2019 season where he had a 116 OPS+.

Another drop off in play for McCutchen was on defense. In 2019 his universal zone rating (UZR) was 1.8 and then in 2020, it dropped to -4.3. This is a big drop off in play and it was mainly due to age and his ACL injury. The one good thing about this is the next season is you will get a full year off the injury, getting a full year healthy after an injury like that could mean McCutchen looks like a much more comfortable athlete, and in turn could lead to a bounce-back season in 2021.

That will be a huge question he needs to answer going into 2021, can he bounce back with a full year of health off an ACL tear? Who knows but fortunately this is likely his last season in Philadelphia either way.