The Phillies’ projected 2022 lineup is an absolute nightmare

Philadelphia Phillies’ projected 2022 lineup displays glaring roster issues

With lineups like these, who needs postseasons?

This is the question Philadelphia Phillies fans and anyone who wants to watch competitive baseball must be asking themselves right now. That’s how bad the Phillies’ projected lineup is at the moment.

According to RotoChamp, this is what a Phillies lineup would look like if the season started today:

2B Jean Segura
1B Rhys Hoskins
OF Bryce Harper
C J.T. Realmuto
SS Didi Gregorius
3B Alec Bohm
C Roberto Perez
OF Adam Haseley
OF Mickey Moniak

No way to sugarcoat this, it’s quite bad.

Granted, the MLB lockout has prevented the Phillies from making upgrades that would prevent this exact lineup, but the current state of affairs is appalling nonetheless. It’s also a bit confusing, as Perez signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

By comparison, here’s the lineup from October 3, the final day of the 2021 regular season. Players no longer with the team are italicized:

Odubel Herrera 
Alec Bohm
Bryce Harper
Brad Miller
Andrew McCutchen
Didi Gregorius
Freddy Galvis
Andrew Knapp
Bailey Falter (P)

The biggest takeaway from these two lineups is the complete and utter lack of outfield depth on the current roster. Harper excluded, the Phillies essentially emptied their outfield into the free-agency pool, jettisoning Herrera, McCutchen, and several others. They were reportedly close to signing slugging left-fielder Kyle Schwarber before the lockout began in December, but much like their own bullpen, could not lock it down.

First, the bad news. Overall, this lineup is one of a losing team. It practically screams “70-win season.” The Phillies cannot be a contending team if their lineup looks even remotely similar to this projection. Haseley barely played in 2021, Moniak has not proved himself at the big-league level, Gregorius had a career year in the worst way, and Bohm’s sophomore slump seems harder to solve than a 1,000-word puzzle of a blue sky.

The good news is that the projected lineup almost certainly won’t be the actual lineup. It can’t be. Whenever the lockout finally ends, the Phillies will sign at least one good free agent. They have to, right?