Phils avoid arbitration with four

PHILADELPHIA » Simultaneously avoiding arbitration and the complete dismantling of their doubleplay combination, the Phillies have agreed to a one-year contract with second baseman Cesar Hernandez.

Hernandez will earn $5.1 million in 2018, a substantial raise from the $2.55 million he earned last season, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. With shortstop Freddy Garcia having been traded to San Diego, Hernandez will share up-the-middle infield duties with new shortstop J.P. Crawford.

The Phils also avoided arbitration with Maikel Franco, Luis Garcia and Cameron Rupp, signing each to new one-year contracts. They have no more players eligible for arbitration.

The renewed if short commitment to Hernandez is a signal that prized second-base prospect Scott Kingery will remain in the minors for at least part of next season. Hernandez, 27, could be used as a valuable in-season trade piece whenever Kingery is deemed big-league ready.

Hernandez hit .294 in each of the last two seasons, with a combined 17 home runs and 73 RBIs.

Rupp opened last season as the Phils’ No. 1 catcher, but his status

status was devalued with the late-season promotion of Jorge Alfaro. Andrew Knapp is also on the depth chart. Though he hit just .217 with 14 home runs, Rupp agreed to a reported $2.05 million deal.

Franco, 25, led the Phils with 24 home runs last season, but hit just .230. His $560,000 salary will be bumped to $2.95 million.

Garcia, 30, finished a checkered season strong last season to land in the Phillies’ serious bullpen plans. He agreed to a reported $1.2 million contract for 2018.