Additions aid rebuilding
Clay Buchholz, a two-time All-Star with the Red Sox, joins the Phillies rotation.
Notable spring faces uOFs Howie Kendrick, Michael Saun
ders: Bringing in veterans Kendrick and Saunders upgrades the offense from the corner outfield positions, though the Phillies’ defense will suffer slightly.
Kendrick and Saunders’ presence, though, means there are fewer excuses if the Phillies offense is again one of the worst in the major leagues.
If first baseman Tommy Joseph builds off his unexpected emergence, third baseman Maikel Franco finds consistency at the plate and shortstop Freddy Galvis produces a higher on-base percentage, the Phillies will move significantly toward respectability.
“There are a lot of variables there,” Phillies President Andy MacPhail said. “You can create a scenario where you have good offense, but there are a lot of ifs in that. Too many ifs. But I expect it to be improved.” Burning question Will the Phillies make the playoffs?
The rotation again has the potential to be the Phillies’ main strength. Led by Jeremy Hellickson and veteran newcomer Clay Buchholz, it also will see Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff and Vince Velasquez returning with their first full seasons in the majors under their belts.
But lot of things will need to go right to reach the playoffs. The product on the field should be better than a year ago, though.
“We’re trying to create a foundation for a baseball franchise,” MacPhail said. “The more players that demonstrate on our current team that they belong and are part of the future and the more players that percolate up from our system that demonstrate they can be part of our future, that’s a good year.” — Meghan Montemurro