Phillies Should Trade Hernandez and Franco
It’s well-known that the Philadelphia Phillies need some major upgrades to have any shot of playing for a championship this year. The front office has been clear they will not move top prospects such as Adonis Medina, Spencer Howard, or Alec Bohm. If the Phillies don’t believe they will contend by trading their top prospects, they should flip the script and trade current Major League talent for more prospects. Cesar Hernandez and Maikel Franco both have uncertain futures, and it’s worth seeing what a legit contender would offer for either player.
Cesar Hernandez
Hernandez has been a solid, but unspectacular producer for the Phillies since he became a regular starter in 2015. However, his days with the team seemed numbered when the Phillies signed Scott Kingery to a six-year, $24 million deal before Kingery had ever even played a Major League inning. Kingery has succeeded in a super-utility role, but the Phillies would definitely like him to settle into his natural spot at second base. This is one reason to move Hernandez.
Another great reason for the Phillies to trade Hernandez is the potential prospect return he’d net. The Phillies have admitted they are more than one player away from being a championship-caliber team, so why not add some prospects for the future? Teams in win-now mode almost certainly would move at least one, possibly even two mid-level prospects for the proven Hernandez.
He offers good speed and is a career .277 hitter. His .353 career on-base percentage is very respectable. Hernandez is also a switch-hitter with experience batting at the top-of-the-order, something that would be valuable to playoff-bound teams.
The Phillies will not and should not expect to get a top-ten prospect from a potential trade partner, but if they can land some pitching depth or a decent minor league outfielder, it’s worth making a move.
Maikel Franco
Franco’s name has come up in trade discussions several times over the last few years. Once hailed as the Phillies’ top prospect, he’s never totally put it together. There have certainly been flashes of greatness, but they’ve been overshadowed by questions about his commitment and his low on-base percentage, which is .303 for his career.
Franco had a particularly good start to the year. Back in April, he homered in three of the first four games. He finished the month batting a modest .252 but homered seven times and drove in an impressive 22 runs. Many were predicting he was finally going to have his breakthrough year; however, he slumped in May. In 93 plate appearances, he hit .170 with one home run and eight RBI. Franco rebounded a bit in the months of June and July, hitting .267 and .250, respectively, but he hasn’t been consistent enough to stay in the lineup on a regular basis.
Franco would be an ideal addition for a playoff-chasing team looking for an infield bat. Although he has played the bulk of his games at third base, Franco can play first. He would also bring a lot of power to any National League teams looking for a bench bat. Phillies fans are well aware how much of an impact a bench bat can have in the playoffs.
A trade would be beneficial to both sides. Franco might fetch some pitching depth for the Phillies’ farm system and a change of scenery might help him further tap into his potential. With Phillies top-prospect, Alec Bohm, looming in the minors, the Phillies might as well get something for Franco before he’s delegated to a permanent bench role.
Something Is Better than Nothing for Hernandez and Franco
While the returns for Hernandez and Franco might not be earth-shattering, they could potentially add some much-needed organizational depth that could turn into something much more. Some prospects take a while to put it all together. Very often, you will see “the nobodies” of a trade turn into All-Stars. The Phillies might as well get something now before both players leave for nothing.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
