Philadelphia Phillies: What does the future hold for Odubel Herrera?

Following his suspension in 2019, what does the future hold for Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera?

MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki released his 2021 Opening Day roster prediction for the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, and there was a fairly surprising name that was included in the “outfield” section of the article. Joining the likes of Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, Adam Haseley, and Roman Quinn was none other than that of Odubel Herrera.

The former All-Star turned “public enemy #1” at Citizens Bank Park, Herrera has had a rollercoaster of a ride the last few years. He was named the Phillies lone All-Star in 2016, received a $30 million extension in 2017, was arrested on accounts of domestic violence in 2019, was promptly suspended by the MLB soon after, and then spent the entirety of the 2020 season down at the Phillies alternate minor league training site.

Despite being cleared of all charges by the authorities, fans of the Philadelphia Phillies were quick to state their opinion on the situation. They were (rightfully) done with the now 28 year old outfielder.

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So why did Zolecki include him in his Opening Day roster prediction? Herrera hasn’t played major league baseball in well over a year now, and his return to the MLB would likely spark outrage from one of the more vocal fanbases in all of baseball. Well, for whatever it’s worth, the Phillies still owe Herrera a full $10 million in 2021. Considering the state of their roster and how their outfield is shaping up this offseason, there’s a slim chance that the team might try to get some return back on that very expensive investment.

Prior to his suspension, Herrera was one of the more inconsistent players on the Phillies roster. His batting average was all over the place from season to season, ranging from .280-.290 all the way down to .222 in 2019. His defense was even more sporadic, as he would occasionally have instances were he would just completely lose focus. Despite his All-Star nomination back in 2016, Herrera was far from a “star” for the Philadelphia Phillies.

The last update we got on Herrera came fairly recently, as it was revealed that he was intending to play baseball back in his home country of Venezuela (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League). Herrera playing baseball for another league doesn’t inherently affect his status with the Phillies, but they could potentially use it as a way out of his contract should he perform poorly there.

The entire Odubel Herrera situation is a complete mess. Former general manager Matt Klentak hinted at the idea that Herrera would have to “earn” his spot on the roster moving forward, but Klentak is no longer in charge anymore. Current interim GM Ned Rice could have an entirely different view on Herrera’s status. Only time will tell.

Ultimately speaking, the choice to activate Herrera, or just leave him in the minor leagues as his contract expires, is a tough one that the Phillies organization will have to make. Even with the big money that he was handed, bringing Herrera back to the main roster would seriously upset a whole lot of people (again, rightfully so). Maybe Zolecki was correct in his assessment that Herrera will be back in action come 2021, or maybe we’ve all seen the last of the outfielder in a Phillies uniform.